Adultism: What is it and how can it be prevented?

Also known as ageism, adultism is the discrimination against a person or group based specifically on their age. It is prejudice based on the assumption that youth are inexperienced, ignorant, and troublesome. These assumptions can cause pervasive issues such as setting low expectations and a supposition of failure (AED/Center for Youth Development and Policy Research). 

Intolerance towards young people can come in a variety of forms that deny them developmental supports and opportunities. Dysfunctional rescuing limits the opportunities for success when an adult “helps” because it is assumed that the youth isn’t capable of helping oneself; leaves the youth with neither a challenge nor the adult support needed (Camino).

Blaming the victim is stereotyping the youth to fit a certain social, cultural, or economic status without giving a thought to the experiences the individual might have (Camino). The youth is believed to be unskilled or apathetic. In dealing with a conflict situation, it is important to separate the problem from the specific person involved.

Avoidance of contact occurs with a lack of regular social contact and a failure to learn about different communities or groups (Camino). The youth can be overlooked and left behind because the adult doesn’t feel that they know how to properly relate to the youth.

Denial of cultural differences involves an assumption about a youth’s cultural background and the youth is denied the opportunity to bring their own lifestyle into the setting (Camino). Lack of awareness about a youth’s particular experience and misunderstanding of possible economic realities of minority groups is a problem here.

All of these forms of discrimination against youth can be prevented if youth development professionals are made aware of the intolerance and the potential consequences.

How to overcome ageism? Really listen to young people, ask questions, welcome their ideas and provide support (Bell). Respect opinions and differences.  Define how your own behavior contributes to a situation. Develop an awareness of your own assumptions. Putting it lightly, adults don't always know best just because they are older.

Think about that old golden rule we have all learned. Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Sources:

AED/Center for Youth Development and Policy Research

Bell, John. “Understanding Adultism.”  YouthBuild USA, 1995.

Camino, Linda A. “Understanding Intolerance and Multiculturalism: A Challenge for Practitioners, but Also for Researchers.” Journal of Adolescent Research 10.1 (1995). 

New summer VISTA Members

MCCOY is so excited to have two 10-week AmeriCorps VISTA Members serving with us this summer! Krystin Gehrich (left) is a recent graduate of Ohio University (BA Psychology) and Amy Karch (right) is recent graduate of Indiana University (BA International Studies). Both young women are truly impressive and well-poised to change the world! In the past three weeks, they have made significant contributions to MCCOY's Early Intervention and Prevention Initiative (Krystin) and the Youth Program Quality Assessment (Amy). In the fall, Krystin is heading west to grad school in Montana (yi-haw!) and Amy is currently looking for employment in her fantastic hometown: Indianapolis. So far, I can personally attest to the high quality of her work : ) The VISTAs and I are the only staff members who do not have an office window. These ladies were clever enough to create their own!

Truancy: Defining matters

I can truly remember times when I wanted to skip school and my parents did not support it. They valued education – of course they never said it so succinctly. As I grew up and found a liking for school through involvement in many school activities and support from teachers, friends, and schoolmates, I began to value school too. The strange thing is that I wonder when persons don’t have that support and never feel connected to school, what keeps them coming back each morning. The answer has never been clear but I wonder. My research in truancy and social bonding in the school context continues to unveil a lot of information as to who is responsible for establishing this connection. The response form the research is that parents have outsourced and feel that the responsibility lies with the school primarily; the school on the other hand believes it lies with the parents. Regardless of the answer, today we have millions of children throughout the US absent from formal school systems everyday. Thus, building the connection and relevance to school is a must. Schools have accepted this responsibility but believe that their primary role is to educate not socialize. Hence the quandary; when parents believe they have outsourced the care and education of their children to the schools, who socializes the child? Granted there are many types of truant students as Reid (2000) reminds us. They range from lesson absent truants to parentally condoned absent truants. The question that remains is “Are the practices and policies we have in place for truants responding to the real types and categories of truants that exist?” OR “Are we simply preaching to the choir of students that love school and want to attend but must help parents or simply can’t get up in time for school and miss the bus?” If we don’t take the time to categorize students by type of truancy the little money we have invested in this population may be used on incentives and strategies that don’t yield the most desired outcomes. Please don’t get me wrong that I think we are doing sufficient already; to the contrary, I believe that as a society we have lost sight of the children at the center of the discussion on truancy. We have focused too much on the parent and the parents are too caught up in blaming the school for not doing enough. As such the change, from my perspective is simply 1) set a common definition of truancy, 2) begin to organize the data we have on truancy by categories and types of truants, 3) then use the newly generated data to target specific challenges experienced by different types of truants keeping both parents, schools and students accountable for the changed behavior. Let me hear your thoughts on truancy and what we should do.

Summer Celebration Task Force Plan for 2011

On the evening of Saturday, July 17, 2010, after the Indiana Black Expo ended three separate shootings occurred and 10 teenagers were injured. Due to the violent incidents, the Summer Celebration Task Force (“SCTF”) was formed under the direction of IBE’s Board of Directors. The purpose of SCTF was to develop strategies to help create a safer downtown Indianapolis District during Black Expo Summer Celebration and Circle City Classic. The primary objective of SCTF was to develop an Action Plan to help IMPD address safety issues for downtown patrons during this time.

The Task Force came up with a security plan that will have approximately 500 law enforcement officers deployed on the streets to deter criminal behavior. The two pick up and drop off points for parents will take place at (1) Maryland and West Street at the east side curb (located by Victory Field); and (2) Capital and Ohio on the south curb lane. Light towers will be erected in dark areas and the curfew will be enforced.

In addition to the Security Plan, the SCTF proposed three additional actions. First in an effort to reunite families and to attract more youth inside the venue, IBE will relocate the youth events inside the Indiana Convention Center on the second Saturday of Summer Celebration. The second action is to increase the number of volunteer participants of Ten Point Coalition’s faith based patrol. The third action is to launch a media campaign to promote safety and nonviolence.
The SCTF believes that by implementing strategies to attract the youth inside the venue, increasing the volunteers in Ten Point Coalition’s patrol program and launching a marketing campaign to include effective messaging on expected behaviors of youth and families during Summer Celebration, the above actions will assist IMPD with minimizing the risk of violent incidents during the event.

FREE FUN for the whole FAMILY!

The Independent Music and Art Festival is this Saturday from Noon to 8pm at the Harrison Center for the Arts at 15th and Delaware. It's free fun for all ages, and it's right down the street from the (also FREE) Talbot Street Art Fair. The coolest thing about IMAF this year: a high school intern planned and raised funds for this great event. Read about her in the Indianapolis Recorder.

2011 General Assembly Recap

The 2011 legislative session is now over and the bills have been enacted. It was an incredibly interesting session to watch, especially for me as this is my first year getting involved in advocacy in Indiana. Some of the measures passed will do great things for youth and some will need to be watched to see what their full impact will be. Here is a brief summary of some of the bills that passed that MCCOY was following.

Education Reform
SEA 1 (P.L. 90-2011) Teacher evaluations and licensing - links the effectiveness of teachers, in addition to other factors, to student performance. Also has provisions defining "attend," policies outlining excused vs. unexcused absences, parent notification and reporting of habitually absent students to Juvenile Court or the Department of Child Services.

SEA85 (P.L. 142-2011) Education issues study committee - establishes an interim study committee to look at the causes of low graduation rates, best practices to increase graduation rates and the impact of school counselors, teachers, administrators and parents on grad. rates.

SB497 Higher education scholarship - inserted into the budget bill - provides a $4,000 Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship for high school students graduating earlier than senior year for an approved post-secondary education institution within Indiana.

HEA1002 (P.L. 91-2011) Charter schools - increases the number and types of entities that can sponsor charter schools, adds accountability measures and delineates that only 90% of teachers must possess a license.

HEA1003 (P.L. 92-2011) School scholarships - provides a $1,000 tax deduction for parents who home school their children or send them to a private school and provides scholarships to help cover private school tuition to students in families meeting certain financial requirements.

Full-day kindergarten funding - provides schools access to additional full-day kindergarten grants.

Prevention
SEA4 (P.L. 93-2011) Suicide prevention training for school personnel - provides that teachers should be trained in evidence-based suicide prevention and recognition of signs that a student may be considering suicide. After June 30, 2013, any person applying for a teaching license must be trained in suicide prevention.

HEA1083 (P.L. 180-2011) Various criminal law matters - provides that schools may offer classes, instruction or programs regarding the risks and consequences of "sexting." Also mandates that schools must include provisions against cyber-bullying in their discipline policies.

HEA1107 (P.L. 183-2011) Preventative programs for at-risk children - provides that a juvenile court may create a voluntary preventative program for at-risk children.

Over the next month, MCCOY will be watching the calendar of the Interim Study Committees and will post periodic updates as they progress. Please stay tuned. As always, if you have any questions or would like more information, please contact me. Thank you for your dedication to advocacy!

Walking for Dreams 2011

MCCOY staff: Shanna Martin, Mindi Goodpaster, and Alyssa Newerth enjoy the sunshine as they walk to support MCCOY's Early Intervention & Prevention Initiative and Learning Network Programs.

On Sunday the 22nd, MCCOY participated in the 4th annual Walking for Dreams 5k family & pet walk. Hosted by the Sycamore Foundation, the event was held along the scenic downtown canal. Although the organizers and early-arrivers experienced quite a downpour around noon, by the time the walk commenced, the rain had gone away and the sun was out. (OK, at least intermittently) This was the 1st year for our participation in the event and thanks to our sponsors National Bank of Indianapolis and Huntington Bank, our donors, and over 30 MCCOY walkers, the event came off great and was a fundraising success.

MCCOY appreciates the efforts of all the volunteers that created this event and of our donors, volunteers, board members, and staff that joined in to make this event a success for MCCOY. We hope the event was a success for all of the nonprofits that participated. Thanks!