"Librarians and other experts say the growing conflicts [between librarians and rowdy students] are the result of an increase in the number of latchkey children, a decrease in civility among young people and a dearth of 'third places' — neither home nor school — where kids can be kids."
--from an nyt article re: librarian's 'growing' frustration w/ rowdy middle-schoolers < link >
Dear NYT Trend Piece Department,
Give me metrics!
Are there more latchkey children in Maplewood, NJ in 2000 than in 1990? It sure seems to me like there's approximately the same number, if not fewer. (Incidentally, the 1990 census has 246 male-headed "families". There's no similar category listed in 2000, but a little subtraction gets me to 117, assuming I understand how the categories happened. Where'd the single dads w/ kids go?
Likewise, I don't really believe that civility among middle schoolers is any worse now than it was at any time in my lifetime.
I did notice that according to the census figures, the African-American population of Maplewood, NJ has tripled over that same ten-year period. Is it just too much time at Columbia that makes me wonder if race plays a role in this?
(community discussion here)
More on third places in a later entry; it's an idea that fascinates me, particularly in light of the nyt article on myspace and various video websites where (this same population of) kids does hang out.
