The River Reporter brings us this editorial from April 2nd, speaking about young people making a difference in our community:

"From record-high gas prices, to an overflowing landfill, to the power line that threatens to cut through the river valley, there’s a lot of depressing stuff going on out there. In this typically optimistic and forward-looking nation, recent polls show that, for the first time, people expect that their children will be worse off than they are."

"But looking at the stories that have come across our desk over the past couple of weeks, we have been struck by the degree to which those children are themselves stepping up to take the future into their own hands. We might be tempted to give up on the long-term perspective, to grasp at whatever straws might keep us afloat for just a few years longer; but maybe we could learn a little something from the people who are going to have to live with our short-sighted decisions."

The editorial goes on to list many of these circumstances. Click the link above to read.

"With the economy continuing to deteriorate, problems in our personal lives and the issues our towns and counties face are likely to get harder, not easier, over the next couple of years. Whether it’s trying to solve the garbage problem, managing development or figuring out how to plug financial holes, the danger is that quick answers—like gambling and natural gas drilling—will increasingly appear to be the only answers."

"But there is a Native American proverb that says, “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” Next time we are tempted to give up, to take the fast, easy way, to grab the closest lifesaver without considering long-term consequences, it might be a good idea to look around us and see what our children are doing. And then let’s take a deep breath, take our time, and make the effort and short-term sacrifices necessary to get it right."

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Post by Nick Troiano

Here is the story of one young person making a difference in the area, published by the Pike County Courier.

MILFORD — For Delaware Valley High School senior Ryan Jameson, signing up for the Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics course proved to be one of the most important decisions he has ever made.

The government class intrigued Jameson, as teacher Brian Blaum encouraged students to watch televised candidate debates and keep an eye on political news. Six months later, Jameson has attended several political rallies, participated in grassroots lobbying, and been unanimously elected as chairman of the Pike County for Obama Committee.

In early November, the 18-year- old researched both conservative and liberal presidential candidates, eventually deciding he preferred the values and platform of Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

Jameson has since phone-banked for Sen. Obama support in Ohio, New Jersey, and New York, and volunteered at an Obama headquarters in Brooklyn, N.Y. He then decided to organize a support base in Pike County.

“When it became obvious that Pennsylvania would be influential in the primaries, I went to a meeting in Pittston to learn how to become an Obama volunteer. You don’t really know about grassroots lobbying until you work on it,” said Jameson, who has now helped to register over 400 voters through both the Pike County for Obama Committee and the DVHS Election Club.

The weekly meetings he instituted in January first took place at Sean Straub’s residence, but later moved to The Muir House when attendance increased from nine people to over 30. The committee, now made up of nearly 60 volunteers, currently meets in a room above Joey’s Pizza on W. Harford Street every Tuesday at 6 p.m. Ari Schoenholtz, Wayne and Pike County field organizer for the Obama campaign, has also joined the team for direction and counsel.

As eager Obama fans continued to pour into meetings, Jameson, Schoenholtz and Straub invited Rory Kennedy, daughter of the late New York Sen. Robert Kennedy, to participate in an Obama rally in Milford. The Pike for Obama Committee had a “Bake for Barack” bake sale at the rally on Saturday, April 5, to raise campaign funds.

In recent weeks, Jameson has met not only Ms. Kennedy, but also New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Obama himself.

“I was asked to meet with Obama at the rally on Tuesday [April 1, at Wilkes University], as one of five others,” said Jameson. “We talked for ten minutes and he was very personable … unlike Senator Clinton.”

As Jameson learned more about government, he says he realized political problems do not lie in the politically uneducated public, but rather in the existence of “partisan politics,” the idea that parties are uncompromising and self-interested.

“Obama works with both parties to get legislation passed, and he can look past the party divides,” said Jameson.

When he isn’t campaigning for Senator Obama, Jameson participates in DVHS’s Drama Club, Election Club, Model United Nations Club, Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America, Teens Against Tobacco Use, Science Olympiad, and National Honor Society. He is also the Pike County American Cancer Society youth chairman and a Pennsylvania People to People student ambassador.

“I stay after school for activities until 6, go to the Obama office until 8, and then go home and do my homework,” he said. “The only thing that keeps me sane is sitting down to dinner with these people. It’s been a pleasure to work with the volunteers … these friendships are genuine.”

This fall, Jameson will head to Washington D.C.’s American University, where the aspiring senator plans to study Political Science.

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Post by Nick Troiano

From the Pike County Courier:

Milford — Young voters across the country are engaging in politics at a level unprecedented recent in times. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), many states have experienced doubling or tripling in young voter turnout so far in this year’s primary elections.

In Pike County, young voters, numbering over 2,800, will make up 6.5% of the total electorate in Tuesday’s primary. According to recent data, the 18-24 year old range of voters in the county is the only demographic where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans. Regardless of party, for many first-time-voters, casting a ballot in Tuesday’s high-profile primary is a chance they would never pass up.

I always looked forward to it…and voting for President for the first time was a very empowering experience,” said Marc Coda, a DV alumnus and current college student, who sent in his absentee ballot several weeks ago. Coda is deeply involved in college Republican politics at sc hool in Rhode Island. He said that this election is all about the young people. “We are the future, that’s the thing. Social security, the national debt-it’s all going to affect us in the long run.”

Tuesday’s primary is also engaging those who never really saw themselves as part of the political process before. Kory Smith, is a student at Kutztown University and one such person. “It’s time for young people to step up and focus and pay attention…this is a make or break election…I have realized that, and so have many of my friends,” she said. Especially with the ongoing war, she said she feels more affected now than in the past.

Teacher Susan Curtin runs the DV high school election club. Curtin will be holding a mock election Tuesday so that every student will have a chance to vote. The club held a breakfast before the registration deadline for all eligible students and registered about 70.

Senior Ryan Jameson is co-president of the organization and the Pike County chair for Obama’s campaign. “This is a revolutionary election, in that youth have started to mobilize…and this will continue in years to come because we have paved the way,” he said.

“We kept hearing that ‘young people are so apathetic,’ and we are now seeing a growing trend that our generation wants to end that stigma,” said Maya Ensita, CEO of Mobilize.org, an organization seeking to bring young people into the political process. “With issues like college affordability, the war, healthcare, and others, we see young people using their vote to solve these problems and improve our democracy,” she added.

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Post by Nick Troiano

Reposted from PoconoNews.net, this article shows how one Pike County school district is fighting an increase in truancy. It is noteworthy that the school administration found that punitive actions were less effective than creating a specific program giving individual attention to students. Perhaps such an approach can work regarding other negative student behaviors.

HAWLEY – The Wallenpaupack School District has implemented a district-wide truancy reduction plan according to middle school Assistant Principal, Keith Gunuskey. He told the Pike County Commissioners that the district began looking for a way to reduce truancy when its attendance rate fell below other districts in Wayne and Pike Counties. He explained that the district found out that punitive measures alone were not solving truancy problems and they began looking for other ways to help solve the problems.

The district has developed a team approach to get a holistic view of the student with a truancy problem. The student, parents, school personnel, and relevant community agencies ( probation, children and youth, MH/MR, etc. ) all will sit down to discuss the problem and identify solutions to help the student have regular school attendance and success in school.

The district ran a pilot program with 14 students whose attendance rate was 77.5%. After the completion of the pilot program, the attendance of those 14 students was 95.28%.

Gunuskey said that the district will involve the local magistrate to help with the program. He cited a case where a 15 year student came before the magistrate and was told that she would not be getting her driver’s license until she was 18 and could prove she was not constantly truant. Some students have had their licenses suspended for a period of time by the magistrate, also.

Gunuskey concluded by saying that the program is a success for their district.

Original article

Post by Nick Troiano

From PoconoNews.net, this article highlights some recent accomplishments of students at Delaware Valley High School.

DINGMAN TOWNSHIP – The Delaware Valley School Board congratulated some of its most recent champions covering both the academic and athletic areas, at this week’s monthly school board meeting.

Joseph Kennedy was introduced by his wrestling coach, Chris Ross, and congratulated for his state championship, the first ever for DV in wrestling. Joe has had 152 wins in his career. He will be going to Lehigh University.

Jamie Grennan was introduced by his swimming coach, Joe Kuznar. Jamie is a state champion in swimming in the 50 yard freestyle and will be a senior next year.

Dingman-Delaware mathematics teacher Kevin Smith introduced the members of his Math Counts team. They won a first place for their regional competition and came in 12th in their state competition.

Two Odyssey of the Mind teams are headed to the world finals. One is from Dingman Delaware Middle School, coached by Karen Wagenhoffer. The other is from DV High School coached by Terry Balton. Both teams placed first in their divisions at the state competition and will go on to the world competition at the University of Maryland, in late May.

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Post by Nick Troiano