Proclamation is set to recognize group

October is The Month of the Young Adolescent in Lawrence County.
By VIRGINIA ROSS
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Middle school youth are often forgotten and overlooked, said Nick Perry, Neshannock Junior High School principal.
Rather, much attention is paid to elementary and high school pupils, Perry said.
"But our adolescents are a special group of people. We as educators look at this age as our last best chance to impact these kids," he said.
Lawrence County commissioners, at their weekly public meeting Tuesday, proclaimed October as The Month of the Young Adolescent in Lawrence County. The move was made in response to a request by Perry.
Reason for proclamation
The principal, along with 16 junior high school-aged youth and nine educators from school districts throughout the county, attended the meeting. He said the purpose of the proclamation is to show support for a national collaborative effort among educational, health and youth-oriented organizations to bring an awareness to the needs of adolescents.
Gov. Ed Rendell has declared October as The Month of the Young Adolescent in the state and likewise, President Bush has made a national proclamation.
The initiative was established by the National Middle School Association and initiated last year.
Perry said the association recognizes that decisions concerning a youth's values, standards, attitudes and personal beliefs are typically made between ages 10 and 15. School districts throughout the county are providing additional activities to pupils throughout the month, he added.
"We're hoping to make this an annual recognition," he said. "We're hoping to shed light on and put some focus on these students. There are so many activities surrounding elementary students and high school students that these kids often fall between the cracks. But we recognize how important it is to acknowledge them, and that's what this is all about."