Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1959-11-19
Big Success from Page B6
Youth Center Is Jumping

OUAWAA >~OAAOOA ~
tons of this strictly enforced rule is automatic ex
pusion.
Monday Wednesday and Friday nights
served for the junior high kids while the high school
students take over Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
nights. The center is open every day except Sunday
$3.50 until g. from until 10. The center stays open
Friday and Saturday nights until H. In addition the
center is open any school holiday from 10 until
noon.
Eligibility is extended to children from II up
including students as old as q who attended Rock
vile schools and are in college, Principally meant
for teenagers living in Rockville the membership also
accepts those who go to school in the city and live
outside.
If junior high school girl dates high school
bow she bring him to any event for the younger
children and vice
Smoking is allowed among members from the
10th grade up but only in the center's comfortably
furnished second level lounge. This lounge was fur
nished through $500 contribution from area build
er Donald E. Gingery also member of the Montgom-
cry County Planning Board. Director Evans said an
other gift of money is forthcoming from the Rock
vile Optimist Club.
A Job placement department, operated by the
teenagers, will get under way soon at the center.
They hope to establish arrangement with the
American Camping Association for summer coun-
selling jobs outside the city.
Also the center has a library with a special
function 1t doesn't have novels, etc. but valuable in
formation from colleges and other institutions of
learning Current information on availability of scho-
arships is the manstay of this library.
The kids hope next year to charter bus for trips
to these prospective colleges, thereby seeing their
own just what they might be getting into.
Independent marks the attitude of the Teen Coun-
Gil When they found that many of the new MEM
bers were driving too fast around the center, they
went to the city and asked for a reduction in the
limit from 25 miles an hour to Is. They got it.
But that's as close to the law the centers mem
bership has come Evans said the presence of uni
formed policemne around the center would do more
harm than good. He admitted to a little noise at
leaving time the first few weeks of the centers ex-
istence but that too, has been taken of by the
council They don't allow loud mufflers, squealing
tires or anything like that
If group of members come up with a construc-
tive idea, they submit it to the council which must
pass on all new events. In this fashion, some boy
members asked for athletic equipment recently, and
bids out for the purchase of canvas floor
mats barbells, weights etc.
On January 3, the center will start dancing les
sons for junior high kids who haven't mastered all
those tricky rock and roll steps, Importantly here
the lessons will be given by senior high students be-
cause, Evans puts it, kids respect older kids heck
of lot than adults far instruction is
cerned. M.
basic approach at the center is teen-to-teen
relationships One of the few Institutional exceptions
is the first aid course to be taught by Evans for
which 40 youngsters have already signed up
Teen-to-teen has been carried so far as to the
hiring by the council of two teenage janitors.
Evans has a unique plan aborning which might
put these junior custodians out of work He hopes to
be able to work with Montgomery County Juvenile
Court-which he attends voluntarily twice a week
to the end of using convicted delinquens for chores
around the center.