Skateboarding
@Angelwhispers (8978)
United States
January 15, 2007 6:34pm CST
We live in a rural southern town. My Son who is 12 is a skateboard enthusiast, he and his friends make a group of about 6 boys, and my Son has 2 best friends. My Son is a A/B student who has many interests such as boys his age do, but he is a very good student and enjoys the learning process which includes lots of reading. His "best friends are also excellent students.
This past summer the 3 decided to grow their hair out, stepping away from the cropped short cut that is so popular here in the south. They have adopted the idea that skateboarding is a lifestyle and not a sport or hobby. This has lead to the problems they have experience over this past summer and school year.
We have a city ordinance that prohibits skateboarding on public property or the road ways. I understand the need for this quite clearly. But one afternoon 2 of the best friends were walking home from one of the grandmothers and were stopped by a police patrol car and taken to the police station where they were put through the "scare tactics" My son was not with them that day. Parents were called to come pick them up. Here is the kicker.. they were only walking home and carrying their boards! We as parents were furious, but afraid complaints might make matters worse for them.
There are also changes in teachers because of the longer hair. Neighbors are treating them with disdain. Trust me when I say these boys have done nothing to deserve this.
So I am real interested to hear from skateboarders who might be here and give me some insight to why this is happening. Or your own experiences. My son will be reading this also so let him know if you are an enthusiast also.
10 people like this
32 responses
@CC09241974 (69)
• United States
16 Jan 07
My brother and his friends had similar problems. Skate boarding was pretty much prohibitted unless in your own backyard. And the hair? Yes we went through that too. Even having cops showing up on our doorstep. There were a couple boys trespassing and stole some items. Of course my brother having long hair, he got questioned and blamed because he was outside when the cops drove by. Why? Because he fit the discription and half the neighboorhood boys in his age group.
To me, this sounds a little "old fashion"! Who cares what the people look like, what color their skin is, as long as they are good people in a community, they must be left alone just as anyone else!
I am sorry you are having that problem. Can you go to school board? neighborhood meeting? City counsel? Of course I do not know where you live, but there should be some options!
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
16 Jan 07
Thank you and these are very good suggestions. One we as parents in the group have been tossing around. But none of us are real wave makers, but I guess its time if this continues that we learn to be.
2 people like this
@Script (592)
• Australia
20 Jan 07
I'm not a skater, nor have I been for about 17 years *laughs* but my best friend has two boys ages 17 and 16 that are into skating in a big way...
I think we are really lucky here in Australia as there are skate parks in most suburbs here. And when I say skate parks, I mean decent sized parks with bowls, ramps, steps and rails. Anything to keep a skater kid more than happy.
We have the skate culture here too with hair, clothes and everything else that goes with that. It isn't the same here with the kids being hastled by the police for skating home. And it isn't unusual to see kids walking through shopping centres with a skate board under their arm.
I think that the police and residents of the suburbs are happy that the kids have a place to skate and hang out with their friends. And from what I've seen the kids love it. It's a place for them to hang out with their friends, skate all day, show off to the boys or girls and best of all it's free! The skate parks here are always packed with kids from sunrise till sun down.
Tell your son good luck from me in finding a place that he and his mates can just hang out and skate. Maybe a letter to your local council stating that he and his friends need a safe place to skate could be a good idea...
Good luck!!!
@skyblade (482)
• United States
16 Jan 07
In general, kids like to rebel against authority whether that be skateboarding, growing there hair longer, wearing different clothing than their peers, etc. It seems like there needs to be a place where they can skateboard. I know a lot of towns have skate parks for kids who enjoy skateboarding. However, that may not be possible since you mentioned living in a rural town. As for the teachers, they seem a bit closed minded and maybe it wouldn't hurt if you told them so.
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
16 Jan 07
Thats just it, I was a teenager in the 70's were all the guys had long hair and Afros were like huge... 80's I was a young adult and the hair just could not get any bigger so I am thrilled to see some hair on the boys.. As far as Rebellion its just not happening. My Son plays out side until 5pm after school, not just skateboarding but riding his bike or the HEELYING new concept in shoes with wheels. Then comes in and has dinner chores and homework. I just do not have complaint with him even if he grumbles some.
Some of the larger city's around us have skate parks thank goodness but we are not always able to drive there when they all want to go.
And yes I am at the point now teachers are on my "hit" list to talk to!
3 people like this
@skyblade (482)
• United States
16 Jan 07
I wasn't saying that he was rebelling against you or that rebellion was necessarily a bad thing. Anything "different" a kid does whether it be growing out his hair, etc. is kind of taken as a rebellion against authority, which is probably why teachers feel a little uncomfortable with it, even if the kid's behavior hasn't changed.
@contusion12878 (669)
• United States
16 Jan 07
I am not personably a skateboarder, but my cousins are and I hang out with them. They are picked on much more than the non skaters because of the long hair and the baggy pants and the skateboards. They are looked at as trouble makers because of what you see on tv. MTV's "Jackass" is basically a show that has skaters that do stupid things to hurt eachother and their are other shows similar involving skateboarders. So its probably not right to compare your son or other skaters to them but i guess thats just the rap they get. Best of luck to you
1 person likes this
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
17 Jan 07
Yes I know the shows you speak of. They upset me. Thee are good videos out there that are instructional and put skateboarders in good light.
@seamonkey (1976)
• Ireland
11 Apr 07
I used to ride a skate when I was a teenager, but in California so did a lot of other kids. The fact that I was a girl was thought of as being great by the other guys who skated, but it sent the jocks etc into a tizzy. I had a couple of female friends who also skated and they would yell all sorts of obsenities at us and so forth. Of course, I had the hair and all the rest to go along with it, and people would scream at me from moving cars (cowardly!) and basically act like complete idiots.
I don't know why they did it. Fear of people being different? Assumptions tha you are a criminal element? I didn't get it from the teachers at all. They knew I was a good student and I think they saw my peers' idiocy for exactly what it was. I even remember fellow classmates getting reprimanded for comments they were making, but if I would defend myself the teachers never said a word to me. In retrospect, I think they admired me for doing my thing and thumbing my nose at people who were too afraid to step out of their little boxes.
1 person likes this
@margerafan (46)
• United States
12 Apr 07
well im a skater and this kind of appearence or attitude that people show to us sort of comes with the territory and we really cant do anything about it because lately skateboarding has been more of a tool to do stupid stuff rather then just having fun and people look at all skateboarders being the same way and the truth is that the vast majority are not like that at all. (usually posers are the annoying ones)
1 person likes this
@mkirby624 (1598)
• United States
16 Jan 07
I have several students who are into skateboarding, and 3 of them are actually gifted students. I have a couple with long hair, and unfortunately, they ARE the trouble students, but I don't think the hair has anything to do with it.
I think the police were definitely in the wrong and those parents SHOULD make a stink over it!
1 person likes this
@MissGia (955)
• United States
16 Jan 07
I can understand if a town makes an ordinance or whatever about skating on the sidewalks and such...because they are liable if the child gets hurt on the towns public grounds. But getting taken to the police station and scared cause you were walking with skateboards is ridiculous.
If the town wants to have a law againt skating on public property than apparently they have a majority that are skating and they need to get out some funding for a skate park.
And the boys are correct, skating is not a sport..it is a way of life. and for a long time skaters (and surfers cause they are often in the same lifestyle) get stereotyped as punks, stoners, trouble makers , anarchists..and so forth.... just becuase they decided to grow their hair out, put on a pair of vans and listen to Nirvana.
I am not a skater, never skated in my life..but i've been friends with many skaters who were ridiculed because of the lifestyle. All i can recommend to you son and friends is to be themselves.. if they wanna have long hair..go for it..they wanna dress the way they do..go for it..
If the cops and teachers want to give them crap about it, you as the parent should give them crap back and tell them not to judge a book by its cover..
1 person likes this
@ilvrshn (463)
• United States
16 Jan 07
No me and my family is not into skateboarding but I do commend you for allowing your son to explore his individuality and characteristic. I think you and the other parents should go to the city council and request a skate park. We are in the process of building one here in Decatur, Georgia and many parents had the same issues that you are experiencing. Not only that, you and thosse parents should go to the city hall meeting and strongly request for this to be in your community. I don't think it is right to deprive children of their interest. Make it happen, mom!
1 person likes this
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
16 Jan 07
I used to love to skateboard/blade when I was younger. I was fortunate enough to belong to a church where the youth pastor was excited about our interests. We went to skate parks, and toyed with the idea of making our own. I think it's great that you allow him to be who he wants and to skate like he wants to. SO many parents are afraid that it will make their little boys turn into something evil, when it's just a skateboard! I know many small town people just don't understand, and are probably just expecting the worst. There isn't much you can do but try to prove to them that it's still the same boy, just with longer hair and a board.. good luck to you.
1 person likes this
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
16 Jan 07
My grandsons love to skateboard I have 4 grandsons they are in a group also. My grandsons all have long hair also they are treated different here to. mostley by teachers.Teachers have a thing with long hair. dont see anything wrong with long hair if they are clean.
1 person likes this
@imahustler999 (119)
• Singapore
16 Jan 07
Sometimes you've got to think about it from the other side. Perhaps the police picked the boys up because they were woried that maybe they were about to skate board and then by using scare tactics they wouldnt do it...Perhaps by doing more work in class the teacher will start to have a different perspective...after i got my tongue pierced teachers started thinking differently about me but i think now its all fine because i got an A* on a peice of work i did. Make them realise you are still the same person whether you have long hair or short hair... Stereotypes are a part of our world whether we like it or not. Its something we have to get past..
good luckx
1 person likes this
@rapazsensivel (29)
• Portugal
16 Jan 07
There is nothing wrong with your son, skateboarding or his haircut! Just let him live his life!
1 person likes this
@forfein (2507)
•
16 Jan 07
Hi
OK
First off, I live in the South of UK
Second
Our local council has built a very nice skate board park for the kids to use!
We (all the older people)! thought it was a waste of council money! However, just this weekend, my wife and I had a walk across the bridge, and down by the River Bank, across the meadows to the TESCO supermarket.
We have to pass the skate board park if we go that way. And..........
It was FULL of kids from 7/8 up to 16/17 skate boarding and trick cycling!
The other thing that got me about your post was the fact that the boys were stopped by the Police just walking home with their boards!
A long while ago, whilst my boy was learning to ride motor-cylces, he also had long hair!
He would have on his leather jacket, etc for riding the bike.
Yes he used to speed!! I have seen him
But....... the police stopped him one day whilst he was PUSHING HIS bike home, it had broken down!
Infuriated, I wrote a letter to the Chief Constable, and he sent us an apology!
Dont stand for Police brutality!
@krysy1982 (1041)
• United States
16 Jan 07
I can see both sides of the skateboarding issue but I do believe what you are saying. My soon to be nephew is into skateboarding he doesn't do anything wrong. But there are some kids who skateboard can be handful. We have a group of them in our neighborhood who are terrors. My kids can't play outside most of the time b/c of them. They tear down mailboxes take things from people's houses to make ramps. They throw rocks at my kids. I am not saying all of them are that way but I could see where some people may view them that way. Maybe they have had bad experiences with other skateboarders. I do not feel it is right for teachers to be that way though.
1 person likes this
@coolguy_ar (113)
• India
16 Jan 07
The society around us is so narrow-minded that anything they don't do,they look down upon them!!!I also got my hair longer....but then,i'm back to the normal fashion!!!Peopl do get cranky wen they see peopl with long hair,or the like!!!
U don hv to worry abt anything at all...Just be sure to imbibe the right values in him....thats all is reqd!!!Wat is considered wrong today,becomes right.....It all is relative...!
1 person likes this
@shemb1 (464)
• Sri Lanka
16 Jan 07
I really like doing skating and i think its much more fun game with scary. and i personly like to those skateboarding but i never touch any skateboard.I hope i can do that. much very keen to learn what ever that i die for. So can you give your more information if you can coach for me.
1 person likes this
@maru_047in (1007)
• India
16 Jan 07
I think so that is crude by the police man atleast they should have provided a seperate road or a place to keep this hobby for the children which they are interested and if this happens then their ll b no talent left out in this world cause their is one or the other restrictions for one or the other. And if that is the case then v need to b careful and not leave our children to do that cause they have got the warning.
1 person likes this
@totnakish (141)
• Philippines
16 Jan 07
Not quite good in your place, maybe your family stay and try to live here in the philippines, theres no skating law and no long hair law here. Try to have a vacation here, i will act as your tourist guide just inform me when?...
1 person likes this
