Anchorage Daily News

Anchorage has juvenile and youth problems that scream for change at Russian Jack Springs Park. Preserving or removing part of a particular stand of swampy birch won't change Anchorage significantly, just as saving or losing one polar bear won't make a significant difference in the rate of climate change. What matters is changing the behavior that is causing the larger problem.

The all too common bad decisions of youth involved with gangs, guns, drugs, suicide, teen pregnancy, school dropout, property crimes and other typically "juvenile" behavior are the problems. Many parents have few or insufficient life skills to help them cope because they are struggling with low self-esteem, dishonesty, lack of patience, inability to persevere, poor self-discipline and little personal accountability. Kids learn from their parents' bad decisions, and then those kids mirror that behavior, and the cycle goes on and on.

Fifty years ago similar behavior patterns were observed in the "welfare" society. Guess what? It took change to get through much of that and it will take change to break behavior patterns and cycles in Anchorage. Why not let the kids learn the life skills through an inexpensive, enjoyable experience in their own neighborhood?

If Anchorage continues to employ marginal and failed processes to deal with youth problems, why expect different results? $10 million for this, $100 million for that! More schools! More police! More after-school programs! More pay for more teachers! More computers! More libraries! (SAME RESULTS!!)

Clearly, a few Flat Earth folks have shown they have no interest in the First Tee curriculum that will impact youth behavior. However, children still need to learn valuable life skills. Gangs, guns, teen suicides and drugs are a growth industry in Anchorage, and how we approach education of youth should change.

Proven, efficient programs to help change improvable patterns should be welcomed, not refused. Children need better core values and better decision-making skills. First Tee programs are about teaching life skills.

If we don't change the way young people learn to make decisions and behave, a few trees will be of little value.

In 2004 Mayor Begich shook hands with several dedicated community leaders and essentially said the following: Russian Jack sits squarely in the heart of the disadvantaged youth population. If The First Tee would join the MOA as a financially self-sufficient, private-sector partner, the muni would revitalize the golf course and provide land at Russian Jack for a learning center, which would be financed and built by The First Tee Alaska.

The First Tee Alaska has honored its part of the agreement. TFTA is self-sufficient with professional coaches and staff, has completed successful pilot programs in ASD schools and at Russian Jack, and will continue programs for Special Olympics athletes and Boys and Girls Clubs. Financial support has come from individuals, foundations, corporations and small business. The First Tee has private funding for the learning center, which is awaiting the municipality's commitment of land to the project.

Trees are a renewable resource. An equivalent stand of trees can be planted and grown for offset elsewhere, and the earth won't really care. A biomass offset project may be an Arbor Day planting in the gravel pit the Anchorage Daily News recommended using to provide a driving range for economically disadvantaged kids!

In working so hard to stop this project at Russian Jack Park, critics are fighting a proven way to solve real problems in youth decision-making and behavior.

Mick Brogan is a past and founding director of The First Tee Alaska.

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