What Are Your Kids Doing At Edmond Town Hall?

To the Editor:

I love the Edmond Town Hall movie theater. I love that you can take your family to the movies without breaking the bank. I love that it is right here in Newtown.

What I hate about the theater are the teens who are dropped off on a Friday or Saturday night unsupervised. Parents drop off their kids assuming they are going to the movies. The fact of the matter is that some are not. The Newtown Congregational Nursery School playground is located behind the Edmond Town Hall. Most weekends the playground is vandalized in some manner. Police reports have been filed numerous times, but the vandalism persists. Swings are stolen, ropes on the climbers cut, basketball nets stolen, trash –– beer bottles, cigarette cartons, and the like –– is strewn all over the playground. Please let me reiterate that this is happening all the time. It is not an isolated incident.

This week a shattered vodka bottle was overlooked by the cleanup crew and a young child severely cut his hand. It is most probably the action of a few and not the majority, but I urge parents to talk to their kids. Find out if they actually went to the movies and remind them to be respectful of other people’s property. When I am watching television and it asks, “It is ten o’clock, do you know where your children are?” I do, because they are young and they are tucked safe and sound in their beds.

I ask you, parents of teens, do you really know where your children are? Please find out and please, help us to keep our playground clean and safe.

Respectfully,

Maura Fletcher

President

Newtown Congregational Cooperative Nursery School

39 Deep Brook Road, Newtown                              March 24, 2003