Editor,

On Tuesday, Jan. 15 I went to a council meeting in the Oak Harbor Council Chambers. There was an awesome presentation by the Oak Harbor Youth Commission that was very informative and worthy of support.

After the presentation when questions were offered I listened to Councilman Jim Campbell rant about why the “bad” kids are getting all the attention and nothing is offered for the “good” kids?

I find that in today’s climate and change we still have people labeling others and refusing to see how that label can be detrimental to the cause.

If I had listened to the labels while I was in school I probably wouldn’t be here. Therein lies the point.

Labels can be one of the biggest things involved in drugs, alcohol and suicide among our kids. We have many programs for the so-called “good” kids that are also open to the so-called “bad” kids; why should we use more resources in a situation being maintained at a high level when it’s not needed? The kids that are having trouble is where our focus should be.

These aren’t “bad” kids, they’re just kids that weren’t as lucky as the “good” kids when it came to resources or mentors.

Labeling does nothing but set them up for the failure we seem so determined to afford them.

All of our kids are “good” kids, some do bad things, but it’s the action that is bad, not the kid.

I challenge Councilman Campbell to stop trying to throw a wrench in and maybe attend an event to see the good this group is doing, instead of armchair criticisms. The focus is on kids, not labels.

Pamela Fick

Oak Harbor