A prescription for boredom

Sophomore Gavin Enright and his classmates at Long Beach High School often find themselves bored. To combat staring at ceilings, Gavin, 15, is proposing that the district sponsor a monthly teen night.

Each March, the Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking sponsors a teen night at the high school to give students a safe alternative to drinking and using drugs. The night includes sports, dancing, video games and socializing, but it is scheduled only once a year. Gavin has asked the district to host one of these nights once a month to keep students steer clear of a different kind of partying.

“I’m in one of the rare groups of kids that don’t really do that kind of stuff,” said Gavin, adding that he believes that a large number of his classmates spend their weekends getting drunk.

The vice president of the sophomore student council and a member of the football team and various student organizations, Gavin said that he and his friends can often be found at a park playing sports, but as the weather gets colder, they find it harder to entertain themselves. “We usually find a pizza place to keep warm or go to someone’s house,” he said.

While Long Beach has plenty of entertainment for the older crowd, Dr. Matthew Morand, a school district psychologist, said that due to the lack of places like malls, bowling alleys or pool halls, teenagers get bored easily. Morand has been working with Gavin on a proposal that the sophomore plans to submit to the Board of Education.

“Long Beach teens need a place that is safe and fun from dangers on the street,” Gavin wrote in the proposal. “Especially on the weekends when kids are most vulnerable to making destructive decisions.”

He suggests dedicating each night to a different activity, including pillow hockey, ice skating, badminton, karaoke and Ultimate Frisbee. Food and drinks could also be provided. His proposal lists the needed resources, including space and equipment, chaperones and first aid personnel, as well as transportation for students. Gavin, who lives in the West End, said it is difficult for him to get to the high school without a ride from his parents.

While he acknowledged that he’s not sure how the district would fund the gatherings, Gavin suggests fundraising or charging a nominal fee at the door, which could also be donated to charity.

Principal Nick Restivo, who explained that the costs would include renting equipment such as karaoke machines as well as overtime for custodians, said he has always been for extending teen night. “I understand the amount of work that’s involved and the amount of organization involved,” Restivo said. “Anything that takes the kids off the street at night, I’m very much for.”

Morand said that monthly events would give students a healthy and safe place to go on cold winter weekends, and if the idea takes off, it should be expanded into the middle school.

“I think this is important that this gets passed,” said Gavin. “All Long Beach talks about is getting kids off the street, but there’s nothing to do.”

Comments about this story?

JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213.