Exclusive space for one age group | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Fred H Olson -- WB0YQM (FRED%JWHvx.cis.umn.edu) | |
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 93 12:46 CST |
Exclusive space for one age group A little controversy may help stimulate some discussion here so I thought I'd borrow some from Winslow. The Special Report article includes the following: "Tempers also flared briefly over the issue of a teen lounge. Resident teenagers wanted a space in the Commonhouse to escape adults and play music. One member objected. She thought a room exclusive for one age was contrary to Winslow's spirit. Thanks to the community's special rule -- decision by consensus -- her refusal scotched the idea." "Says 15 year old Ty Moore, "We really wanted that room." Eventually they arrived at a compromise: the teenagers were allowed to have scheduled, if not spontaneous, use of the commons-area playroom by installing a partition." I don't see why the teenagers shouldn't have their own room - assuming one is available and their numbers and competing needs permitted. Some minimal adult oversight would be in order and I'd expect teenagers to participate in broader aspects of the community as well. The idea of cohousing is not to homogenize individuals and subgroups. In fact I would argue that one of the strengths of cohousing is the balance that allows for the development of individuals, families and by extension subgroups all of whom also work for the good of the community too. I remember an aspect of the collective household that we lived in about 16 years ago that I disliked that is relavant here. It seemed to me that the emphasis on sharing a common evening meal and related dynamics was so great that it made it difficult to maintain relationships outside the house. I felt that there was pressure to include the rest of the household when I wanted to get together with friends from outside. Particularly if these friends were also friends of other household members. It was tho 'we all do it together or we dont do it at all'. Fred (Internet: fred%jwh [at] vx.cis.umn.edu) I remem
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Exclusive space for one age group Fred H Olson -- WB0YQM, January 26 1993
- Re: Exclusive space for one age group apguirard, January 28 1993
- exclusive space for one age group BARANSKI, May 3 1993
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