All teenagers are drug-addicted, lazy, irresponsible, untrustworthy, and generally cause trouble, right? Wrong. Some adults are guilty of believing these generalizations, according to W. F. West students. These stereotypes of teens, and the resulting discrimination, angers students.

"It needs to be brought to a close, and we should be treated just like everyone else," said senior Kevin VanEgdom.

Senior Andy Judd believes adults treat teens unfairly because of their age. A few weeks ago, Judd and friends were playing pool at the Olympic Club. After borrowing a rack from another table, the man whose rack they had borrowed confronted them and gave them a hard time. Later, an adult borrowed the same rack, but the man didn't say anything.

Carol Haines, a science teacher, believes that a lot of adults have a negative opinion of teens. "I say I teach high school and they (adults) say, "Oh my gosh, how can you do that?'" she said.

Many teens wonder why adults have this stereotype of them. Sophomore Kendra Larsen believes this occurs "because we're more laid back...and our ideas are different. We are more expressive."

Haines said, "Older people sometimes are afraid of teenagers and maybe once in a while there is a need to be. There are violent teens but there are violent adults too...instead of viewing them as people, they view them as "go home and lock the doors, there's teenagers on the street.'"

However, not all adults hold the opinion that teenagers are a menace to society.

"I don't think all teens cause trouble," said Tino Sanchez, W. F. West Campus Monitor. "I don't think all kids are lazy. They just try to Ūgure out a way to not do things. All kids are creative; it takes an art to get in trouble. It takes talent to stay out of trouble."

Stereotypes and discrimination of teens Ūnd their way into the local business community, as well. The Guiding Star is a business in downtown Chehalis that specializes in New Age and metaphysical merchandise. Some people believe the Guiding Star is an example of discrimination against teens, because there was a sign on the door stating that no one under eighteen could enter, unless with a parent.

"I view it as discrimination...businesses can't refuse to serve people regardless of what they put up," said Haines.

The owner of the Guiding Star, Dee Riley, put up the sign to try to stop the flow of shoplifters and because a parent complained about minors having access to witchcraft books. "It's not discrimination," Riley said.

Other businesses also have problems with shoplifters. Freshman Josh Aselton said he and a friend were falsely accused of shoplifting at the Chehalis Wal-Mart. They had bought some baseball cards and opened their cards in the store and a couple of Wal-Mart employees confronted them. They had to show the contents of their pockets to them and after the employees didn't find anything, one of them still followed Aselton and his friend. "I felt terrible; they just don't trust us kids," said Aselton.

Wal-Mart Personnel Manager Tina Wires said that Wal-Mart has "never falsely accused somebody of shoplifting." However, Wires did not offer any information on the practice of stopping teenagers for questioning and/or inspection.

Not only is there a struggle between businesses and teens, but many youths feel that local law enforcement pursues teens over adults. "Police have a much different view of teenagers. They just don't trust us," said junior Erick Sheldon.

Larsen agreed. "I've been pulled over because the police thought I was drinking and driving. I wasn't though; it was root beer. He even made me take a breathalyzer test," she said.

While many teens believe that police are out to get them, police think otherwise.

"...There's always the perception from law enforcement sometimes, not from all law enforcement, that well, they're out, they must be up to something not good and that's not the case. It's a minority of teenagers that get into mischief, like it is in any segment of age population," said Chehalis Police Officer Dennis Dawes.

A lot of students don't know that Chehalis has a curfew, but most who do Ūnd it unfair. The curfew states "it is unlawful for any child under the age of eighteen years, unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or other person having the legal custody of such child, to be on any streets, alleys, public squares, parks, or sidewalks of the city between the hours of eleven p.m. and six a.m., without the consent of their parent or legal guardian."

"I think it's completely asinine. I think parents should monitor their kids' curfew; not the cops," said VanEgdom.

Senior Kyle Connors agreed."If they treat us like two year-olds, we're going to act like two year-olds."

Dawes said, "The idea is not to harass... Obviously, curfews are there number one, to protect kids that are out there. Number two, is to reduce potential for crime...People that are out late at night, adults or students, are likely to commit vehicle prowls or burglaries, things like that."