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Show m to mm- JFM - m a a. unique youth to center AtjLhejJorral, in La Grange, III., the youngsters run their own show and do a ba7ig-u- p job of it! ' Sri 1' 7 BY JOSEPH N. BELL. 17 H themThe center, celled the "Corral," is owned end managed by the teen-age- rs selves. The board of directors gets adult advice only when they ask for it. Won mm fflmen . age, redecorated in a Western motif, which has housed their Yrrra a today night football game last Fall, almost" students organization for ten years. : a thousand teen-aof Lyons f To wnshipHigh 7 ""The philosophy governing School in La Grange, HL, the Corral is well expressed ge -- by their high-scho- turned out to take part in a huge snake dance. Instead of " tearing' up the local movie house or destroying other property, these kids wound their way through the downtown district into a low-slubuilding just off the main street of town. Here a tremendous water fight broke out, and within a few minutes the building was practically inundated.' George Olson. -- - many of them far from wholesome. This is the fault of the community not the .Then, at the height of : youngsters." : .... the melee, several students climbed on chairs and exhorted the crowd. Minutes later, the same students were mopping up. To an incredulous adult observer, a leader of the clean-u- p . squad explained: Tm on the building committee and we've got a dance here tomorrow evening, to we've got to get the place looking halfway decent'' This kind of has been a powerful factor in the success - and growth of one of the nation's , most unusual youth centers, officially labeled the Lyons Township Youth Organization, but more familiarly known as the "CtorraL" That's self-governm- -- I ent -- . ' l J, Dir.ca decorations Family WetUy ercnt iha only Kigali, April IS, J 151 I ifimg unusual about the '1 I center in the name the youngsters ; ; teen-ag- e A La Grange, II have given to a depression-abandon- ed commercial gar - "Our young people have a right to recreation facilities similar to those enjoyed, by adults," he contends. "When a community makes no effort to help young people find such facilities, they turn to different types of activities, ng S. principal, ol ., The kids Ittlp tWwMfres The community has helped in La Grange mainly by letting them help themselves. This they have done, to the extent of building a $75,000 corporation presided over by a board of directors made up of 15 teenagers of assorted zt size, " sex, and sophistication.- - During the current school year, this youthful board of directors will administer a $10,000 pro- gram of extracurricular recreation and .entertainment for ol stumost of the dents In the area. Restricted to a township and an age group which includes about 2,000 eligible youngsters, the Corral boasts a dues-payimembership of almost 1,500. They represent just about teen-age- rs high-scho- ng |