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Articles - .Who’s to blame for our children’s ways?

.Who’s to blame for our children’s ways?

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rohanroaks

Oct 17, 2011 at 10:10 PM

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There is an old saying that the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree -- just as if you plant corn it is not likely that you will reap yams. I refer to the recent discovery of students arming themselves and by extension endangering the lives of their fellow students, and possibly teachers.
It has always been a known fact that the behavior of the young stems from their upbringing, or the environment they come from. Why are so many alarmed that so many weapons or drug paraphernalia have been found on some students? Mind you, I would think that most of the searches were carried out on the male segment of the students, and if some females were searched as well that they may have discovered some X-rated items that would have put a different spin on the discovery.
Now that the cat is out of the bag, there are different opinions as to the solutions to the problem, or who should be held responsible, or should take the blame. As per usual, we wait till we are confronted with a crisis and then seek solutions. There are some among us who think that to have random searches of students are a violation of their rights. There are others who think the time is ripe to take school security more seriously. Some lament that to solve the problem we may have to introduce scanners in schools like in airports and seaports, and the astronomical cost of using such apparatus is too demanding for the school, or the educational division to install or establish.
The question of if the students or parents should be charged, is still a complex problem and if the option is to charge the children, where do you put them? And can you really blame parents for their children’s behavior? And ultimately, will any of the recommended suggestions become a solution?
All these questions deserve answers, and all these recommendations deserve dialogue, but can we change our values or our social behavior when from the top to the bottom there is criminal intent? If the children have to use a yardstick or role model or do as their parents do, are there many good examples to follow?
The economic hardship that the island now faces even compounds the problem in the sense where some have to turn to crime to survive, or to deal with illegal practices, is more profitable than to wait for meaningful change or employment opportunity. Life is becoming like a circus. Everybody is clowning around and no one is taking life seriously. Lawbreaking seems to be the order of the day and rather than upholding it, we seek loopholes to undermine the system. Even in our parliament the semantics of defining words or the interpretation of statements to the convenience of the majority just to be used to taunt those opposite, are all frivolous behavior patterns that stem from criminal intent.

We see now in some political circles diehard supporters who will not budge or blink, in believing that their representative is possibly crooked or in some ways a suspect of wrong- doings. The buzz words now are “Bring me the evidence” or “Where’s the proof?” or “Has he been found guilty in a court of law?” I suppose the same applies to the thinking of most St. Lucian parents: “Prove to me that my children are criminal in nature.”
While we create drama politically and we debate who should be blamed for our criminally-minded youths, or whether the new method of extracting funds for social projects or programs is legitimate or not the big picture is that there is economic stagnation and although a few persons may be benefiting from the actions or dealings of particular ministers, the overall climate is suffering; not enough jobs to satisfy the nation’s needs and regardless of the excuse of that being a worldwide phenomena, I am yet to see any progressive plans laid out by the planners that indicate that it will improve in the near future.
There are so many social concerns to be attended to sometimes I wonder if the establishment knows where to start. I do not think that our problems are all easy to solve, but what I need to see is an attempt by those in charge to at least create a dent, or some sort of meaningful change to the way we do things. Our smallness should not be an impediment towards progress, but what bothers me most, is the persons who get paid huge salaries to carry out the government mandate but are non-progressive. Most recently, I was listening to the case in Trinidad about the CLICO fiasco, but what was most alarming was the individual benefits of some directors: while some can claim millions for their work, millions are also without work. Likewise, the cost of hiring some sportsmen and women all over the world (apart from here of course), all get paid in the millions and the pay that some get can feed a thousand families. It is that type of unfairness that has my mind boggling in the same way that millions are spent to send experimental satellites to space whole millions are hungry on earth, or the African dilemma of the continent being so rich in minerals of all types rich in so many ways, yet there is constant starvation.
I also wonder how some private persons -- and also Ministers of Government -- can declare themselves as having made millions in the past five years, both in cash and assets, and yet so many people are struggling. Is it never seen as worthwhile by them to share a little to improve the lives of a lot – or even of a few? I tend to believe that when the international donors, or countries make contributions it is redirected into the coffers of a selected few, so it is only the wise and the manipulators of the system who are the ones to benefit.
I have been reminded that life is not meant to be fair, that there will always be the haves and the have-nots, the ones who would like to have just enough and those who can never have enough. C’est la vie en Sent Lisi? That’s what I’m told, but does it always have to be that way? If so, then we’re heading for some serious trouble because this bubble will definitely burst -- one way or another, now or tomorrow. Just mark my words…