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Thursday, April 10, 2014
There have been numerous reports in the past couple weeks of teenagers being arrested for committing crimes. There was the home invasion and hostage situation on Lock Street. There was a similar incident on Pine Street the day before. And there was the arrest of the 15-year-old for allegedly robbing a Transit Road 7-Eleven.
Comments on our site and our Facebook page — as well as on the streets and other places around the Internet — seem to question the parents of these alleged juvenile delinquents. One that made us chuckle was "It's 11 o'clock-do you know where your children are? Guess not."
Yes, it's easy to question the parents of these teenagers. What are they doing out so late? Don't their parents keep an eye on them? Know who their friends are? Know that they're doing drugs? Etc. But blaming the parents is the wrong move. Blame the kids.
There's a reason that parents dread the teen years. It's because they remember what they were like as kids. While we may not admit it to our children, most of us snuck out of the house in our teen years. We went to parties and did things we weren't supposed to do. Maybe there was booze involved. Maybe it was drugs. Who knows what else.
The difference between our teen years and 2014 is the type of trouble kids get into now. Maybe part of the reason for that is the type of drugs that kids get into now. For us, maybe it was a joint and a campfire. Kids today have more — uglier — options. Options which are much more addictive than a joint and a campfire. Options that require them to get money together quickly for that next high.
So we're back to, "But if parents kept an eye on their kids, they wouldn't be doing drugs." Because that worked so well for your parents, right?
We're certainly not saying what is going on is OK. We're just saying blaming the parents is a cop out. It's a more complex problem than that. One we don't really have an answer to. But it seems obvious to us that losing your kids to drugs and crime is a harsh enough punishment without your friends and neighbors blaming you in the process.
— Editor, ENP
PERSPECTIVES are the opinions of staff of East Niagara Post and may not be indicative of the opinions of our advertisers.
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It is not always the parents fault.Some parents have to go to bed early for work in morning. Some may have to take sleep aides in order to fall asleep. Children may sneak out. And who took the parents right's away as far as spanking a child? There seems to be no form of discipline in some households for fear of police interactions or child abuse stepping in. Niagara county is full of drugs and we don't seem to be working together on this we all should stand together and help each other and fight as one to get these drug dealers out of our towns.So please stop blaming all parents cause most of us do try to do the best for our children. Sometimes the streets win.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, when they first enacted the practice that parents would be legally responsible should their minor children be found to be "out and about" after the 11:00 pm curfew, my eldest son was 15 years of age. Oh, what a handful he was! Not wanting to be included in the parade of parents listed in the local paper as arrested for their children's "infractions", I habitually called the LPD and reported my son "missing" and out of our home after curfew WITHOUT permission. By doing so I avoided being held responsible for his actions while he was "enjoying" his freedom. Eventually, the Policeman on duty at the desk caught on and told me I no longer had to call in. They were well aware my son was out without permission and I would not be charged for it. When he did, eventually, get arrested on a unrelated charge, the ever brilliant, Judge Watson held him fully responsible for his actions. He, not I, was ordered to reimburse for damages occurred during HIS lack of judgment. Years later, my son, reassured me that his indiscretions were his alone. I taught him the right values, right from wrong, it was his choice to choose his path.
ReplyDeleteI agree the kids should be the ones responsible. good move.
ReplyDelete