I refuse to accept it, but it is a fact, so I must acknowledge it.
Once I acknowledge it, I must search for its causes, identify its consequences, and take corrective action, if I care to do something about it.
But, I am not the Minister of Education, so therefore it is not my direct responsibility, even though I, as a citizen of the Bahamas suffer the consequences, both directly and indirectly.
It is true however, that the education of my own children is my direct responsibility, and mine alone (along with my spouse of course).
In our country, we are required by law, to contract part of our children’s education to a school, which is, on the face of it, a smart and proven method of educating children in the 3r’s or, reading, (w)riting, and (a)rithmatic. Of course, their academic education is more sophisticated than that, as schooling has developed into an education in such subjects as music, physical education, sciences, geography, history, literature, Spanish, French, domestic science, art, pottery, photography, arts and drama, woodworking, metalworking, etc.
Of course, they do not do half of these anymore, but they did in Nassau when I went to school. Maybe some still do, but do you notice what is missing?
Ethics, morality, family values, honesty, hygiene, manners, fair play, you get the idea.
The reason is, these “life skills” were taught at home, by parents who cared.
Parents who cared what kind of future citizens they were creating, future citizens who would end up in charge of the country.
So how did these parents succeed in imparting these “life skills” to their children?
Not by beating them incessantly or neglecting them I can assure you.
By nurturing them, reprimanding them when necessary, and explaining things to them, as they occurred, in the home, in public, and by giving them a taste of personal philosophy.
Of course, philosophy is a belief system, a theme of beliefs and opinions that guide the life and actions of the holder of that philosophy.
Quite often, the philosophy of the school or of a certain teacher would conflict with that of the parent, which would incur a discussion at home, and if unresolved there, a parental visit to the school and teacher. A discussion would ensue, at the end of which, opinions might still differ, but the child caught in the middle would have a greater understanding of the intrinsic marvel of human existence.
That we are all different, and we have a right to our different opinions, but not a right to force our opinions upon others.
You see, back then, schools and parents taught rationalization and logical thought.
They taught children to think, and to think for themselves. It was a joint effort, and quite often adults taught not only their own children, but the children of their friends, and even other children whose parents they might not know themselves. Today, not many people have any personal philosophy, aside from surviving day to day.
Today, most parents have totally relinquished any responsibility for raising their children to the schools. Most parents could care less what their children are being taught in school (or not).
Most parents do not even plan what lunch their children will take to school, but I will add this caveat: Some grand parents are still checking for their grand children.
And with the number of single parent homes, usually the mother, having to work to provide for themselves and their child(ren) because the father is long gone, creates a situation where the moral upbringing of children, the manners training, family values training is left up to schools and teachers, a morally reprehensible situation.
It is a national disgrace, on the nation’s adult parents, particularly the men in absentia.
To the men I say this:
How can you be at home nurturing your children, if they are in a half dozen different houses?
The reason we cannot correct this deplorable situation, is because we, as adult parents have no shame of this situation. We have not accepted any personal responsibility for this, not at a national level, but at a personal level where our own children’s deficiencies are concerned. We have adopted this method and habit of pointing our finger at “big picture” culprits like “the schools” or “the teachers” or “the Minister of Education” or “the Parents” and even American influences like television, but never, ever ourselves.
We continue to carry on shamelessly, following public figure examples of course, no shame there either, and in doing so, ignoring the fact that it is our own damn fault, thereby giving ourselves instant absolution.
Our failing grades are a direct result of our national pride, or as I believe, our “false” pride, because there can be no real pride without shame, real shame.
Being ashamed personally, of all that we as individuals have done to destroy not only our country, but what we have done to destroy our children, our future.
Do you disagree? Do you need proof? Just look at the number of old persons in our country, left abandoned by their progeny. People raised with a sense of moral value do not abandon their old.
We are reaping that which we have sown.
