England plans to take action in an attempt to control the anti-social behaviour of young children before they have any run-ins with the law. The Blair government has proposed compelling parents of at risk youth to attend parenting classes. Parents who refuse to do so after being ordered face fines and the risk of imprisonment.
Parents can also be required to ensure that their children comply with curfews and/or stay out of certain areas such as shopping centres. as well children may be required to attend classes or "after school clubs" where they will be taught literacy and numeracy or take programs in such areas as anger management or substance abuse.
The whole purpose of these proposals is to catch kids who are at risk before they end up involved in the criminal justice system. The plan intends to attempt to make parents responsible for seeing that their children receive any help or controls that they need before the embark on a life of crime. Parents being made to take responsibility for their children--what a novel idea!
In Canada, whenever the issue of out-of-control youth surfaces as it did in the wake of the horrific Toronto Boxing Day shootings, the role of parents are almost totally ignored. We have left the age of "Heather has two mommies" and have entered the era of "Heather has three levels of government". During the last few weeks, it has become apparent that our left leaning governments believe that government and only government can and should be responsible for the raising of children. With the exception of the Liberal-friendly media that characterized Paul Martin's Director of Communications, Scott Reid's comments as a "gaffe", no one seriously believed that Reid wasn't expressing the view of the Liberal government when he said that parents should not receive cash from the government for their children because they will just spend it on beer and popcorn. according to our enlightened governments, parents have no role in bringing up their children in 21st century Canada. at best they are victims of a cruel society; at worst they are inept and irresponsible.
a few weeks ago the issue of requiring those less than 16 years of age to comply with a curfew was brought before Toronto City Council and was soundly rejected by the left leaning councillors, who dominate that body. Some of the arguments against imposing a curfew bordered on the absurd. One was that much of the gun violence occurs on private property so a curfew would be ineffective. and the old standby was employed--children have rights including the right of 10 and 11-year-olds to walk the streets any time of the day or night.
In our society everyone has rights but no one, except all levels of government of course, has any responsibilities. This is especially true of the beer swilling and popcorn munching classes that were once known in more primitive times as "parents".
Unlike England where concrete steps are being proposed to treat at risk children in a structured manner, here the hug-a-thug- crowd just proposes throwing money at the problem. They want to spend money on community centres and programs and basketball courts and hope that the dears will decide on their own to go these places instead of joining gangs. The same politicos who think that parents are too irresponsible to raise their own children think that the kids will be responsible enough to choose the right path. It's mind-boggling.
Politicians like David Miller, Paul Martin and Ken Dryden, who went from all-star goalie to all-star nanny in the space of 30 years, really have no desire to help at risk youth. They simply want to throw money at the problem to assuage their white liberal guilt. and it will be the kids who pay the price.
Toronto would do well to watch what is happening in England. Responsibilities should be put on those who lack the necessary skills to raise their children. Children should be required to follow rules such as curfews and attendance at courses if they are at risk of becoming part of the criminal element.
Unfortunately, the English government's plan will likely never be implemented here. Our governments, when not ignoring the role that parents play, simply choose to view them as victims of a cruel racist society.
Tony Blair's plans may not accomplish what it wishes to accomplish. But at least his government is trying.
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