admin
The Rhodesia Herald, 2 November 1968
A FATHER’S love and discipline, a mother’s love and care and family cohesiveness were the five factors that prevented delinquency among teenagers, Professor RH Christie, head of the Department of Law at the University College of Rhodesia, said in Salisbury last night.
Prof Christie was guest speaker at the Churchill School speech night.
He claimed that “hippie, student-power and unrest and flower-power”, were caused because parents did not help their children enough by “friendly argument and assistance”.
Methods of education had been revolutionised — pupils were taught to think for themselves at an early age — but no new methods of discipline had been found to go with the “educational revolution”.
Prof Christie said: “As I see it, the secret of modern discipline is to explain to the pupils why it is necessary for them to behave in a particular way. Argue and convince them that you are right. It is here that the parents, rather than teachers, have the most important part to play.”
LESSONS FOR TODAY
The biblical truth in the book of Proverbs remains the guiding principle for parents and teachers: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches . . . Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Culture is dynamic. What was the state of affairs half a century ago has changed completely or is in continual state of change due to the socio-cultural, economic, political and technological changes. This has changed the way teenagers, parents and teach interact.
First Lady and Health Ambassador Auxillia Mnangagwa is a major proponent of teenage children’s rights. A year ago, she launched a campaign named “Let’s talk pregnancy at the right time”, which is a joint campaign between Government and UN organisations responsible for children’s welfare. Girls with teen pregnancies are now attending school like other students.
Dr Louise Hart warns today’s society: “If we don’t shape our kids, they will be shaped by outside forces that don’t care what shape our kids are in.” She adds, “Children belong in families, which ideally serve as a sanctuary and a cushion from the world at large. Parents belong to society and are part of that great world . . . Initially they act as filters, guiding their children and teaching them to avoid tempting trash.”
Online Reporter