Who's the boss here anyhow?

"Here Dad, carry the books to the  car." My jaw dropped as this perfectly healthy eleven-year-old-boy swung his heavy backpack of homework books at his father's knees. His dad, tired after working at construction all day, bent over, lifted the burden, smiled weakly at me, and followed the boy to the car.

I was tutoring Joey in Grade Five school subjects. He had not been doing well at school, not because he lacked ability, but because he just couldn't be bothered. Until this year, Mom and Dad had been able to cope with Homework assignments, but now the material was more difficult. I had been hired to "help" Joey. I soon discovered that what they really wanted was for me to do Joey's Homework for him. Our association was not a long-lasting one. When Joey discovered I expected him to make an effort, he refused to return,

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. During my last years of teaching, it was common for irate parents to storm the educational bastion, demanding to know why a particular teacher was picking on their child. Good grief! How could they imagine that any busy teacher would have the time or the energy to single out any one child for discipline unless that child was habitually doing something to disturb the classroom equilibrium?

And Junior? He'd just carry on his merry old way. With his parents to fight his battles, why should he change? How sad for everyone involved. The teachers head for stress-related leave; Junior learns how to manipulate people, and not much else; the parents spend their time and energy enabling their child to shirk responsibility.

It's not unusual to hear, "I want to give my child a better life than I had when I was growing up." This sounds like a commendable attitude at first, but is it really? Yes, we had challenges, but in overcoming them, we grew. If we got in trouble at school, we got in double trouble at home. Nothing came to us easily. Our parents worked hard, and expected us to work hard too. And we did, and learned by doing so.

What do many young people today do with all their youthful enthusiasm? They play video games, talk on cell phones, surf the net, hang with friends, download music and movies, and shop for high-fashion clothes.. Yes, they have an easier life than that of their parents, but are we really doing them any favors?

In a few short years, these same young people will be expected to become responsible workers, parents, and citizens. In their hands will rest the well-being of their families, their communities, and their country. What character training are we providing to prepare them for this future?

Some of them may be called to fight the war on terror. No parents will be able to run interference for them in those battles. By enabling this generation to be complacent about accepting duties and responsibilities, we may be laying the foundation for them to fail at adult endeavors, when the consequences will be much more serious .

It's a sobering thought, but one we should carefully consider, before it's too late.
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