By:
Lorraine Ince-Carvalhal
“The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise”
You could be forgiven for thinking that this quote came from any headteacher of any number of schools in Georgetown in the final term of 2016, but in actual fact this was the sentiment of the philosopher Socrates circa 400BC. The point being, each generation from then until now, has looked upon its youth in despair and disbelief about the ways in which they conduct themselves.
The problem is, in the 21st century, if the older generations fail to change their own attitudes and interactions with our young people, society could spiral into a much worse plight than we find ourselves in now. If we don’t stop blaming and misunderstanding young people, how are we ever going to help guide them on a better course? The truth is, we raised this generation and so the blame cannot be laid solely at their feet anyway.
Young people in Guyana are exposed to all that is happening in North America and the rest of the world, and they are experiencing the same types of issues and mental health challenges that their counterparts face; unfortunately without the level of help and support that is available to those further afield. The limited resources in Guyana, of amongst which there are undoubtedly some wonderful projects, are no match for the magnitude of the problem.
It’s an insurmountable task to offer access to support for each young person in need, and though the Ministry of Health’s five year Mental Health plans vision is perceptive in its need to look at prevention and not just treating the problem, how achievable is it in a culture where children’s voices are still so often unheard? In an education system where some still employ tyrannical tactics and is largely allowed to police itself due to lack of application of children’s rights policies? In an environment where individuals have no training in picking up the signs of need and no resource for implementing support at the most crucial time in a child’s life?
“Spare the rod and spoil the child” mentality is not going to affect any positive change. The crisis that exists for young people is manifesting itself in violent crime, self-harm, poor mental health and increased suicides. Of course there is a real possibility that to slacken the discipline that has long reigned in Guyanese culture may only serve to give the young people more freedom to misbehave or wallow in self-pity, in turn exasperating the problems. However if the rod is continually used as an alternative to well-placed words and a listening ear, it’s not only the rod that will eventually break, but also the lines of communication and subsequently any hope of offering our children a system of support that can begin to shape a healthier mind.
It’s a long road ahead and change has to be led from the top but until the attitudes of parents, teachers, care-givers and policy makers realise that it’s not about what young people should be doing, thinking or feeling but accepting what they are doing, thinking and feeling, and make an effort to understand why, the journey will not begin.
Those adults that already come into regular contact with young children are the key. They are the ones who can affect positive change, by being influential. In order to be influential one has to build a level of trust and respect. In order to build trust and respect one has to listen and understand, not judge but offer sound, realistic advice.
At a time when reform for the rights of children are only just coming out of its teething stage it’s imperative that the way we offer support and design the delivery of that support be well thought out and well-targeted, because remember, the youth of today are already parenting the youth of tomorrow.
