Child Month : Our Children Need Better Examples

-
One Caribbean Nation

By The Mahogany Coconut Group
Caribbean School ChildrenAdd caption


As we observe another Child Month in Barbados and elsewhere in the region, the realities our children face, become clear and disheartening. Economic and social problems; rising crime; deteriorating environments and faltering economies, will all have negative impact on the lives and future of our children.
We are not proclaiming that efforts are not being made to protect those children who are most vulnerable. However, we must admit, that with floundering economies, these efforts are becoming more difficult to execute successfully. The failure to reform the educational system, is also contributing to our children’s future being imperiled. It has now been grudgingly accepted that the system, is not capable of producing the type of citizen, who can easily fit into the changing global economic order.
Many regional governments are also being confronted by health concerns such as obesity. A few studies, have concluded that childhood obesity, is a major problem because of new lifestyles which direct our children toward fast foods and more sedentary habits. Our children, like their counterparts in north America, are spending their time on cell phones, electronic games and other activities, that exclude regular exercise.
These problems have manifested themselves because at least two generations of our children have been the victims of cultural penetration. Growth of the internet, virtual communication, and upward social and economic mobility have seen children being driven to schools that are located less than a mile from their homes.
The days of after school village games have all but disappeared because our children now play virtual games and the cell phone, has replaced the running, skipping, jumping and fun activities, that were once the center of village life. It’s amazing that islands with some of the best beaches in the world and excellent weather, can have children, who are inactive and lacking in physical movement. It’s the same irony with diet. We produce fruits of all varieties, but our children have fallen victim to sodas and artificially flavored snacks and juices.
It’s against this background that we believe our children need to see better examples from the adults, who are to blame for not instilling in them the importance of appreciating their environment. Why should the children “get up off the couch” when daddy and mummy are also glued to the cell phones electronic games and the car seat! The adage comes to mind: Children live what they see.
They deserve better examples.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Barbados Elections 2013 and Cash

-
Image
The Mahogany Coconut Group submits that the real vote buying is in the upper echelons of our society. What we witnessed on Election Day was some voters getting   cash, cell phones, IPods and a bill paid here and there. The real votes were bought by those shadows- black and white, - who Dr. Don Blackman referred to a few decades ago! Of course Dr. Blackman talked only about white shadows but the corporate landscape has dramatically changed over the years – we now have shadows of all colors and ethnicities. While we shout from the roof tops about what took place on elections day, we bury our heads in the proverbial sand, by refusing to ask one simple question: How did the two political parties, both claiming to be rather financially impoverished, raise a conservative estimate of over twenty million dollars to pour into a three week campaign? We ask Dale Marshall (BLP) to tell us about the successful “cake sales and car washes” that raised their money. We ask Ronald Jones (DLP) to t
Read more

Me and V: a personal introduction to gay tolerance

-
Image
One Caribbean Nation. By William Skinner Me and V: a personal introduction to gay tolerance I must have been around nine or ten years old. V was a well-known gay citizen, who lived in my beloved hometown of Britton’s Hill, in the parish of St. Michael, Barbados. My earliest recollection of V was his apparent penchant for dressing in white. I seldom saw him in a long pants, and he walked with an amazing rhythm. Even at that early age, I realized that he was very effeminate. He always seemed busy   out and about in the Brittons Hill area and it was obvious that everybody knew him, and his notoriety was island wide. I also noticed that he was always exceptionally clean. Later, I would learn that he was also known as a popular pudding and souse vendor, who carried on his trade in the vicinity of Nelson Street, in the city. He was well loved and respected in Britton’s Hill; along with that respect came good-natured heckling. One day, around midafternoon, about three of my childhoo
Read more

International Women's Day : Our Caribbean Women, Our Hope

-
Image
One Caribbean Nation As we celebrate International Womens’ Day, we are cognizant of the role our Caribbean women have played in the cultural social and economic growth of our region and evolving Caribbean civilization. They , like our men , have risen from the depths and decadence of slavery , to the highest political and corporate ladders in the region. They have given birth, to millions and have made and continue to make significant contributions to those in the Diaspora. In many cases, where they were not the biological mothers, they nurtured, cared and developed those , who were deprived of parenthood , and socio-economic hope. They are in our classrooms, directing young and fragile minds , how to navigate a world that we in the region , must forever avoid being dragged into conflicts of the so-called super powers. They are pursuing all the opportunities of our tertiary educational institutions, including the University of the West Undies, often in higher numbers than our men. I
Read more