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“A child is a whole village’s responsibility”
By Charley Brinton | September 3, 2007
I can’t remember who said it, but there used to be a belief that a child was the whole community’s reponsibility.
Unfortunately today, with children/teenagers running riot, with little respect for olders, most people are too scared to step in when they’re not their own, in case they themselves get into trouble.
I get nervous stepping outside my flat at lunchtime or at the end of the school day, because of the number of kids spilling across my road. I was knocked over by one kid when I was 8 months pregnant and his friends laughed. Just this week one child brandishing an umbrella pointed it at my 3 months old daughter in her pram, and then me saying “bang, bang, you’re dead” - understandable from a 6 year old, but a 14/15 year old? It’s a concern.
I really believe that if I lived in a closer community, if more people knew each other, and worked together to teach these kids some right from wrong and to have a bit of respect for they’re fellow humans, there would be less teenage crimes, and people like me wouldn’t feel nervous about taking they’re baby out for a stroll at any time of day. We all got up to mischeif when we were kids, it’s part of growing up, but most of my neighbours knew me and I could barely put a foot wrong without it getting back to my parents.
I want my daughter to grow up in a community where other people look out for her - where myself and her dad can be safe in the knowledge that there are other local people she can turn to if need be - and likewise pull her up when she misbehaves in public. Our children are just another reason to bring back the local community.
Topics: Neighbours, Community, Local community, Crime |