Effects of social context in raising a moral generation [Archives:2002/36/Culture]

BY ABDUH M. ASSABRI
YEMEN TIMES STAFF
Our children go through many stages before they become grown up adults who make their own decisions and choose their track in life. However, during those early stages, there are factors that help in shaping their future either to the better or to the worse. Those surroundings include the family, school, and society environments.
Children and parents
As the saying goes, “like father like son,” we usually, as sons and daughters, tempt to follow the same track of our parents. In many cases, we become mirror images of our parents. Such sayings are not restricted to this era, but it applies for all time. No doubt, what our parents’ action towards us or in front of us will be remembered and will not be erased from our memories. But in certain cases, we fall prey to every behavior they do, even if it is bad.
If we mull ourselves over, we will discover that we resemble our parents in many ways and in certain cases, we become either the living or imitating image of our parents. We may find ourselves imitating the words they utter, model ourselves on them and take leaves out of their books. In this respect, the father should be aware of everything he does; otherwise it is going to be reflected in the child’s day-to-day behavior. Coming back to my office one day, I saw a father smoking a cigarette and throwing its butt on the floor. When he was gone, his son picked the butt up to his mouth and began smoking in an attempt to imitate his father. Who is going to be blamed for turning the son into an addict smoker? Undoubtedly, the father is going to pay the price. He is the first who should be blamed. This is just a very simple example which our topic can be centered on. In most cases, we see that a child is greatly affected by his or her parents in many ways. Because of parents’ awareness of the great dangers of smoking, we find them advising their sons and daughters not to smoke. However, we find children wondering why they should act on this advice while their parents keep on smoking every day. In this case, they will turn deaf ears to every advice they get.
Fathers should serve as good examples to their children and they should give up smoking at whatever cost. The problem is not in the money spent to buy a packet of cigarettes or a bunch of Qat leaves, but it is in the loss of a whole generation. If the will of parents is weak, at least they shouldn’t expose their weakness to their sons and daughters. This weakness will of course create a sense of indifference and disobedience on the part of children.
There are other negative practices done by parents, which can negatively affect children. Hypocrisy, telling lies and other bad habits by parents could also manifest themselves in the behavior of children. It becomes even tougher to control such habits among children in the course of time. This is primarily attributed to the weakness of social and religious discipline. Most people believe that once a person abandons his religious duties and tasks, he loses self-respect and becomes a dreadful example for his children.


The impact of the school
When each and every child moves from family to school, classmates and teachers begin to shape the child’s personality. Schools have great impact on the new comer. In this respect, the new context becomes a place where the student is affected by the community around him. Teacher in this context can either guide or misguide their students. Psychological studies have indicated that a student can be easily affected by teachers’ behavior and that the teacher could compete with the family as a model for the child.
The teachers’ duty towards students is of great importance. The concerned pedagogical bodies have to shoulder responsibility to select honest teachers for this noble profession. You may or may not agree with me that our schools are in great and urgent need of honest teachers, but you cannot deny that honest teachers can raise students in a better way.
I used to study in a class where my teacher would explain the lesson while holding a packet of cigarettes in his left and smoke with his right. This is an example that applies for many schools throughout the country.
However, I need to admit that there are also some good teachers who work honestly. To put it in a nutshell, we can conclude that the more honest the teacher is, the healthier the generation he raises.
We as parents and teachers have to make every effort hand in hand to protect our children. We have to be eagle-eyed concerning everything they do.
Today’s life is quite different from that of yesterday. Parents have to be aware of the modern changes in telecommunications, technology, and Internet and how they would affect the lives of their children. We in this case, don’t want them to be stay-at-home children. But we need to have a balance. Neither punitive restrictions nor becoming lenient towards our children is the proper remedy to put the children straight on track. It is a matter of using intellect and applying proper nurturing disciplines.
Role of society
The society plays a pivotal role in shaping the child’s future and personality. There are several positive social factors in raising a healthy generation, which starts by implanting noble and decent values in our children.
Families and relatives in this regard should keep their eyes open for their children away from the gravest mistakes they make. It is also a mistake to let things slide on the part of children without knowing all there is to know about their day-to-day behaviors. They might fall prey to drug addiction, which is one of deadliest and most serious problems faced by this generation.
During the child’s adolescent stage, which is the most crucial stage in one’s life, the child is not able to resist temptations. Moreover, children are vulnerable to deceivers, who could expose them to deceitful and meanly behaviors, and who are filling the streets of our cities.
Who is going to pay the price? Without a shadow of a doubt, the environment where a child lives, including family, school, and society are the ones to blame. It is about time for all of us to take care of our children. You too, take care of your child.


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