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Kids Need Guidelines Early

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 15, 2007

I am a volunteer at a local youth correctional facility. I deal with youths 13 to 18 years old on a daily basis. Almost every youth I have dealt with in the last two years has one thing in common: They all think they are gangster thugs.

Recently we have experienced several tragedies in Central Florida concerning our youths. We have had 14-year-olds stabbing 13-year-olds; 15-year-olds committing serious felonies such as armed kidnapping and armed carjacking; and a 17-year-old who repeatedly demonstrated total disregard for the laws of our state.

These were not only tragedies because they happened, but also tragedies that were preventable. They would never have happened if the parents held their kids responsible earlier.

Of course, that would mean the parents themselves would have to accept personal responsibility. It would mean the parents would have to establish rules and involve themselves in their kids' lives in order to enforce those rules. It would mean the parents would have to set examples for their kids to follow. And that folks, is hard! Especially for those parents who don't want to be bothered with their kids or think they and their kids are above the law.

Why are we shocked when a kid who has absolutely no rules to live by or has never been held responsible gets into trouble or gets hurt?LES RAYBURN

Dade City

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