Children’s curfew
WITH the help of volunteers from Fiji and abroad, the Mentor Me Fiji Foundation has achieved amazing results with the girls of St Christopher’s Home publishing three books with these amazing children who have mums and dads at home but are brought to the Home because they are considered a burden in their own homes.
Now why would anyone punish a child and take away his/her fundamental rights for the problems that he/she has inherited because his/her parent(s) cannot love him/her or look after him/her and find him/her a burden? And why should a child’s basic freedom of movement be taken away because the Government or the police cannot do its job of controlling crimes and criminals?
Is a curfew “just” for starters? Is a curfew going to make our children’s future look bright? Is a curfew going to bring smiles to our children’s faces?
Fiji is a country having its own unique social and cultural dynamics that we need to always take into consideration before attempting to make decisions that will affect us nationwide.
We already have a constrained police force who are challenged to keep crime and criminals in control. Do we need to add to this?
We don’t have a million kids to control! To simply take each case by case and gather data on the problem child and find the best possible solution would be the wisest and most affordable way to go. And just as Mentor Me Fiji Foundation has assisted the children of St Christopher’s Home, help these kids by finding out what their specific issues are before jumping the gun.
And what of those parents who are always there for their children, performing diligently their roles as parents and being responsible for those they have birthed? Have we considered them and the implications of such a move on them?
We cannot punish a whole nation because of the issues of a few children who are considered burdens to their parents.
And what is being done about these irresponsible parents? It is really they who need the curfew I reckon!
I close with Arvind Mani’s inspirational story entitled “The essence of teaching” in the FT of 16/01 where he states, “If to correct you must humiliate; you don’t know how to teach”.
I wish to add to this by saying, if to teach you have to take away freedom then where is the essence in that?
Following the example of the teacher in Arvind’s story, the minister would do well to close her eyes, along with the children, and quietly but surely find that stolen watch!
That is the most humane and fair and teachable way of doing it!
NOLEEN BILLINGS Savusavu