Now comes the news that a considerable number of students have died from drowning in waterways and rivers. Yes, of course it is mainly because of their irresponsibility.
Be that as it may, we cannot point the finger at children directly because there can be found several contributing factors. Sri Lankan parents, unlike Westerners, are experts at mollycoddling their children. Looking from a Westerners’ perspective, Mark Zuckerberg has revealed that he makes his children do chores at home. “We don’t give children everything. Children should have responsibilities and they have to do household chores,” Mark Zuckerberg said.
But why have Sri Lankan parents failed to understand the importance of doing chores is a big issue. Children should have a role to play at home. That is why he allows his children to do certain activities such as preparing their own lunch box, doing school work and cleaning their tables. Hence, children can think of their own responsibilities in a productive manner.
When children are involved in chores, they can grasp a better understanding of their own needs. Moreover, they will naturally feel responsible and competent.
Sadly, children who belong to the new generation are like empty vessels floating on a river with nary a direction. As a local saying goes on, rivers and waterways seem to be magic to them because they are homebound for months and years. Neither can they see rivers nor paddy fields throughout their fast paced lifestyle. In such a backdrop children do not think twice to make the maximum use of any opportunity. That is how children can be seen bathing even in unsafe waterways, risking their lives.
Now you might know where the fault lies. Our grandparents were exposed to nature up to the greatest extent. Children who were collecting fish such as ‘Magura’, ‘ Kawayya’ and ‘ Luula’ in Horlicks bottles, catching grasshoppers and flying kites in paddy fields could be seen in our villages. I am too sure that our children have not even seen a ‘Kavayya’ or a ‘Magura’.
Those days our parents used to be bathing in rivers, splashing water with each other. Bathing in a river was not strange to them because they lived with nature.
The curse of the grade five scholarship examination
Perhaps you would disagree with me on this point. The grade five scholarship examination is undoubtedly a curse for children. Both parents and teachers can be pictured pouring lessons and notes into children’s minds by directing them to evening classes.
It would be correct to say that both of them are transforming children’s minds into deserts in which you find no seeds of sensitivity and compassion.
Parents have already brainwashed their minds by repeating the same mantra ‘YOU SHOULD BE A DOCTOR’. Except for past papers and module papers, these innocent children are aware of nothing. Parents’ ignorance might bode ill for their children’s future.
Sadly, with the emergence of the school van culture, these children fell from the frying pan to the fire. Being confined to home, school van and school, they could not see a new world and think beyond books. Parents robbed their children’s beautiful world by forcing them towards a ceaseless rat race. As a result of this rat race, neither do they have a quality time with their parents and family members at home. Evidently, they are not even sensitive to birds’ songs and heart-soothing music.
Decision-making
Decision-making is an art which requires one’s ability and intelligence. Needless to say that the main contributing factor to the country’s economic crisis is weak decision making. There are many skills that we can not develop only by schooling and following courses because it is a long term mental process.
As revealed by researchers, most city-dwellers do not seem to be good at decision-making. Being narrow-minded, they tend to jeopardize themselves at crucial junctures, leading the entire country towards a sea of troubles.
However we cannot build a nation overnight. Even though we have Aladdine’s magic lamp, it will take a long time. Parents should think out of the box and enrich their children’s lives with experience.
But it does not mean that parents are expected to turn a blind eye to them. Yes, they have to be vigilant but it should not be a disturbance to children. However we hope that the day when Sri Lankan parents let their children be responsible is not far off.