The Editor, Sir:

The significance and function of parents is founded upon their unique responsibility to bring up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Some parents seem to have forgotten their lawful responsibility, or have just lost their sense of direction.

The morals that govern our island in past years are being replaced by laws which are passed in Parliament. It's almost as if we have been conducting a social experiment. We're saying: "Let's have children. Let's not teach them good morals and values, and let's see how they turn out." To teach our children that their lives are governed, not by their own actions, but by socioeconomic forces, or forces beyond their control, is to teach our children negativism, resignation, passivity and despair. Democracy must not be based on 'mere' opinion, but on moral purpose.

We have an inherited tradition of what is right and wrong, and the rights are usually considered to be based on the installation of optimistic values and proper morals.

difficult children

A decline in morals and values is making its mark. Rising crime is one of many indicators, along with expulsion rates in schools, drug use among teens and sexually transmitted diseases. Parents blame the decline of morals and values on a number of things, including the media - MTV and movies. But parents are responsible for teaching proper morals and values to their children.

Schools and other institutions usually help parents with instilling morals and values, but now these places are expected to take over the job. Parents have to stop leaving this important task to other people and institutions.

Parents with difficult children, in striving to teach and set the right examples, have been grumbling and groaning every day about their children's lack of values. But surprisingly, grumbling has been coming from parents who are setting no example at all. Parents should not whine and whimper about the moral decline all around them, but must take charge in their own home. Parents have to be the moral character for their children.

I am, etc.,

LERON MATTISON

leronmattison@yahoo.com