Robb

WESTERN BUREAU:

Overprotective mothers are being blamed for the new breed of lacklustre young men in the society, who neither bond with children of varying backgrounds nor are given the opportunity to resolve conflicts because after-school mingling is non-existent in their lives.

"As soon as the clock strikes 2:15 p.m., the mothers are in the car park ready to whisk their sons away. They aren't allowed to join the cadet corps because of fear they will fall and get hurt," said Nathan Robb, former chairman of the Cornwall College School board.

The noted attorney, who was chairing the school's Montego Bay chapter Old Boys' Association dinner and awards ceremony at The Wexford Hotel in the Second City on Saturday night, said the country's boys have lost that element in their lives.

Robb feels it has contributed to the reason boys are lagging so badly behind girls in local universities.

"They are running into the Pajeros to get home," he added.

While beseeching mothers to allow their sons to be exposed to real-life situations, Robb lauded four past students who were actively involved in the school's extra-curricular activities during their tenure.

The honourees, attorney-at-law George 'Timoshenko' Thomas, dentist Dr Dean Weatherly and businessmen Carlton Chin and Patrick Reid, were praised for their outstanding contribution to education and the school.

No camaraderie

"But today's boys are behind. There is no camaraderie and they are not being exposed to real-life situations," stated Robb, who believes the solution is for the mothers to stop the mollycoddling and allow them to remain after school.

Principal of the all-male institution, Denham McIntyre, concurred.

He said the mothers are not allowing the "boys to be boys".

"They (mothers) need to understand that Cornwall College is not a convent, it's part of the socialisation process," McIntyre said.

The event was attended by the association's vice-president, Everton Anderson, and presidents of the South Florida and New York chapters, Lance Gibbs and Trevor Tomlinson, respectively.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com