By April Dye, Contributor for USDR
I’m probably going to get heck but this topic is dominating the news and other areas of social media and I think needs to have a point of reference.
Why do so many of our youth have a problem with authority figures?
Where does this attitude come from that a young man or woman can look at someone in an authoritative capacity and think they don’t have to follow the same rules as everyone else?
Are there bad parents, teachers, cops, bosses etc.? Of course there are but I would say this is the minority not the majority.
Regardless of whether you think you have done something wrong or not, the fact is if your actions are in question, is the best way to solve this…call the news and complain or file a lawsuit, ignore or argue with the police and get arrested or worse.
This all starts at home. If you are teaching your kids that they are victims or being targeted or making excuses you are only teaching your children that people are out to get them and they need to be on guard and that the person in authority is usually in the wrong.
For example, I’ve read many stories about a kid who gets asked to leave school until they get their hair cut because it doesn’t meet the school standards. But if your kid goes to a school that has one – check the school handbook which you can usually find on-line or request a copy. This is a rule that the school board has set. It must be followed by all the students.
Why should we make our kids follow these dress code rules? Because as a civilized society we have rules. They help keep things organized and keep things progressing and it stops chaos.
If your children one day hope to go out into the world and work for a living I am betting that 99% of those jobs will have dress codes. When we have rules and teach our kids to follow them it is so they can function in society. It is not to make them zombies and conform to “the man”. It is because there are rules throughout society that we must all follow.
Why do the youth of today have such a problem with authority? I worked at a school in the disciplinary department for 3 years. In that time I saw kids because they refused to do their school work, refused to obey the teacher, cussed at or was rude to a teacher, and just blatantly disrespectful. Would you be surprised to know that many of those children’s parents would come up to the school and be furious that their child was to be disciplined even for just a time out? Those parents never believed their kid could be responsible that something had to have been said or done to make them act out.
When we undermine those in authority in front of our kids they lose that respect for the position and know if they do something wrong mommy or daddy will just take care of it.
Where has that teaching gone? In the days of our grandparents these rules were just a given.These are the things they taught. Why do we see so much rebellion with our youth? I would say a lot could be said about the respect we demand from our kids and the respect we demand they give others.
When we make a fuss because our kid’s hair or dress goes against code and instead of reinforcing the schools policy and explaining the situation to them you call the news, file a lawsuit or go up to the school and chew out the principal. What are you teaching them?
Part of our problem these days is we look for people to do something wrong. We look for the bad instead of the good in people. We want to be right and aren’t willing to look at the situation from someone else’s perspective.
We do not solve problems or cure ills by being victims or having a victim mentality – the world is out to get you and that no matter what you do people will look at you like you did something wrong so why follow the rules.
I don’t think anyone intends for this to be the outcome but look at history, look at society and tell me what you think the root of it is. This effects all ages, races, financial and cultural dimensions.
We live in a society with rules. Rules are meant to be followed for reasons. Can you question, absolutely but why not wait until after you have done what you have been asked to do?
Why do I have to have my hair above my collar? Why do I need to walk on the sidewalk instead of the street? Maybe if you heard the answer you might choose to not get offended. Even if you don’t agree with it, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to follow the rule.
I say these things because I care and it grieves my heart to see the unnecessary aggression or blatant disrespect for the rules and those who have to enforce them.
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