Dear Editor:
I have never resided in any locality where the enforcement of rules regarding the sale and use of tobacco products was placed on the merchant, upon school officials nor upon law enforcement officers. As a social psychologist, I can attest, with no reservations, that the vast majority, if not all, of the problems created by youth today can be traced to the parents and the lack of proper discipline being enacted in the home. Both corrective discipline and instructive discipline are imperative.
Several years ago, parents ceased to properly instruct their offspring. The churches were erroneously given the responsibility of teaching and training the children and the teenagers. That same responsibility has since been placed, to a large extent, upon educators in school systems. Parents, in general, have ceased to fulfill the duties of teaching their offspring the moral, spiritual and ethical responsibilities which come with chronological and psychological maturity.
No matter how qualified and capable a teacher may be, they can never fill the void created by a parent who refuses to accept the many privileges and responsibilities which the parents, alone, can consummate. Never think that teachers can ever fill a parents place. Some religious organizations can be a valuable help in teaching children of all ages. However, keep in mind the fact that no organization an ever alleviate or negate the parents responsibilities when it comes to teaching ones offspring. Parents, do not place your children up for adoption spiritually nor psychologically. Too many parents have tried those approaches in raising their offspring, only to learn that by so doing, they, and their children, experience utter failure which could have been recorded as a great success for all concerned if each person involved had properly fulfilled their responsibilities.
K.F. Richardson
Cortez