I am writing in response to Sergio Coni’s letter ‘Education key to ills’, featured in the Caymanian Compass on 11 September.
I appreciate his concern and interest in the development and growth of Cayman’s youth.
And I agree that the behaviours exhibited by residents post-Ivan and more recently Dean were abominable and disheartening to hear of, and to witness.
However the reasons that invoked these concerns were also disappointing. For instance the references made about resident drivers throwing thrash through their car windows, and the amount of illegal right turns made on Harbour Drive.
I must again concede that he his right about the complete disregard that most residents have for the cleanliness and environmental health of our island.
And it is indeed an issue of great importance both nationally and globally, as it disrespects and desecrates God’s creation.
But these persons he has accused of careless littering, come from all walks of life. They could be the criminals that we will assume are not suffering from severe conscience attacks, or they could be one of the many tourists vacationing on our island, or they could be a well educated and significant member of our society.
Education can sometimes be the combatant of ignorance, but some ignorance cannot be defeated by education. I’d like to introduce Mr. Coni to a term often used on the Island, (if he has not been introduced already) it is ‘the educated fool.’
During my short time on this Earth I have faced various types of prejudices, at the hands of our islands’ top scholars and professionals; prejudices stems from ignorance. I have faced social, racial, economic and cultural prejudices from people who really ought to know better; they sometimes do. What do you suggest Mr. Coni? That we send these MBA’s back to school?
I applaud your efforts for trying to find a solution for our delinquent youth. But our problems run deeper than our supposed lack of education. The problem is not the islands lack of education; it’s the lack of encouragement, desire and motivation for learning.
Let me introduce myself to you Mr Coni.
My name is Kishna Green.
I grew up in and near to neighbourhoods that provided a less than desirable childhood. While my classmates were playing their Nintendo’s and flushing their toilets, I was reading Archie comics by kerosene lamp and throwing my wastes over the neighbouring fences. I was told by members from higher social classes than I that I would not progress further than where I came from. I was labelled a ghetto girl, supposedly pre-destined to be pregnant before the completion of my teenage years.
Luckily I had the encouragement of my neighbours and family. They all had great expectations for me and they all celebrated when I exceeded those expectations.
They kept me grounded; they made sure I stayed on the straight and narrow; cuffed me behind the ears when I stepped out of my place. Tell me Mr. Coni, do you think that every child coming from similar neighbourhoods was as lucky as I was?
Do you think that a child can face the outside world’s negative perceptions on their own? What would you become if every day you were lead to believe you were nothing? That you were never going to amount to anything?
Who are you to judge!
It’s all fine and dandy to sit on your righteous and almighty throne, and issue us the antidote of education. Why don’t you be useful instead and try to reach these children, young adults before it’s too late?
It takes a community to raise a child sir, and in order to instil respect in a child it has to be shown respect.
Some of these children are beaten or molested daily by their family members and neighbours.
The very same people who are supposed to lift them up are sometimes the ones who beat them down. Some parents work two to three jobs and still they can’t afford lunch money, books or uniforms for their children. Some children go without food, proper housing and clothing.
For them Cayman is not the tropical paradise advertised on glossy magazine covers.
They wake up every day to face financial hardships, and abuse. Do you think they are worried about their educations? And if they somehow managed to gather up some ambition to go to school and learn something they are beaten down by disparaging remarks.
Some of these criminals I knew when I was a child and all of them I saw as smart and intelligent with great potential. And it wounded me greatly when I saw that they had dropped out and given up the fight. And I can’t help to think of all they could have been, if they had just stayed the course.
I have had to patch my sails and knock off crusty barnacles to stay on my own course and it always angers me when I hear comments of how lazy and disrespectful the young Caymanians are.
I am a young Caymanian sir, and I have great respect for those who have respected me.
I have made my mistakes and I have faced the consequences, and will continue to do so. I have been knocked down countless times and each time I have picked myself up. I am currently attending college on a scholarship and I work two jobs to support myself, and I’m proud to be a young Caymanian.
In no way I’m I condoning the actions of those who have total disregard and disrespect for the law. And I too believe that there should be harsher sentences for offenders who refuse to obey the laws set by our government and its people.
But what I am saying, is when I child acts disrespectfully instead of pointing the finger speak to that child about their behaviour. And parents, when your children have been scolded find out what they did to deserve this scolding.
Do this before you go and curse and threaten the adult responsible; chances are you would have done the same. Instead of acquiring a badge of parental angst, be appreciative that someone else is looking out for your child’s well being.
In saying this, I am not suggesting we all walk around with Tamarind switches, swiping all of the Islands’ children (if you thought so re-read this paragraph)! Did you note that! The Islands’ children, our Islands’ children, our children! And if we don’t come together as a community soon, they could very well end up being our criminals!
When children drop out of school, go to them and encourage them to go back, find out why they believe that it was even an option. When a child is struggling with homework instead of tapping your foot impatiently, go to them and offer your assistance.
Come on Caymanians! This is the way our society used to be, what has happened to it?
Now that we see the rise of crime in our Islands we all choose to point our fingers at the criminals.
Every finger you point there are nine pointing back at you. Now I’m quite aware that not all of our criminals suffered from impoverished childhoods and parental neglect. But the majority of them have been through far worse than I have previously illustrated.
What cure do you have in your medicinal cabinet for the children preceding them Mr. Coni?
Kishna Green
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