We lead by example – and children follow

Our children should be our future – or at least that was what most of us hoped. However, these hopes are dwindling every day when you take a look at how children are conducting themselves.

Last week we reported on a recent incident of bullying in a primary school. A week later, a number of high school learners spill into our streets to intimidate residents and worst of all, cause a racket at a local crèche – acting out like a bunch of hooligans all because they demand iPads.

In this time, we conducted a number of interviews with a couple of teachers and it is clear that their hands are mostly tied. It is clear that even they have to face abusive language by some of the learners in our schools.

So where, where does this rot originates from? The answer should then surely be with us – the so-called adults. Are we not the adults who should to lead by example? We all know that children learn from those closest to them.

The time has long gone when the leaders and adults in our society should have taken a long hard look at themselves. How do we act when things don’t go our way?

“Ons gooi ‘n vloermoer” like people would say in Afrikaans. In other words, we have some kind of temper tantrum, then we join in some kind of toi-toi or we strike and vandalise the property of those who has nothing to do with our strike as a ‘by the way’ along our way of destruction. We prevent our children from going to school, because we are not happy with the way the government is not dealing with the potholes in the roads.

If we are not happy about the service we receive, we cause a racket and a scene and take it out on the wrong people. As drivers we can’t abide by simple rules and regulations when it comes to keep the roads safe for all users.

We preach against racism, but we keep the flame alive constantly referring to apartheid being the cause of the problems we face today. And in that same way our children watch how xenophobia is rife in our streets and it is acceptable because …?

And our children watch and they learn …

We are constantly referring to the lost generation, but we do not stop for a minute to think how we lost them along the way. We do not look back at our actions, our words in leading these young people to be the better people for a future. But how can they be if we, the present leaders, set such ill example?

We are a angry bunch of adults living a life dangerously close to getting completely out of hand. Take the time and think about the legacy you are leaving your children. Take a minute to think about your shoes you want your children to fill, the footsteps you want them to follow.

Take a look at yourself today and ask yourself: Am I leading by example of destruction or am I leading by example of building a better future – one that will pick up the lost ones along the way. Can you, as an adult, call yourself a leader today?

Editor