be bad. We also need laws to protect parents from

the abuse of children because of the child protection .

laws of today, Parents do.not have any avenues open
to seek help with problem children. Some parents

. live'in fear of their child because there is no where to .

turn for these people. I know of families that have
split up because of the abuse from children. There is
so much damage done to parents that no matter
what happens, the family will never be together
again,

The children of today realize the law and what it

_ means to them. Being on probation means going to —
‘the probation office once a month (if'you feel like it), |

and community hours — if you feel like doing what
the coordinator asks of you, it’s "Yes, I'll do it”. If you
have other plans, you can say, "No, I can’t make it”,

but it is the young offender’s choice. As for breach of
probation charges — so what? Parents’may ask that
breach of probation charges be brought against the
child, but it really is up to the probation officer or

police. If any one of these feel like filing charges, so’

be it, but all this really means is that if the police

see the person, maybe they will pick up the offender. |

When a child is arrested for shoplifting or any-
thing else, parents are called to the police station to
pick up the child and to appear in court at a later

date, My advice is, parents don’t go right away, let .

the child stay in jail for a time before you go and
sign them out, because this may give the child time
to realize that they don’t ever want to be back in
there again. If you want your child to go to court as

soon as possible, then refuse to go and sign the child |

out. Police then have no choice but to get the child
into court, because they have only a certain amount
of time to take the child before a judge, or else the
charges are dropped. The police do not like doing
this, but it is part of their job. I have had a police
officer say to me, “What kind of parent are you that

you'd leave your child in jail?” But I want the child ~

to appear in court right away, not three months
down the road. It is because I care that I demanded

this; it caused. extra pressure on the police officer,

but at least the court case is over and done with now,
and not some months later. If this saves the child
from getting into trouble again, then it was worth
the extra work on everyone's part.

Tama parent that has been through “hell” with
her children for the last couple of years, so I know
what I am talking about. The children today have
lost all respect for themselves and for others, and
that is why so many children are in trouble today. I

do not wish what I went through on any parent,

because it has left very large scars that will never go
away. I still love my children dearly, but I have a
hurt inside that just can’t seem to go away. I look
forward to the day when my children turn around
and start doing good with their lives, but the hurt
that has been caused will, always be inside, no
matter what, and one day my children will realize

18 ' Terrace Review — April 10, 1992

| ‘what they have done,

Probation and the police should enforce court
orders better because the children know a court order |
can be broken and not much will be done because of
it. When I requested that court orders be obeyed or
else, I was the bad one because it meant maybe the
child would go to a detention centre or jail for young

_ offenders, but I cared and that is why I requested

court orders be followed. With my child, not one
court order was enforced by the probation officer or

- the police, and I finally called crown counsel to get

the police and probation. officé. to issue breach

' charges. Why did I have to go through. all this just. to
have a court order followed?

Our mules for young people have made the system |

very easy for the children to use to their advantage. -

Whether it be to break the law, or otherwise, it is.

their choice with our child protection laws of today.

Changes should be made and maybe then: the.
children will learn to respect again. Don’t blaine
parents for their children’s misdeeds, blame’ the

system we have working for them. In my opinion, ~
children should be sent to an institution like anarmy

camp where all their rights are taken from them for
a period of time until they learn to respect people
and their possessions, and learn that crime does not

pay!
The places we send our young offenders to now .

‘ are like summer camp, where they are the boss.

Young people don’t mind going to these places; just
ask some of them.

Now, I hope you have a better understanding of
the system used to protect, not punish, young
offenders and why you can never hold parents —
responsible for damages done by them. Punishing the |
parents is actually rewarding the young offender! ©

Name withheld
by request .

THE KIDS GET WORRIED

To the Editor;

We,'as kids on Bobsien Crescent, are very con-
cerned about the. sewage problem, We do not want to’
leave the houses that we have been. living ‘in. We
hope that Mr. Blencoe, the government and other
people with the same sewer problem will help one
another. It is embarrassing to live around a place
with bad odours, We think it is about. time that .
someone does something about the sewers. ft has
been here for about, 18 to 20 years. oa

os Oe
Tracy Spencer
 ” Jody Kyle —

Kerry Kyle —

Terrace”