(You will find below a letter that I wrote to my neighbors. If you are a parent, ask yourself if perhaps this letter would apply to you and your children as well.)

Dear Parents:

I wanted to share some things that I have observed regarding the children I see in our neighborhood. I hope no one is offended by my words, but I felt that these things needed to be said.

Did you know that your children ride their bikes and play in the street with total disregard to their safety? Why are you not supervising your children? Will it take a car accidentally hitting your precious child or perhaps one of them being abducted before you come to your senses?

Did you know that your children swear and use curse words to each other that would make a sailor blush? Where do they pick up such language, and why are they unafraid to use it so openly in public?

Did you know that your children leave trash all over our streets? Did you move all the way out to Palmdale just so your children can make it as ugly as Los Angeles is?

Did you know that your children have no respect for their elders and no respect for the property of others? Your children act as though every house and every yard is their own private playground.

Parents, if I can see these things about your children, why don't you? Or did you already know all of these facts, but just do not care?

Well, thank you for taking the time to read this.

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12 STEPS TO RAISING A JUVENILE DELINQUENT:

 

  1. Begin with infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way he will grow up to believe that the world owes him a living.
  2. When he picks up bad words, laugh at him. This will make him think he's cute.
  3. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is twenty-one and then let him "decide for himself."
  4. Avoid the use of "wrong." He may develop a guilt complex. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested, that society is against him and that he is being persecuted.
  5. Pick up everything he leaves lying around. Do everything for him so that he will be experienced in throwing all responsibility on others.
  6. Take his part against neighbors, teachers, and policemen. They are all prejudiced against your child.
  7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your children. In this way they won't be so shocked when the home is broken up later.
  1. Give the child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own.

9. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink, and comfort. See that his every sensual desire is gratified.

10. Let him read any printed material and listen to any music he can get his hands on. Be careful that the silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.

11. When he gets into real trouble, apologize to yourself by saying, "I could never do anything with him."

12. Prepare for a life of grief. You will likely have it.

 

Taken from a pamphlet entitled Twelve Rules for Raising Delinquent Children distributed by the Houston Police Department.

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And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (Proverbs 29:15)
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:20)

 


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