THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 2008

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Parents Are A Child's Most Influential Lesson Teacher

Giovannelli Central, By RAY GIOVANNELLI

Acts of violence and threats to commit violence by young people seem to be escalating in numbers and seriousness. Apparently these youngsters have no appreciation of the consequences of their actions upon their victims or themselves. Teaching awareness of these consequences is the responsibility of parents.

It is not disingenuous to say that when children accept their parents as teachers and guides, as well as trusted protectors and nourishers and have practiced what they were taught, they "honor" their parents.

The primary element that established a person's right to their children's respect and honor is "authority".

It is the backbone of family life, and integral for the parent calling to nurture and guide the children set in their care. Today unfortunately some parents have abandoned their authority because they have accepted the myth that it is a kind of tyranny, which somehow violates the rights of kids. So-called experts on parenting have hopelessly confused the parent's right to authority with "authoritarianism".

We only get one chance at teaching a child the importance of respecting the human rights of others. That window of opportunity is the child's formative years. The most important lesson a parent must accomplish is obtaining their child's respect and honor. If there is a single reason why parents have a right to their children's respect, it is authority.

Ray Giovannelli served as chief of the Niles Police Department until his retirement in 2000.