Through my youthful eyes

THE EDITOR: Please allow me to express a societal perception from the eyes of a youth. I face everyday with a smile and nod my head as I go through every moment in our paradoxical society. We continually say that young people are out of control — that they are blasphemous and deviant. But really who exactly is there to listen and help mould the youth into a competent human being. It is often stated that young people are disrespectful and have no manners. Yet as a young person proceeding into a maxi taxi and I politely say “good morning everybody” nine out of the 12 adults look at me with scorn or just don’t care to answer.

It is often stated that young people don’t behave with decorum but on the front page of our daily newspaper I see someone in high office spanking an artiste’s bottom. Oh and let’s not forget the ever popular statement that young people are overly aggressive and ignorant. But up to our last newscast I have witnessed our political masters screaming; how insulting it is to see the fathers of our nation wage war against each other. We preach that young people are the future but when youths apply for jobs, they are told that they cannot be hired because they lack work experience. Well I ask who exactly is supposed to give young people work experience. Also, if they are hired they are blatantly exploited as their national insurance is not paid and they are legally underpaid. We spend billions to construct schools and there are bare resources to facilitate the learning process. We are proud of the ancient books in the libraries where most of the pages are missing and there are ten or so outdated computers to facilitate 1,500 plus children claiming we want our youths to be computer literate.

Could this exist because there is an abundance of untrained teachers or the fact that some of these students have learning disabilities? Or could it be because principals and teachers don’t care if students learn or not, after all teaching today is just a job, not a passion. Prior to age 18 when my mothers and fathers discuss politics and I venture a comment I am scolded, after all, what do I know at this age. But as I turn 18 years old I am commanded to vote for a particular political party based on ethnicity, geographical location and even religion. Do we even know far less understand what is democracy? But wait that’s not all. I can vote at age 18 but I am not allowed to represent my people until I am 25. We say how young people are destined for the forefront but really and truly my fellow readers, are youths given the opportunity to excel? Do you the mature generation honestly act as though you have faith in us?

AVA RAMPERSAD
YMCA