LETTERS: PARENTS: START NEW TREND

To the editor:

Congratulations to Jack Knowlan for his inspiring letter.

As a mother, grandmother and former educator, I share his tremendous concern for all our young people. Having been a single parent with teen-agers, I can empathize especially with the single parents who are trying to cope with guiding their kids alone.

To borrow from Hillary Rodham Clinton's thoughts in her book, "It Takes a Village," it would seem a community does share some responsibility for the opportunities it offers its youths. Both Cape Girardeau and Jackson provide so well for the academic needs through the schools. In addition, there is great enthusiasm and provision for musical and athletic development through Little League, soccer, basketball, swimming etc. Although these physical and mental needs are being provided for, perhaps we should evaluate what we are doing for their growth socially. Indeed, the family does have the first responsibility, but it remains clear that during the teen-age years, their social needs lead them to others outside the family as well. Will the gatherings in our homes help or hinder their lives?

A searching question remains: Does my life or what takes place in my home contribute to the delinquency of a teen? To put it another way, how might I feel if a teen-age guest in my home became the victim in a serious accident or an unplanned pregnancy as a result? Giving one's approval to a teen-ager's drinking experience that I have control over can start him down the slippery slope to a life of addictions and great sorrows. This will affect not only him, but others, including his family.

Wouldn't it be a positive step in our communities to join together as parents and grandparents to start a new trend in substituting legal and non-alcoholic refreshments in our teen parties? It would be the beginning of establishing some boundaries to do what we can to protect our young people.

VIRGINIA PAUL

Cape Girardeau