The Rural Voice, 1979-06, Page 26A matter of principle
by J. Carl Hemingway
The year of the child
This is the "International Year of the Child", officially
proclaimed and much publicized.
I have been asked to write this column on the subject, perhaps
because I'm on my second time around. I should be able to make
a fair comment.
My wife and I have raised a larger than average family and
have many grandchildren around to keep us young. We have
three generations of children to draw on for information.
Since I'm writing this I will use my family experience but it is
almost identical with the home my wife came from so when I use
"I" you can consider it "we".
According to the "International Year of the Child" the child
has the right: To Affection, Love & understanding; To adequate
Nutrition and Medical Care; To Free Education; To Full
opportunity for Play and Recreation; To a Name and Nationality;
To Special Care, if Handicapped; To be Among the First 'o
Receive Relief in Times of Disaster; to be Brought Up in a Spirit
of Peace and Universal Brotherhood; To enjoy these Rights,
Regardless of Race, Colour, Sex, Religion, National or
Racial Origin.
Quite a list isn't it!
If you read it over quickly it sounds great. We can all agree on
it and might even tempted to pat ourselves on the back for what
we have accomplished.
Wait a minute! There is still Tots of room for improvement in
the application.
Affection, Love & Understanding?
One of our daughters helps with remedial reading parttime in
,small city Public School Shewashorrified to learn that 38 percent
of the pupils came from "broken" homes.
Nutrition? M^dical Care?
Certainly these are both readily available but there has to be a
generous portion of the first if the child is to benefit.
Free Education?
Not only is our education "Free" but also compulsory, at least
for attendance at school. What ofitsquality? Get an education, get
a job, -make a lot of money,have a good time? Get an education,
-learn to smoke"pot" learn to make LDS, learn how to "beat the
rap" learn all about the "night -life" It seems our education is
that "free".
Recreation?
We have done a great deal recently to improve the
performance our top competitive sports but as for as
participation just for funs Iam afraid we have failed badly
Recreation has become so organized and commercialized that it
has lost its attraction.
Name & Nationality
There shouldn't be any question about a name though suppose
there are a few "foundlings" that must be given a name. As for
nationality anyone born in Canada is a Canadian, period.
Let's forget the "prefix". I have met a good many people from
the Philippines, ranging all the way from black to white but they
were all Philippinos. Let's all be Canadian and not keep our
ancestors around to take the blame for our mistakes.
PG. 24 THE RURAL VOICE/JUNE 1979
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