Star Q
ii. Stay Safe, Kids
I read with much interest the article which appeared in Utusan Malaysia dated 11th February 2013. There is a lot of truth in what was mentioned by the writer as all of us also see what he sees almost every day when we are driving. I, however have a different perspective with regards to these drivers' bad behaviours on the road. M y view is on the impression that these drivers have on the young occupants of their vehicles namely their children.
We often put the responsibility of teaching and instilling good manners on the school authority; always trying to device ways and means to incorporate good moral values in every single subject and every single lesson carried out in school, no matter preposterous the idea may seem (I shall not go into details on this; maybe some other time) In pointing the fore finger at teachers, we often forget (or refuse to admit!) the other four fingers are pointing to the person pointing to the teacher!
My point is, when a child sees his father (or mother!) behaving badly while driving, like cursing the other driver, or shouting at pedestrians or jumping queues in traffic jams, the child quickly absorbs every thing he sees and hears. This can happen on the way to school (or after school), or going on holidays or even shopping. These unpleasant behaviors by the parents leaven a lasting impression that is ingrained so deep that not even school teachers can rectify; impressions that translates to the manifestation of bad behaviors by the children themselves.
We hope the public are not quick to put the blame on the school authority for children misbehaving because there are many reasons why they behave that way, more often than not, they are the fault of the parents, whom the children see every day and behaviors from whom they readily emulate.
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