Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Charlottesville, VA, USA. more »
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3 replies on “Me on youth curfews.”
I agree with what you said about government not being the parent.
That said the problem as I see it is that so many other problems and issues can be tied into someone allowing their kid to be out unsupervised at 2:30am. Problems like educational issues, those issues which inevitably lead people to insist that we throw yet more money at the problem (which at that point now isn’t a parenting problem but a teaching problem).
From the article:
Jaquith says: “For a 12-year-old in a bar at 2:30, the solution isn’t a curfew. It’s taking the child away from her parents. You don’t arrest her, you take her into custody as a helpless minor who has been abandoned by her parents and help her.”
I like that thought as well. But then that aspect of social services in most communities is usually already inadequately staffed and/or funded. In the long run it’s probably a little cheaper just to have the police cart the kid back to the parent’s house and issue them a ticket carrying a fine.
Also from the article:
I know one 13-year-old who has no curfew. His mother told me he fought about it so much last year she stopped trying to impose one. So if that kid is wandering the streets at two in the morning, … , whose problem is it?
And who’s problem is it if that 13-year-old starts vandalising and/or stealing things out of cars at two in the morning?
I agree government shouldn’t be taking the place of the parent, and I especially feel that way when I hear people complaining about what their kids see on tv, in films, or in video games. Fact is there really are not any easy or simple solutions, just shades of grey and community by community judgement calls.
Oh, and congrats on getting interviewed. :)
But then that aspect of social services in most communities is usually already inadequately staffed and/or funded.
Yeah, but it’s Canada. They’re socialists. :)
Yeah, but it’s Canada. They’re socialists. :)
Okay, I’ll give you the point on that one then. :)
I agree with what you said about government not being the parent.
That said the problem as I see it is that so many other problems and issues can be tied into someone allowing their kid to be out unsupervised at 2:30am. Problems like educational issues, those issues which inevitably lead people to insist that we throw yet more money at the problem (which at that point now isn’t a parenting problem but a teaching problem).
From the article:
I like that thought as well. But then that aspect of social services in most communities is usually already inadequately staffed and/or funded. In the long run it’s probably a little cheaper just to have the police cart the kid back to the parent’s house and issue them a ticket carrying a fine.
Also from the article:
And who’s problem is it if that 13-year-old starts vandalising and/or stealing things out of cars at two in the morning?
I agree government shouldn’t be taking the place of the parent, and I especially feel that way when I hear people complaining about what their kids see on tv, in films, or in video games. Fact is there really are not any easy or simple solutions, just shades of grey and community by community judgement calls.
Oh, and congrats on getting interviewed. :)
Yeah, but it’s Canada. They’re socialists. :)
Okay, I’ll give you the point on that one then. :)