The Editor: Sir,

In Monday's Gleaner (April 14) in the Letter of the Day headlined 'Fathers must pave the way for sons', Orville West presented a very appealing picture of how fathers should be to and with their sons. I would go a little further by saying, with their daughters too. I wish to commend this gentleman for being so honest and forthright, being a man himself.

He spoke of how young guys see work these days and how they apply themselves and lead their lives. His description of the people they emulate and see as role models is vivid and truthful, though woefully so. In addressing the matter of res-ponsibilities, he said that they should be given equal res-ponsibilities at home, just like the girls. This point cannot be overemphasised as it is a general practice in many families to overwork the girls while the boys stand by and stare, resulting in them being abusive of women when they become men. They see them as slaves or the ones who should always be responsible for everything.

'Area leader'

West's observation of their taking weapons and drugs to school and their career choice of becoming 'area leaders' later in life is precise and cannot be denied. To say that this attitude does not allow many of them to see age 40 and causes them to be in constant conflict with the police is also correct.

As a solution to some of these problems, he suggested that fathers commend their sons when they do good, instead of waiting to condemn them when they did bad; that they should let them know that it is okay for fathers to hug their sons and tell them that they love them, as against a background where it is believed that men should not hug men.

School visits

He invited them to visit their son's schools, not to fight the teacher but to see how he is doing in class and to get involved in the school's activities. Further, that they should take them to football matches, swimming, fishing, play games with them and most important, go to church with them and study the Scripture with them.

I support all these sug-gestions because I firmly believe that if more fathers were involved in their sons' lives from the baby stage to adulthood, there would de-finitely be a more positive reflection of another era of worthwhile men in our society. We would also see and hear less about women being in control or taking over. It is because so many men have failed why women have to be taking control of areas or matters that are more male-related.

I am, etc.,

ROSE DEWAR

ridewar@hotmail.com