The Editor, Sir:

I read the Letter of the Day today May 2, 2008, and I really felt good. At last someone is talking about the children in our schools and not 'cussing' them. However, Rev Fr Sean Major-Campbell, we are not comfortable.

I firmly believe that children learn what they live and we are all responsible for what our children learn. No child was born knowing how to use a knife or a gun. They may have the propensity to be violent, but we showed them the methods of carrying out violent acts on others. They learned all this from us, the adults.

Some members of the animal kingdom teach their young ones how to survive and then run them away from the 'family home,' to fend for themselves. It does not work like that for humans. We have to teach social skills in order for our children to function in a society.

Learn how they live

One of my form teachers told me the other day that if you listen to the children and learn how they live and what influences their thoughts and behaviour, you would want to take them all home. You want to shield them from the adults in their lives, but that is not possible.

What is the cure for this cancer that is killing the innocence, the kindness, the love and the promise of our children? I do not know. I do think, however, that if we all accept that we have a part to play in the destruction or development of those great big bundles of potentiality, then we can start the healing.

I am, etc.,

CYNTHIA P. COOKE

Principal

Camperdown High School