World Change And Protecting Impressionable Young Minds

By Yvonne Sam
Contributing Columnist

The world continues to change, and as a consequence, so do our social standards and norms. Since the dawn of creation, such a change has been a normal accompaniment of both the human experience and development.

Notwithstanding, certain standards have remained intact; for example, the protection of our children and the things, to which they should and should not, have access.

In developed societies, the world over, it has been universally acknowledged that the development of children is so valuable that adults should shelter them from some difficult parts of life, such as sex, violence and drugs, to mention a few. Such a value is so widely acknowledged and accepted that, in some countries, including Canada, there is prohibition on the sale of goods, manufactured with child labor. Canada joined the list of countries with transparency laws, to become a global leader in addressing child and forced labour around the world.

My reference to the term “shelter” should not be construed to mean that such things do not exist. Instead, I intend to point out that sensitivity has been displayed anytime any of the aforementioned topics have been spoken or discussed, especially within the presence of young children. Regrettably, this standard is slowly deteriorating.

Among the many powerful people and voices out there, are those, who want to force young children to examine topics, such as the intricacies of gender and sex. Pray tell, at what age is it inappropriate to discuss these topics with children? And if these topics are to be addressed, should the parents not have a say, in where, when and how?

Essentially, it is the parents who know their children the best; they are endowed with the innate sense of how far to push their child, and, as their caretakers, they have every right to teach them the principles that they believe to be right.

This is certainly not about my likes and dislikes, or about being against anybody, but rather about raising the issue of whether, young children should be exposed to drag queens and drag makeup. Personally I do not believe they should, and it is a topic we must debate as a nation.

Now, if individual parents want to do it, on their own time, that is their right and decision. Then again, should every child be compelled to experience it? Then again, do macho men attend elementary schools and read to young children books that encourage them to embrace their heterosexuality? No, they do not. The reason being that as concerned adults, we care about the impressions we leave on young children and desire to preserve their innocence and childhood beauty.

……..as concerned adults, we care about the impressions we leave on young children and desire to preserve their innocence and childhood beauty.

Permitting drag queens into primary classrooms to read and teach their philosophy, will only confuse impressionable children. How can the school board expect children to understand a man, dressed in women’s clothing, instructing them on men loving men and women loving women, when they have difficulty comprehending sexuality, in general?

Just recently, even after receiving criticism on social media, a Montreal area library held firm to its decision to host a story-time event with local drag queen, Barbada de Barbades.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this. It’s a great opportunity to be more inclusive and to show kids that there’s all kinds of [people] in the world,” Mayor, Marc Doret, told a local television station, “I think, in Dorval, we try to be a diverse community, both culturally and otherwise.” This is an obvious example of political intrusion in our educational system.

Unfortunately, some school administrators appear to believe they have the authority to invade the minds of young children, without parental presence and knowledge, and instill in them values that serve their desire.

If we do not appreciate and preserve our children and the beauty of childhood, we will saddle them with a weight much greater than their young minds can bear.

Aleuta continua….the struggle continues.

Yvonne Sam, a retired Head Nurse and Secondary School Teacher, is the Chair of the Rights and Freedom Committee at the Black Community Resource Centre. A regular columnist for over two decades with the Montreal Community Contact, her insightful and incursive articles on topics ranging from politics, human rights and immigration, to education and parenting have also appeared in the Huffington Post, Montreal Gazette, XPressbogg and Guyanese OnLine. She is also the recipient of the Governor General of Canada Caring Canadian Citizen Award.