The young and not so young

Lifestyles have changed these last two or three decades, almost beyond description. Technology has advanced at a very fact pace, especially IT, to the extent that the older generation almost feel bewildered. One wonders how the not so young managed to cope 20 years ago. That is when progress practically exploded in their faces. And now what about the future?

Never before has the generation gap been felt as at present. Parents see the past in their children, so distant are the modes of behaviour between now and then.

The young often get impatient with their elders. They feel that the behavioural pace of the middle aged is far too slow. Hence parents try to see in their children their own future in an honest attempt to solve the present difficult scenario.

The spirit of solidarity is really more evident in those who are not so far in anni Domini. They try hard to understand the impatience of thei younger generation. Still, it appears often difficult to cope with the all too rapid changes. No sooner have they managed to get acclimatised to the present that they feel outrun by the speed of change.

Nowadays children no longer try to remain children. They expect their parents to treat them as their peers, they expect their parents to provide them with what they consider to be the bare essentials of their imagined present. When parents satisfy the whims of their children the latter do like Oliver: they ask for more. Sometimes with a 'please', sometimes as of 'right'.

Their argument is this: no sooner is a scientific book published than its contents are almost obsolete, seemingly overtaken by events. How true is this with computers, digital instruments like cameras, and communications? Lecturers in Information Studies can rely on their own notes for a previous course. They will have to update them. Else their students will consider them passé.

Solidarity

The name of the game, if we wish to narrow the generation gap, is solidarity. Rather than widen the gap both generations will have to bend over backwards to play this game. Otherwise they would not be acting sincerely.

Respect for one's parents is a duty of the highest level. By and large one finds that in Malta the family, as the nucleus of society, is greatly respected.

Family unity is a commendable virtue. It has to continue to be nourished. One is justifiably alarmed at a diametrically opposite scenario at times found in the consumerist society in which we are living.

Take the case of a father who has lost his wife. It borders on the tragic to find that not one of his children is ready to honour the father by keeping him at his or her home. The father will have to seek asylum elsewhere.

It is true that the government and the Church have established old people's homes, but there is a waiting list. Still, old people's home are only a partial solution to this social problem. The scenario just observed is very serious and is to be condemned.

In almost all cases the opposite is the case; the same father no doubt supported by all his children. These two cases of solidarity are opposite. The first is negative and unnatural. The second is positive and quite natural.

The two generations cannot with impunity dig in their heels and insist on their point of view. Insisting on such conduct makes it impossible to arrive at a compromise... this is the opposite of solidarity. The more the two sides appear to diverge the greater the need for them to approach each other with understanding and sympathy.

Parents in school councils

A recent event comes easily to mind. This year has been a record in elections of parents to school councils. The record number of candidates shows an increase in awareness of the duties of parents and their vested interests in their children's school. At last the culture is shaping up of helping oneself in the same proportion as expected help from the State. It is the constitutional obligation of the State to provide education for children from kindergarten to 16 years of age. It is equally the duty of parents to shoulder their share of education at home.

When parents are elected to a school council they have a say in how the school functions. Discussing a school problem in council is more rewarding and easier than writing a letter of protest or criticism in the press. Harbouring a grievance privately does not solve the problem. But then taking aggressive and violent action against school administrators deserves the full harsh penalty of the criminal law.

Self-government is opposed to absolute central control. Just as local councils have proved to be justified, so will school councils. The latter have benefited the localities in which they operate. The more interest parents show in their children's schools the more productive educationally the schools become.

Nature lovers, especially bird lovers, hold the view that the smallest bird cannot alight on the greatest tree without sending a shock to the most distant fibre.

There is much food for thught in this statement that has a deep philosophical connotation.