'Ten commandments of crime'

THE EDITOR, Madam:

DIANA MCCAULAY'S piece in The Sunday Gleaner captioned

"The making of 'bad' men" brings to mind the Houston Police Department's published rules for rearing delinquent children in what is called the "Ten Commandments of Crime".

Interested parents should note the following summary of 10 surefire ways to make a criminal.

1. Begin in infancy to give your child everything he wants. In this way he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living.

2. Never give him any religious or spiritual training. Wait until he is 21; then he can decide on the "church of his choice," if any.

3. Avoid use of inhibiting words like "wrong", "illegal" or "bad". It may develop a guilt complex. Instead, assure him that society is at fault.

4. Pick up everything he leaves around, toys, books, and clothes. Do everything for him, so he will expect the world to support him later.

5. Let him read any printed matter he finds, or speak any words he hears. Sterilise the silverware, of course, but let his mind and mouth be "dirty".

6. Quarrel frequently in his presence. In this way he will see the breakup of a family and thus be more likely to break up his own later.

7. Give your child all the spending money he wants. Don't make him earn it. Why should he have things as

rough as you did.

8. Satisfy his every craving for food, drink and comfort. Denial may lead to inner frustration, so see that each desire is met immediately.

9. Take you child's part against neighbour, the police, teachers, friends, government, and the world. They're all picking on your dear child.

10. Prepare for a life of grief. You will be likely to suffer it. Hundreds of parents have followed this regimen. The result is the increased juvenile delinquency wave Jamaica has been experiencing since the 80s.

I am, etc.,

C.Wilson, E-mail: udew@yahoo.com,

Would we print?, Jenni Campbell, The Gleaner Co Ltd, Western Bureau Manager, 34 Union St, Montego Bay, St.James, Jamaica WI, tele: (876)952 2454, fax (876)952 3828

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