Moral Decadence and the Challenge of Unruly Children in Society

One of the biggest problems facing our society today is the issue of moral decadence, especially among young people. More and more children are becoming unruly, disrespectful, and careless about their future. As a teacher, I see this every day in schools, and I can say without hesitation that many of the problems we face with youth today often start from home. While it is true that we can not always blame parents for every mistake a child makes, most of the bad behaviour we see in children is a direct result of neglect or poor upbringing.

Imagine a child who has never been corrected at home. Such a child grows up believing that he or she can do anything without facing consequences. In fact, I have seen cases where parents even go as far as fighting teachers who discipline their children in school. When a parent does this, what message are they sending? They are teaching the child that he or she can misbehave anywhere and still be defended. In the long run, such children become stubborn, disrespectful, and a danger to society.

Society itself also plays a role in this moral breakdown. A child who mixes with the wrong kind of friends can easily learn bad habits, such as smoking, drinking, or stealing. Peer influence is very powerful, and when there are no strong structures, whether in schools, religious bodies, or community organisations: to guide children - they often drift into destructive behaviours. This is why society must not fold its arms and say that parenting is only a private matter. Every community has a duty to raise responsible citizens.

Another troubling factor today is the rise of single parenting and irresponsible parenting practices. While not all single parents fail, there are cases where mothers or fathers push their children, especially girls, into prostitution. I have personally come across situations where parents ask their teenage daughters to bring home money without caring where the money comes from. What options do such girls have, other than to sell their bodies? These children lose their innocence too early, and the pain often stays with them for life.

This is why I strongly believe that parents should take responsibility for the waywardness of their children. If every parent knew they would be held accountable for their child’s behaviour, they would be more careful in training them. Parents must learn to correct their children early, to scold them when they go wrong, and to provide them with love, guidance, and discipline. If a parent fails in these duties, the child will grow up uncontrolled, and the whole society will feel the pain of that neglect.

In Africa, the situation is even more alarming. Every day, you see children roaming the streets, begging for money, or engaging in petty crimes. Many of them have parents somewhere, but those parents have abandoned their duties. These children later grow into hooligans who destroy property, disturb peace, and cause damage to the nation. At times, I ask myself: Where were their parents when these children needed them most?

The government also has a role to play. Parents should be taught and reminded not to bring children into the world if they can not raise them properly. Awareness campaigns, community programs, and stronger laws on child neglect are necessary. When parents, schools, communities, and government work hand in hand, we can begin to repair the broken moral fabric of our society and raise children who will be responsible citizens tomorrow.