THIS refers to Zulqarnain Sewag’s letter on ‘Parents’ duty’ (April 11). The writer is correct in saying that parents should fully watch the activities of their children so that they don’t go astray. But what if the children don’t obey their parents or do as advised by teachers.

The latest policy enunciated by educationists and adopted by parents is not to punish children so that they can grow up in a happy, fearless environment with positive role models to follow. It’s true that without the fear of punishment, the children will be assured of ‘a happy and fearless environment’, but it’s not certain that their activities will always be positive and designed to achieve the goals set for a better future.

I’ve discussed the effectiveness of the age-old maxim ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’ with several parents. Most of them are dissatisfied with the present environment in which the child neither has an aptitude for learning, nor has any fear of the teacher in school, or parents at home.

The teachers absolve themselves of their responsibility by saying that since the child spends most of the time at home, they should keep a watch over their activities. But male children have a tendency to indulge in pastimes outside the home, and they generally cannot be restricted indoors.

On the other side, the soft attitude and indulgence of parents has led children to make demands for modern gadgets and games. Not to speak of physical punishment, even a frown can make the modern child resentful, and put a parent in dilemma.

I’ve yet to find a workable method by which to engage the child in happy, healthy and useful activities without the use of the proverbial rod which is now a forbidden tool. I believe many parents might be in a fix like me.

Muhammad Akbar

Lahore