Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes is not impressed by parents who give their children choices from young and who do not insist they practise speaking standard English.
He was addressing the mother of 18-year-old Tristan Kareem Joseph, of Block 2F Country Park High Rise Towers, Country Road, St Michael yesterday. During the three attempts her son made to tell the court about the events which took place last Friday and which resulted in him being charged with assault, Joseph was floundering.
“That is why you go to school to do a presentation and only girls ask questions at the end. That is the reason why athletes can’t do a proper interview after winning a medal at CARIFTA; because none of this is being practised where they live. You all allow them to speak Bajan. It is a whole set of poor parenting going on in this place and it’s a Caribbean problem,” Weekes stressed.
“Children are being given choices at age five and six. They must be listened to – I agree with that; but you all are not engaging in discussion with your children. All of these abbreviations on social media mean they do not understand standard English. I believe the family mash-up in this country – that is why we have all this crime and violence.”
Referring to his own circumstances, Weekes said he had to speak standard English in his home and can therefore switch from that to Barbadian dialect at will, because of his foundation.
Raising the notion that some parents seem more caught up with themselves than with raising their children well, the judicial officer added: “I am seeing women with 3 000 tattoos and letting other subcultures take over our culture. Some Bajan women want to look like Paris Hilton or Ariana Grande.”
“Strong good women have always built strong families in this country,” he added. “Children may have a problem, so you need to listen to them, but you have to put rules in place from the time they are five or six. Parents shouldn’t be asking children if they want to do something. They don’t pay the Internet bill, they don’t pay the light bill, they don’t pay any bills – that is why they have to do chores.”
Sir, I am in total agreement with you. On all levels.
One year I was home on vacation and I was appalled at what I heard coming from small children’s mouths.
I had many discussions with Barbadians about the improper languages I heard.
Back then I blamed the teaches but I never thought I should the parents.
However, you are correct because parents should correct their children when they miss speak.
Five and six years old is too late.
As soon as a child starts to speak he should be corrected.
I worked with young children back in 1979, and I was quite impressed that a child who was only a year and half year old could make a complete sentences. Reciting proper English and was corrected on the spot if a noun or verb was incorrect.
The parents in Barbados have their priorities backward.
The way a person presents his or herself through speech/language opens doors to them even if their aren’t book smart.
No young person in any of the Caribbean Islands should be speaking improper English.
Everyone has a smart phone, there are books, magazines and a multitude of other articles that can help people to speak properly.
Please correct my comment if it’s printed poorly. I am still working on my gramma.
Nowadays the use of correct English is considered “soft”, “trying to be great!”, etc. We have become a society where rough, curt and use of expletives seem more “fashionable” and cool.
This expression is well captured by our widely accepted taste for vulgar and violence based music culture.
It has grown to such proportions that even our school fares are now victims of this awful spectre.
I recall the days when correct English (and good morays) wasn’t reserved for those coming from the higher socio economic ladder.
What ever happened to the Barbados that once taught the classics of Latin and Greek? (we now have African classics too).