PARENTS ADVISED TO SERVE AS MODELS TO CHILDREN (PAGE 11, APRIL 30, 2010)

THE Vice-Chairperson of the Madonna Junior High School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in Koforidua, Mrs Suzie Brocke, has advised parents and guardians to be role models to their children and lead exemplary lives that would shape the lives of their children for a better future.
“We as parents and guardians need to show the right examples to our children by being free and chatting with them to enable us to understand, guide and shape them for a brighter future", Mrs Brocke said.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony of the Madonna Junior High School on Wednesday, Mrs Brocke said "to have the right influence on our children, parents must never fail to chastise them whenever they go wrong and commend them when they do the right thing".
The graduation ceremony for 43 students; comprising 21 boys and 22 girls, was used to honour some of the graduating students who distinguished themselves in various subjects.
Mrs Brocke, who is also a senior lecturer at the Nursing and Midwifery Training College in Koforidua, said since parents and guardians were often the first point of contact for their children, any bad examples or lifestyles on their part could negatively affect the psyche and future aspirations of their children.
"Since children are extremely susceptible to both good and bad influences in their formative years, it is our responsibility as parents to ensure that we ourselves exhibit the best examples that we desire them to emulate today and in the future", she explained.
She also advised the graduates to be guided by humility and respect for both the young and the elderly, adding "your key to success in every aspect of life is humility and respect towards others".
She further admonished the students to focus on the pursuit of their future ambitions, stressing, "a good start gives you a good finish in life".
"Staying focused in life also requires you to refrain from all negative lifestyles such as pre-marital sex, drug abuse, fraud and ‘Sakawa’, all of which could jeopardise your future dreams", she stressed.