You erred, Dr Brown-Earle

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I was appalled on reading the answer to a question posed to child psychologist Dr Orlean Brown-Earle in The Gleaner of February 25, 2014, Page D10.

The question was from the step-grandmother of a 16-year-old girl, whose mother was about to migrate and wished to leave her daughter with the step-grandmother.

Based on her letter, it was apparent that the step-grandmother had no problem keeping the child, except that she stipulated that she ran a very strict household, including regular attendance to church. Given that the 16-year-old "ha[d] never attended church regularly", she anticipated some conflict.

My point of concern is what I consider to be Dr Brown-Earle's inadequate response. She told the step-grandmother to have a sitdown with the mother and child and "have them understand the rules under which you operate. Make it very clear what your expectations are for this young lady with regard to educational, religious and social activities."

I am highly cognisant of the space considerations of Dr Brown-Earle's column. I am sure that she wished she had more space to treat more expansively with the questions she receives. However, I refuse to believe space consideration prevented her from writing even one brief sentence about the rights of the young lady in question. Or did an overexuberant paginator do Dr Brown-Earle a disservice with injudicious cutting and tightening?

The fact is, children have rights and should not be treated in their homes as if they are in prison. This young lady has a right to be heard on decisions affecting her life and to have this taken into consideration by the adults who are responsible for her upbringing.

Bullying children

By all means, the step-grandmother must state what she will and will not tolerate in the behaviour of this young girl while she's living under the step-grandmother's roof. But it is an unfortunate fact of life that children living with step-relations or strangers, and even some parents, are often bullied and taken advantage of and made subject to mental and psychological abuse that can be as, if not more harmful than, physical abuse.

So I would imagine that a child psychologist would be quick to point out to someone like this step-grandmother, who anticipates "conflicts" because a young girl coming into her care "has never attended church regularly", that children have legal rights, too.

C. REID

Kingston 8