I read with more than a little surprise attorney-at-law and former chairman of the Cornwall College school board, Nathan Robb's comments and the support he got from principal Denham McIntyre.

While I agree that some mothers do mollycoddle their sons, not allowing them to stay after school for extracurricular activities, I would be cautious of blanket statements. I pose the following questions to these learned gentlemen:

What percentage of mothers drive Pajeros?

Could some of these mothers be working mothers?

What percentage of the boys whose mothers do not pick them up from school join the cadets etc.?

Where are the fathers in this equation and what should there role be?

Too many of our young men are in crisis but what are the real reasons? Is there still the issue of the absentee father even when he lives at home? This is no time for the blame game.

A commercial currently running on television for a play has a new definition for DNA - Daddy Not Available. Perchance could this be part of the problem?

This one calls for allied efforts on the part of every mother, every father, every Jamaican.

I am, etc.,

FAE A. ELLINGTON

fae@mail.infochan.com

Kingston 6