ANOTHER day, another report of out-of-control children in Dubbo.
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This time it was a native bird beaten and left for dead.
A passer-by told the Daily Liberal a gang of children, the youngest aged about three, beat a galah with a stick and kicked it to each other as the injured animal tried to escape.
The only upside of the entire ugly incident was the compassion of a good samaritan who took the terrified animal to the vet to end its suffering.
Where do we even start when children of single-digit ages roam the streets of Dubbo and Wellington at all hours of the day and night, use slingshots to kill animals, throw rocks at seniors, smash houses and businesses, confident their ages make them immune to the law? It does not bode well for the future.
Some are quick to offer excuses for such abhorrent behaviour, such as boredom.
Why bored kids cannot draw, play games, perform chores or even do nothing instead of destroying things is a mystery, though. Yet if there are no repercussions for their bad behaviour, where's the disincentive to repeat it?
Some blame police inaction, local councils for not building enough youth facilities and teachers for "not teaching respect at schools". Indeed, teachers are busy enough dealing with those who want to learn without having to deal with a horse that bolted long before it started kindergarten.
The great big elephant in the room is parental responsibility, or lack of it, and the fact some parents are quite happy to collect their baby bonus but don't want the responsibility that remains once the payments dry up.