1. “Mr. Joseph” who are you and what is your background? In Rabbi R. Greenwalds words”everybody knows exactly how to fix his neighbors kid,why didn’t he (g-d) just exchange the kids & solve all the problems”?

2. We should all spend much more time with our kids. Simple but powerful message. I agree, they are more important than the shul, the school, our social obligations, and the neighbors opions.

3. Can you cite statistics about the 1:00AM crowd that points to them having had mothers who worked longer hours? Perhaps some children are better off away from their parents or some parents are better parents when they are not home with kids all day. In any case you have absolutley nothing to back up your hypothosis.

4. to kvetch;

   What difference does it make? “Kabeil es ha’emes m’mi she’omro” !!

5. Speaking as one who knows first hand, the amount of money spent on “rehabilitating” a teen-at-risk is more exorbitant than the amount of money earned during the crucial growing up years. The agmus nefesh during the teen-at-risk years is not worth the menuchas hanefesh of being out during the growing up years.

6. I want to compliment TLS for publishing articles like this. Forget political correctness and deal with the issues. Yasher koach

7. The point the Writer of this article is trying to make I believe touches on one of the most underlying causes of “kids at risk” and something that hits to much and to close to home to certain people and they will quickly write off the author as inexperienced or unprofessional that being said I don’t know the author and never heard of him before but what I’ve came to notice over my years of thinking what was a major cause of me and a lot of my friends “going. off” or not to actually point a finger to the excact cause but to bring out a huge factor,is parents and mechanchim are quick to blame society,bad friends tv then the internet while all those are facilitators of kids at risk they aren’t the actual cause. A kid with a healthy relationship with his family,friends and teachers/rebbiem wants to do good in their eyes and will never want to hurt them or have them look down on him/her. But once a child feels allienated for a variety of reasons whether it be not enough attention and love at home or not having the brains/patience to succeed at schools at the required level established by the “system” then they lose that feeling of needing to impress and succeed and look good in the eyes of parents/teachers etc. And lose that BONDand TRUST! And then its just a matter of time they look elsewhere for that satisfaction and we all know where that leads

8. It sounds to me that Mr. Joseph is suggesting that parents are Hashem’s messenger to raise their own children. I think he is also relating that a parent should be in position to detect and prevent and deal with issues that may arise in their children’s life.

   #3 suggests that the time factor, or parent job is a statistic. Simply change the variables. Say its 11:30pm and a 11 year old doing something outrageous. Or a 17 year old somewhere with her “friends,” drinking beer.

   #3 Suggests parents might be better parents when they are not around their children. At that point, you are not a parent. Parent infers with children. Who said you have to be a “great parent”, or even a “good parent”, you must be a “PARENT.” It might be a challange- so be it. Thats your job.

   Solid article.

9. “Rabbi” the main reason for the 1 AM children. Indeed perhaps the 3 am adults. is the lack of backbone and cowardice they see in their community and environment. When children get the impression that their parents really dont have a clue or care enough to have one, they feel the need to rebel.

   As an adult, I wonder what kind of a community it is that we live in, where a well though out and well written article such as the one you wrote- must remain anonymous?

   It may not be a reflection of the cowardice of the author, as to why this was done. He may be afraid of people disagreeing with his opinion-this may have repercussions he is not prepared to deal with.

   But it does say something about our community where often one’s opinions must be kept to themselves, or if not it must be kept anonymous.

   People are fearful being criticized and stigmatized, along with the community consequences for being challenged, such as not letting your kids into school, etc. How much of our lives, do we live to serve others, instead of hashem?

10. This article is dumb. Go down forest ave at 1 am any day of the week. What are these kids, yes kids, doing there? “Outsiders imput?” Just say what you mean. It is kids being kids. Nothing more and nothing less. Good job #3.

11. although it may be necessary for a mom to work, how many of us are out several evenings a week attending parlor meetings, teas, chinese auctions, parenting classes(!) dinners, bar mitzvahs, weddings, vorts, etc?
    THis is an even more important area to change, since school age kids are at school anyway during work hours, but home in the evenings- with their parents.

    I propose that the community as a whole realize this and perhaps make the following changes, which will address this issue, as well as save all of us alot of time and money.
    –discontinue vorts. biggest waste of time and money.
    a quick lechaim for the local folks who want to run over and say mazel tov should be enough, as well as a phone call for longer distance friends and relatives.

    –bar mitzvahs – invite only immediate family, no friends.
    it will be a much more cozy and meaningful affair.

12. there ! I saved you the job of editing and moderating

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