You Reap What You Sow

You Reap What You Sow

21 September 2026

It is Monday, just after 9 a.m. I worked a few hours over the week-end, which gives me a quiet Monday to reflect while everyone else is out of the house at work. From eight to nine, I went through the news-paper and a certain picture is forming in my mind, but I will spare you that for now.

I cannot ignore the meeting, during working hours, of the largest teachers’ union. The immediate reason is an incident last week in which a teacher suffered a cut to his finger while trying to separate fighting students. Add to that the fact that, near the schools, an 18- or 19-year-old boy, someone their own age, was shot dead following a fight.

These are all symptoms of the serious problems facing our youth. This is not a local problem, nor did it emerge overnight. The shut-down during the pandemic made it more visible and made it worse. By now, we know that technology, and social media in particular, plays an important role. What we tend to close our eyes to is the fact that poverty — poor nutrition, inadequate housing, no money to par-ticipate in sports and recreation, inflation — also plays an important role. We now know that at least 30% of the population lives below the poverty line and that 60% faces financial difficulties. There are many other factors as well, including public transportation, which is far from adequate.

Then there is the fact that the government has stated in its budget documents that an integrated poverty reduction policy is being devel-oped.

My point is that our children are paying the price. For decades, young people have, to put it mildly, been neglected. It is ironic that time and again a small group of young people, particularly through sports, puts us back on the map. Our young people deserve better.

That brings me to today’s questions about education. Teachers are right to demand attention to their own safety. But that is not enough. Safety in schools ultimately also requires better youth policy. And I do not want to put all the blame on politics. All of us, in our own way, can contribute by helping a young person.

Because what we sow as a society, we will ultimately reap.

Miguel Goede