If you missed the special section in last Thursday's Dunklin Democrat (April 28, 2005), entitled "When I grow up," I urge you to read it. It's filled with heartwarming and encouraging messages from the area's second graders. It encouraged me to modify what I had planned for today's column, "The wretched manners of children." Or, maybe I would have used the title, "When to spank parents?" But, all that changed when I happened onto "When I grow up."

The children, for the most part, except for those with apprehensive parents, wrote their plans for the future in their own words, with their "personalized" syntax and spelling, that's what made it so charmingly believable and reassuring. Here's Stetson: "I would like to be a judge wine I grow up I am going to because I won't to be a judge to save people from going to jail and I am going to do my best." Stetson doesn't see a judge as a person who puts people in jail. Does this second grader, at his tender age, already somehow recognize that judges don't create criminals? Is that little fellow telling us he knows that our courts are about justice and personal responsibility, and mercy? Who taught him that? Here's Payton observing, "I would like to be a gymnastics teacher when I grow up because it will give you exercise and you will be hethy and strong." Hasn't somebody told Payton that, supposedly, our children don't get enough exercise, and are physically lazy? Is Payton actually suggesting to us, "Give me the time and the teaching and I will build myself a healthy body, and from that body will come the energy and discipline to develop my mind and character?" Let's hear from Trey. "I would like to be in the military it is sad and poor because I like the army so bad I wish I was in it right now." Is Trey telling us that it makes him sad to see young men on TV, that I guess look pretty much like his daddy, get hurt in Iraq? Do their unmistakable personal sacrifices cause him to want to do his part? Trey, interestingly, links "sad" and "poor," what's that about? It means that unless someone pollutes Trey's wonderful nature, he will help others during his lifetime, and he will serve as the most natural thing in the world for him to do. Hannah wants to be, "a famous singer because I can let my feeling in something I love to do. Also, you can just get up there and have fun. Also you can just dance away and sing at the same time." I want Hannah to meet Trey, so that she can cheer him up, when the needs of the world seem overwhelming.

Tyler L. admires and looks up to, and I'll bet loves, his dad: "I would like to be a Pepsi truck driver because I would like to be like my dad because he is one too. I will get to hawl pepsi too." Tyler's future kids will be lucky, because Tyler L. already knows, by example, how to be a good dad. Another Tyler (B) is the man to call on for those really tough jobs: "I would like to be a fireman because I think it would be a hard job."

Look out you druggie-freaks. Lindsey says, "I would like to be a policeman because I can see who is doing drugs so I can take them to the judge." Lindsey has a good understanding of our justice system. The police don't do the judging in our country. Note that Lindsey did not write "take them to jail." No, each person gets his day in court, who taught Lindsey that? Gerald also has an orderly, first things first, attitude, but construction jobs are his thing: "I would like to be a construchin rooker because I wud get to nook dane bildings and I wud get to mack a new bilding." Gerald is into "urban renewal?"

Alexis reckons that, "I would like to be a principal at holcomb school because I want to just set and eat donutes until a kids comes in my office." You know, Alexis, you might try another profession. I have friends who work next door to Causbie's bakery. You might give them a call. But understand they are "conflicted." Sometimes they have huge arguments about which are the more delicious health foods, pizzas or doughnuts. Then there is Patrick who says, "I would like to be a police officer because I do not want people hurt and robbed or kidnapped." Patrick respects the police, who protect and serve us. He needs to know, however, that sometimes they get injured, and sometimes murdered, protecting us, but that wouldn't keep brave thoughtful kids like Patrick from becoming a law enforcement officer, it never has.

Barkley can be anything he would like to be with his honest attitude: "I would like to be a baseball player because I like hiting the ball." And Catina gives us a good Mother's Day message with, "I would like to be a mother because I want to be like my mother and have children and clap my hands when my children do right." I'll bet Catina's mom has that section of "When I Grow Up" posted on her refrigerator door.

What do these children have in common? They overwhelmingly respect and trust police officers and teachers, just re-read the section "When I Grow Up," and count the ambitions of those children. But most of all I suspect these children unanimously see their parents as "lawgivers," and see them as safe, reliable, all-powerful, and sometimes militant, but loving, models for their young lives. What do you think?

Kenneth Kinchen is an independent writer with a background in international business and foreign service contracting.