How To Maintain Intact Communities Without Broken Windows

John Q. Wilson was a political scientist and authority on public administration who taught at Harvard from 1961-1987. He helped put forward the "broken windows" theory of crime- if police ignore public disorder, such as broken windows, criminals will get the idea they can get away with anything. His published report in 1982 in the "Atlantic Monthly" states, "...one unrepaired window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing." His article concludes, "Just as physicians now recognize the importance of fostering health rather than simply treating illness, so the police- and the rest of us- ought to recognize the importance of maintaining intact, communities without broken windows." So maybe we parents are ignoring a "broken window" by not insisting our teenagers sit down for a family meal at least 4 times / week. I spoke with a local high school teacher last night who started "team cooking" after reading an article in the Richmond Times Dispatch "Cook for a Night, Eat for a Week." Now she and a neighbor do a "Cooking Co-op" together as she enters her 4th year of a team approach to putting dinner on the table for her family of 4. She mentioned her students were living "very independent lives." One student commented they had not sat down with their family to eat in a year. How can we maintain and keep intact one of the most important communities, family, without regularly sitting down for a meal every week? Many of our big cities like NYC enjoyed a huge financial comeback in the 1980's and 1990's by cleaning up graffitti and repairing broken windows which helped reduce crime. Parents, it's time to insist your teenagers are at your family meal at least 4 times/week. Why 4? Studies show that children eating 4 or more meals with a parent are better students, healthier and involved in less risky behavior. This would make for a dramatic housing and family come back. Resurrect the family meal this Easter.