This week has seen an enormous amount of debate abut the causes of youth violence, who is responsible and what can be done about it.

As is almost the case in these debates, parents have come in for a fair amount of criticism. This may not be entirely fair, since there are times when the children of "good parents" go off the rails through no fault of the parents.

But it does not mean that there isn't some validity to the criticisms. Certainly, parents have more influence – and more opportunity to influence – their children than anyone else.

Two letters in today's newspaper, one from Social Rehabilitation and culture Minister Dale Butler and one from Kathleen Bell, speak an enormous amount of good sense on this issue and give good guidance on how to raise children well.

And there is a plethora of information in bookshops, the Internet, magazines and the like that is easily available.

Still, parenting is harder than it looks, and many new parents will admit that regardless of their preparation or lack thereof, they are to some extent flying blind and relying on how they were brought up and common sense to do the right thing.

And, as is often said in Bermuda, some parents must work so hard to simply keep food on the table and a roof over their children's heads that they don't have time for all the niceties. That may be so, but there is surely no more important task entrusted to an adult than to raise their children well.

This will no doubt be unpopular and may be seen as nanny statism literally run amok, but it is hard not to avoid the notion that compulsory parenting courses for expectant parents might not be a bad idea.

Many parents attend birthing classes, but with some exceptions, the lessons end at the moment of delivery or soon thereafter. The hospital and Government agencies also do a good job on assessing babies' physical well being.

And the Child Development Programme also offers assessment and counselling to young children. Recently, this newspaper also reported on "health visitors" who help new mothers with breastfeeding and some of the other challenges with newborns.

But there is not much available for people who need help with parenting; and often when parents realise they have a "problem child" it is almost too late for them to get help.

Would it not make sense to ensure that new parents – or parents to be – get some guidance on how to raise a baby who is healthy not only in body but in mind? A great deal can be accomplished in a child's early years before the pervasive influence of modern media, peers and the like come into play. And it might help this Island to avoid a tragedy.