Editorial: Young dice with death

What on earth are the young people of our city up to now?

On Saturday The Daily Post revealed a group of 10 and 11-year-olds were caught playing a dangerous choking game that nearly had fatal consequences for one of them. If it weren't for one of the kids in the group finally coming to their senses and putting a stop to the game, who knows what would have happened?

The children were playing the game in the Sunset Primary School grounds about 7.30pm on Friday, June 22. As one child came close to choking to death, one of the children stopped the game, which involves stopping the oxygen supply until the "player" passes out. The supposed attraction is some kind of high felt before they pass out. Have you ever heard of anything so stupid?

Two Auckland youths have already died as a result of this idiotic game. All the necessary agencies have been called in and are dealing with the situation and the school staff will this week speak to the children. But the school really isn't in a position to discipline them as the game was played outside school hours. The school has also rightly pointed out that by taking action it absolves the parents from their responsibilities.

Sunset Primary School principal Neils Rasmussen and his team already have a tough time dealing with the issues schooling in a low socio-economic area brings.

In May we reported children were going to school barefoot in winter and without lunch - or skipping school because they had no food as parents struggled to cover everyday costs. The school started a soup kitchen which provides children with a warm meal on Mondays. The school's board has also started providing students with lunches, such as macaroni and cheese, for the small cost of $2. The school is doing a great job.

So what are the parents of the kids who nearly choked to death going to do? No doubt the incident has come as a shock to them. If it hasn't, it should. I hope they take a hard line so these children don't try this again. They will be the first to cry over their children's little coffins wondering what they could have done to prevent such a tragedy. This is your wake-up call.