By CHRIS LENOIS

“Actions speak louder than words,” goes the old saying. Whether conscious of it or not, this is the code by which men typically conduct themselves. Yet speaking is an action, and one that all too seldom is not acted upon.

During the short time I’ve been covering St. John Parish, I’ve already encountered instances where male role models have been called upon to speak to young boys in the community, each time with positive effects.

Seventh-graders at the Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School are participating in the Governor’s Program on Abstinence, a cirriculum designed to educate kids about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. The volunteers who teach the unit are all women, but at one point had two East St. John High School boys come speak to the class. Ashley Rich, whose physical education class has absorbed the program, felt that this was the most effective part of the unit for the boys. “The East St. John boys were what our boys would consider cool,” she said.

Capt. Mike Tregre of the sheriff’s department gave a pep talk to fourth-graders at LaPlace Elementary for the upcoming LEAP tests. At one point, he was asked by the principal, Dr. Courtney Millet, to speak specifically to the boys. “When the boys get frustrated, a lot of them shut down,” she said. “Being a woman, I don’t think they always take what I say to heart the way they would if a man was talking to them.”

Tregre is a good speaker. He’s extemporaneous without sacrificing polish. His forays into popular slang don’t come off as forced, and he’s able to tie everything he says back to his main message. (Which in this case was, “Education keeps you out of jail.” A great, big message with no gray area that seemed to hit home with his fourth-grade audience.)

There’s nothing wrong with leading by example. Clearly it’s the speaker’s experience that give them the credibility. But “actions” are moments in time. To borrow from the zen question about falling trees making sounds, — If one is not witness to the action, can it still make an impact?

The answer is yes, provided the “actor” is able to express their thoughts and emotions about the experience in a way that resonates no matter how much time has elapsed.

No one will ever question the heroics of the New York City Police and Fire Departments on Sept. 11. But the honest and open expression of the fears and sorrows Officer Robert Mitchell described during his recent visit to St. John parish quieted a room full of East St. John High School students who were very excited by the chaos brought on by the attention of the TV cameras and reporters. The following night, Mitchell brought a roomful of grown men and women to tears at a meeting of the St. John School Board.

(While writing that last sentence, I initially put “reduced to tears” then replaced it with “brought.” Here I am, writing about the importance of men expressing emotions, and then nearly denigrating that very expression.)

Kids take their cues from their peers first, even before their parents and certainly before any musician or movie star. It’s the boys who can combine physical prowess with quick wits and charisma that assume leadership roles, while other boys rally around them. (It’s the same with girls too.) Those boys need as many Captain Tregre’s, Officer Mitchell’s and especially fellow students as they can get to set good examples with their talk as well as their walk.

CHRISTOPHER LENOIS is a reporter for L’Observateur. Call him at (985) 652-9545.