- Sherrlene Uy
- Quezon City
- Philippines
Teacher - English and Research, Glendale School, Inc. (QC, Phil)
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Amidst the rising cases involving the youth, should juvenile offenders be acquitted since they are, by law, minors?
Here in my country, the Philippines, crimes involving juvenile offenders are in a hot spot for debate. The dilemma rises from the conflicting ideas as to acquit a "child" for committing a mistake or letting him/her serve the punishment for the crime he/she has committed.
Which do we need to focus on -- the "child" or the crime?
Victoria Codilla
With the kind of system we have in our country, it's even hard to accommodate prisoners and at least give them a decent life inside the jail, what more with these young offenders? It may help or even worsen the situation. Parental guidance are very important in once growth, however, what about those children who are asked by their own parents to work instead of going to school? What about those children working in the streets for the syndicates? What is there that our government has done?
It's true that we should look at both sides. Stealing a candy is one story but killing another person is another story. And yes, there are children who do either of the two and yet our government hasn't found a way to minimize or prevent such crimes. While our government is having this debate, there is a child who is about to commit a crime and a child who can be a victim. For me, it wouldn't matter if we choose 12-years old or 15 years old as the minimum age requirement to face the legal actions. We should consider the "child" AND the crime. What our government has to focus on is how they can punish in a way that must help these children if ever they face such situation. The age won't really matter the fact they have committed a crime - petty or serious. For me they have to face the consequences of their actions. But I also don't agree they have to face the same kind of punishment like the 18 yrs old and above offenders have to go through. But we have to have a plan of action when it comes to rehabilitation and education as a part of the legal actions they have to face
greg dahlen 20+
Adriaan Braam 20+
Parents should be made jointly responsible about what bad things their kids do (up to a certain age). Even if it means paying for any damage. Money usually is a good incentive to do something about a bad situation.
It would be nice if there was a government program that would evaluate a kid for possible talents and steer in that direction. Then it would also help if businesses were given financial incentives to hire older kids in training programs.
Programs that are part training, part work.
There is nothing better for a kid to learn that actions have consequences.
Also, that in the long run, being useful in society is more rewarding and satisfying than having-your-way. The last has no end.
Robert Winner 50+
Yeah, kids do stupid things. As a cop I really try to do the right thing. Stealing a candy bar is one thing .... shooting at you is completely another.
As a teacher what do you focus on. A student who did not do the assignment but has social problems .. do you focus on the child or does he get 'F' ... I would suggest you are aware of both and within your powers address both.
I wish you well. Bob.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
I read a book recently called Real Notebooks about a writing class at a juvenile detention center, a class in which all but one student was in for murder. What was interesting was how the kids described the thoughts and feelings or lack of thoughts and feelings that got them into their situations. Another interesting dimension was how much they loved and missed their mothers.
This was anecdote- one case study- but still eye-opening in giving a rare inside view.
Rehabilitation, education, and reflectiveness arrived after the fact, when for these kids- because it was murder- the kids had little opportunity to demonstrate it would be safe to let them go.
Where I live schools work strenuously with kids in early adolescence to create a sense of choices and responsibility. Schools have staff whose main purpose lies there. But these educators are only one voice in a larger system of influences that also affect the child.
Gail . 50+
Sherrlene Uy
Thank you very much for your time! :)
Gail . 50+
The question becomes, how do you take a youth who has never experienced a different culture to understand that they are able to achieve what they do not believe is possible for them.
Back in the 1970's (?), there was a sit-com on TV here in the US. It was about a successful, upper-middle class black family (the father was a doctor & the mother a successful lawyer). The family was functional rather than the dysfunctional families that are now broadcast). For the very first time, a whole generation of black youth were shocked into the realization that if they applied themselves, they could find that reality for themselves. It was a very popular program.
I recently read a letter from a high school junior who had recently moved from Baltimore (a poor mostly black city) to Alexandria (a mostly upscale city). He spoke in amazement of his ability to be "him" at school - without the peer pressure that told him how to dress, what music to listen to, that required him to speak with a black dialect, and to behave "black". That young man now has opportunities that he would not have had without the ability to see a different future that wasn't so bleak. He was astounded at how well-received he was. Given his skin color (black), he expected something very different from what he found.
I was talking about this with a former teacher yesterday as we pondered how to expose today's youth to possibilities that even their parents don't believe in. I think that the solution lies with helping youth learn about themselves (thoughts/emotions/feelings and their relationship to life). Unfortunately, such a program (that grows EQ) would violate the religious principles of fundamentalists, so it could never be instituted.
Kate Blake 50+
Juvenile detention as such doesn't seem to achieve much unless it's in the extreme cases like rape and murder where there is a need to separate the juvenile from society.
Reconciliation where they meet the people they committed the crime against and then help those people out as a type of penance. And then there is community work, jobs done on weekends or after school to contribute to their local community as a penalty for the crime. Some Asian countries confine the youth to a monastery where they must live as a monk for a year or longer - this essentially means early mornings of prayer and devotion, begging for their meals, ongoing rituals,etc.
All of these give time for self reflection, a connection to more mature people who can provide guidance if the young person is open to this, and a very different experience which is more helpful than incarceration.
Sherrlene Uy
Even bothering is the fact that there've been cases wherein 11-15 teens were brought to jail since they are "criminals".
While other countries have a process when a child committed wrong acts -- here our problem is mainly the parents. I
I'm really curious how the other countries deal with the same problem. Thank you very much for your ideas! :)
Kate Blake 50+
Sherrlene Uy
I feel so frustrated knowing that I can hold the rope at one end but the one holding it on the other end is pulling it too much. Worse, I do not know who's holding the other end of THIS rope.
Thanks Kate! :) 'Learned a lot from you! ^^