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I can, therefore i will
The clock strikes two. Saleem's parents are waiting up for him. Saleem has already been caught twice for vandalising public property but he still won't give it up. Finally the key turns in the lock, he enters giving his parents a cold stare and quietly goes up to his room.
Such is the case with a lot of parents who face rebellion from their children. Saleem's parents are about to get a divorce. The situation at home is unhappy. They have the added problem of facing Saleem's counsellor about their sons' disruptive behaviour. The hypocrisy that goes along with society labelling children's' behaviour is astounding. It is ironic to see how the society is actually the cause of these juvenile delinquents.
As a form of rebellion and to receive attention children indulge in various crimes. The legal term ‘juvenile delinquent‘ was established so that young law breakers could avoid their names being in legal records. At first it was taken as a minor issue, but the rapid growth of crime rate, at the hands of such children, has brought on major prejudices against the children. Studies indicate that for every one girl committing a crime, sixty boys commit one. The percentages of crimes by juveniles are staggering, showing nine per cent for residential burglaries, five per cent for non-residential, 22 per cent theft charges and so on. With such statistics, it is important to try to figure out what causes such disregard for the law. The results of various investigations show that it is doubtful that children become delinquents for any one reason.
Family life plays a major role in building the personality of a child. If he were to suffer neglect, leading to frustration, it would be a natural urge for him to go against what he is told to do. If he were in a situation where there was financial trouble, with no positive outlet, his mind would wander to crime. It is a known fact that in a rich society, poverty is felt to a greater extent and the end results in shoplifting, pick-pocketing and stealing. In this fast-paced world, parents don't seem to have enough time for their children to be a positive influence on them. It also seems that when parents try to shelter their children too much, it results in rebellion. Once a child experiences the thrill of doing something they are not supposed to be doing they take it on as a challenge to continue misbehaving.
Apart from the inner family circle, it is very important for a child to socialise in the right kind of community. If it is the community itself that suffers the most, then they should try to take measures to create a stable environment for their children. Peer pressure is one of the major reasons why most children get mixed up with the wrong crowd. The statement 'I can, therefore I will” seems to be their motto. Children who are easily intimidated by bullies also join in, to prove themselves. If a society isolates minorities, the people who will feel it the most will be the children. Racial discrimination, religious sects and other distinctions in society should be at a minimum, if at all, in order to make it a better environment for the youth. In today's society however, it is very common for there to be class, ethnic and racial distinction and the main reason is that the community is encouraged by the politicians, who bring such issues only to create conflict.
We cannot eradicate the reasons for juvenile crimes completely, but we can strive to create a healthy environment for the child through guidance. After a long time people have begun to realise that it is the environment that breeds such behaviour. Though the problem is widespread certain measures can be taken to curb it. Parents must be made to realise that if they don't talk to their kids, explaining why certain acts are banned, and not just forbid them out right, allow them to develop a strong personality, their children will be open targets to bad company. Where usually it is said that too many cooks spoil the broth, in the case of most children, it will take only the influence of one person to make a child completely disregard values.
Schools should have effective counsellors who can recognise and help problems with delinquency. The media should focus less on glamorising crime and more on how criminals' life is anything but fun. Many communities have centres which allow the children to use up their excess energy in a positive method by activities that can both help their community and serve as a learning purpose. Also, if a child has no one to turn to, such community centres should cater to things that could be helpful in broadening their horizons, allowing them to dance, sing, play sports, learn to use computers, have a swimming pool, and anything else that could keep a child occupied and away from ruining their lives. After all, it would be less expensive for people to invest in this rather than to deal with moral corruption.
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