Those children… lucky

QTO - Historically, family, school, and society have formed a solid foundation for nurturing and educating children. While the roles of family and school are self-evident, the role of society remains vague and rather ambiguous. The recent involvement of the police force in educating unruly children in some localities has helped to clarify responsibilities and fill that social "gap."

Not every child is… lucky.

In any situation or social environment, there are both well-behaved and rebellious children. Well-behaved children are always obedient and respectful, while rebellious children are always causing trouble. Parents nowadays often ask each other, "Are your children well-behaved?" They're asking "well-behaved," not "good" or "good" children. A well-behaved child isn't just someone who excels academically; they also aren't mischievous or disruptive.

Some say raising children isn't as difficult as teaching them. And nothing beats being there for them and accompanying them. In modern life, adults seem to have fewer and fewer opportunities to be close to and spend time with their children, as most of their time is dedicated to work. Adults easily understand this because it's about making a living, but children find it hard to accept. There have been instances where children have exclaimed to their parents, "I don't need your money, I just need your time with me." Everyone dismisses this as a childish way of thinking. Adults, however, think, "How can we live without money?"

Police in many localities are coordinating with families and schools to meet with and educate unruly children - Photo: CH

Both parents are teachers working at a school in a mountainous area, and they have two sons. From a young age, their eldest son has always been well-behaved and academically successful, so they felt very secure. With their parents working far away, the two brothers are left at home to look after and support each other. The older brother balances his studies with caring for his younger sibling.

One day, the couple heard that their eldest son's academic performance had declined and he was frequently skipping school. Upon investigation, they discovered that the boy had fallen prey to some unsavory characters who were luring him into a life of debauchery. With a comfortable family life, parents often away from home, and ample money (the weekly food allowance for the two brothers), he became an easy target for these unruly youths. At that time, the area where he lived was experiencing a booming economy , and a lifestyle of indulgence, partying, and showing off had become prevalent among young people.

In a short time, this place became a "hotspot" for drugs. Recognizing the danger early on, the couple decided that one of them would get a teaching job near home so they could be close to their child before it was too late. Now, seeing their child grown up, he recalls that as one of the right and timely decisions they ever made.

This illustrates how fragile the line between childhood and delinquency is today. Children who "run away from home" are capable of anything, and most delinquents are influenced by peer pressure and reckless behavior. However, not every child is fortunate enough to have their parents or relatives detect early signs of academic decline or reckless behavior.

Not well-behaved, not disobedient.

The author of this article has encountered many cases of juvenile delinquency. Before the crimes occurred, families, relatives, and schools were all powerless in educating the children. Some parents were so helpless that they gave up... leaving it to society to educate them. However, upon closer examination, that's just an excuse. It is precisely this laxness on the part of adults that pushes these children further into delinquency.

During his time in charge of the former Ham Ninh commune, Lieutenant Pham Sinh Hoang, a police officer in Quang Ninh commune, frequently encountered children "going out at night," some even stealing property and getting into fights. Hoang and his colleagues repeatedly warned and reprimanded them, but the children continued their bad behavior. Upon questioning and verifying information at their schools, he discovered that these children were all "problem students."

Recently, Ham Ninh Secondary School in Quang Ninh commune compiled a list of 12 "misbehaving" students and forwarded it to the commune police for coordinated support, education, and management. These students frequently skip school, engage in frivolous activities, and loiter around. Notably, their family circumstances are quite unique; they grew up without a father, without a mother, or with parents working far away. Of course, not all children raised in such circumstances are misbehaving, but these conditions create an environment where they are more susceptible to bad habits and vices.

It goes without saying that these "blue uniforms" wield considerable influence and prestige at the grassroots level. Therefore, when the police and teachers visit the homes to discuss the matter, the parents and relatives of the students cooperate. So, the family, relatives, and school are aware of and have identified the situation; the question now is how to educate, monitor, and supervise their children and students.

Lieutenant Pham Sinh Hoang stated: “Initially, we are coordinating with families and schools to organize meetings, conversations, encouragement, persuasion, and mobilization. Students who misbehave will be required to perform labor, such as weeding and cleaning at the school, the martyrs' cemetery, and public areas under the supervision of police and teachers. This can be considered a punishment, aimed at training them to respect the value of labor. Those who show improvement will have their behavior eased. If they remain misbehaving, we will continue to apply stricter supervision and management measures.” The actions of the Quang Ninh Commune Police have received widespread public support. Following the approach of the Quang Ninh Commune Police, police in many other localities have also begun implementing similar measures.

We believe that the cooperation between schools and local police forces will add another "shield" to prevent, correct, and guide unruly children. "Unruly," not "disobedient." Therefore, it's not an exaggeration to say that these children are... lucky. Lucky to have the care and support of their families, schools, and society.

Duong Cong Hop

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202601/nhung-dua-tre-may-man-7c32720/