Half of teens in illegal activities, says survey

        According to a survey recently conducted by the Democratic Alliance for Betterment of Hong Kong in September 2003, more than half of teenagers being interviewed have been involved in illegal activities in the past years. The illegal activities that teenagers have been involved in include underpaying transportation fare, vandalism, working illegally in bars and even work in brothels. The data is shocking . Why do teenagers choose to engage in illegal activities? In this essay, I will examine the reasons for this worrying phenomenon and suggest solutions to the problem.

        Students who take part in illegal activities may be due to their low esteem in schools.  Those who are tempted to engage in illegal activities may be students with poor academic results. Since they are always the losers in tests and examinations, they have low self-esteem.   Engaging in illegal activities, such as, underpaying transportation fare without being noticed or blamed by bus drivers, may fulfill their sense of success. Besides, since they are frustrated by their poor academic results, they may divert their attention from study to peers. It is easy for them to be susceptible by peers to take part in illegal activities. 

        Another cause of the problem is lack of parental support and care. Hong Kong is undergoing economic recession. Most parents have to work round the clock in order to earn a living. With keen competitions in employment market, workers in Hong Kong dare not to spare time from work to family. Thus, great obstacle prevents parents from allocating time to communicate with their children. They may know nothing about what their children do at their leisure. This provides a chance for youngsters to take part in illegal activities. On the other hand, some teenagers may not live up the expectations of their parents.. They quarrel over academic results.  This may results in high pressure and impose heavy burden on youngsters. They may find their parents quarrelsome and their home becomes their annoying place. In order to get rid of vexation as well as to draw their parents’ attention, young people may engage in illegal activities..

        Poor and unhealthy attitudes of youngsters may be a crucial cause of the problem. Materialism prevails  among youngsters. Girls may skip lunch to buy expensive fashions as well as boys may show off their newly bought brand-name bags or watches. They need money to show off. However, at the time when their parents can no longer provide them with a large sum of money, they have to find ways to earn extra pocket money.  A fifteen years old girl was found in September 2003 in a brothel in Mongkok engaged  in illegal activities..

        Although the problem is quite acute, there must be solutions. Teachers play an important role in helping students with their schoolwork. In fact, some teachers do not know how to deal with students with poor academic results. They do not know how to encourage them probably. Some teachers only blame students for their poor result without finding out the root of the problem, such as  family problems or weakness in learning. Some even compare the results of the students with their brilliant classmates. This makes them lose their self-confidence and hinders them from improvement. Teachers should be more patient and pay more attention to these students. The government can give a hand, too. Since the proportion of teachers to students is still low in most secondary schools in Hong Kong, teachers  may easily be exhausted and cannot take good care of each student in class. The government should allocate more resources to schools and encourage schools to reduce the number of students in classes. Thus, teachers find themselves teaching easier in a smaller class. How do teachers help teenagers keep away from illicit activities?

        Parents should show their concern about their children. Undoubtedly, parental care and effective communication outweigh money. Parents should try to listen to their children. When children have poor academic result or when they misbehave in school, parents should not blame them or feel disgrace at once. Only can discussion in a calm and frankly way with children wholeheartedly solve problems. Otherwise, young people will seek help from ‘friends’, who may give them bad resort to problems.

        The unhealthy attitudes of young people should be abandoned. The mass media should not encourage materialism. Students should realize that knowledge and pleasant personality could help them to gain recognition from peers, but not brand name products. They should also learn how to manage their finance and spend money rationally. If a correct attitude to money is instilled, young people will not be seduced to take part in illegal activities.

        All in all, young people are not born to be evil. They are only lured by bad friends or money to do something illegal. Although silly acts have been done, it is always not too late to learn a lesson from mistakes. We should not overlook the fault of young people but give them room for correction. Let’s us join forces to help youngsters to adopt correct attitudes towards life and money and save them from the brink of crime.