Am writing to tell you that the case of George Trimble in your edition of September 14th highlights one of the major issues that faces society today. +As to a psychologist who specialises in adolescence, it is clear to me that the problems confronting young people are increasing. More teenage girls are getting pregnant and there are more single mothers. There is also a higher incidence of teenage boys dropping out of school and more gangs on streets comers. 22 percent of boys up to age 18 are reported by a school or other authority for delinquency. Moreover, suicide rates among young men are climbing and a third of teenagers suffer depression at some point.

But what are parents to do? Should they be more liberal and risk losing authority in the child's eyes? Or more authoritarian and risk alienating1 their children so much they won't talk about their fears and concerns? Should they try to stop them having sex or encourage safe sex? It is no easy thing to find a balance between discipline and tolerance. No one seems to know what the rules are any more.

However, unless we start to address these questions as a society, and that means government, schools and parents, things will only get worse.

Yours faithfully,

Dr Margaret Haster

What is your review of the balance between discipline and tolerance that Dr. Huster mentions? Where would you draw the line?

aiiiotbahiiiot    1   26.11.2020 12:46    6