Family breakdown and the absence of father figures are causing children to join gangs, according to a report by a teacher's union.

 

Children as young as 12 are being drawn into organised criminal groups for protection and a sense of belonging because of the dearth of positive role models in the home, the study claimed.

 

"A lack of a sense of identity in some cases was reported to result in young people seeking alternatives," said the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers.

 

Do you agree with the findings? What do you think motivates children to join gangs?

 

What's the best way to tackle the problem? Should the Government focus on eliminating criminal gangs, or promoting the role of fathers?

 

Source: Sunday Telegraph

Children join gangs because they are allowed to roam the streets and do whatever they want. If there were more disipline in the homes of these children and parents showed more love and showed more interest what their children were doing, then they wouldn't feel they had to join gangs to be noticed. Parents need to spend more time with their children these days. I wouldn't say it's because some of them have absent fathers, i don't believe that for one second. There are alot of children nowadays living with only one parent, but they all don't go out and join a gang. :unsure:

Children join gangs because they are allowed to roam the streets and do whatever they want. If there were more disipline in the homes of these children and parents showed more love and showed more interest what their children were doing, then they wouldn't feel they had to join gangs to be noticed. Parents need to spend more time with their children these days. I wouldn't say it's because some of them have absent fathers, i don't believe that for one second. There are alot of children nowadays living with only one parent, but they all don't go out and join a gang. :unsure:

I see where you're coming from in that post.. Women are made to do too much these days I feel. Even if they do have a husband they all have to go to work nowadays while also having to pick up their kids from school and some don't even have time to cook their kids a proper meal nowadays! Kids need love and attention but I don't believe it's necessarily the fault of some parents unfortunately that some parents can't do that. I think some people don't understand how hard it is to be a parent in this day and age considering it's mostly people who don't have young children and people who don't know anyone with young children who complain about children these days being 'menaces to society' and the future looking 'bleak' The bottom line is parents need to find a way to make sure they can give their children the amount of attention they need.

It certainly isn't easy to be a parent but unfortunately some parents don't take the time to actually spend time with their children and some don't seem to care what their children are up to away fron the home. All children need plenty of love and attention from their parents and yes, they need discipline too. It is all to easy to blame one parent families, but it isn't always true. The children of many one parent families are being brought up well, but sadly often the ones we hear about are the ones where the children get into trouble.

I think if you taught pre-teens, and teenagers about gang activity and violence then there would be alot less teenagers and even children who join them.

I think if you taught pre-teens, and teenagers about gang activity and violence then there would be alot less teenagers and even children who join them.

 

i dont.... kids who join gangs arnt usually the sort who will listen to adults.

i dont.... kids who join gangs arnt usually the sort who will listen to adults.

 

I agree somewhat, but it would help a good amount of kids who listen to adults, and it would help them to avoid taking the wrong path later in life. I think that having responsible parents and positive strong influences throughout a child's younger years are the main way to avoid gang activity...but it's not like you can force that, you know?

It's so damn easy to continue blaming the parents for being irresponsible and negligent, but nothing is that simple. Parents are either:

 

a ) impoverished and thus forced to work long hours and can't monitor their kids

b ) uneducated or uninformed because of a failure in the education system

c ) in single-parent situations because of either a or b or just plain misfortune

 

And often they fit all three categories. It is a recipe for disaster because without some support structure, each generation will follow that of the previous one. You have to go after the roots of the problem, in my opinion. Enable a system of economic development that spurs economic opportunity in communities with high unemployment, and establish a fair welfare system that keeps people from falling through the cracks. Fix the schools, make sure they were well funded and have teachers who care about their students. A woman with a good job and a decent education will be more responsible in her decisions to have and raise children. Those kids will be far less likely to join gangs.

Edited April 22, 200817 yr by Consie

Children need to be loved, but at the same time need to be disciplined. They should be taught from an early age that any kind of fighting, violance or any kind of crime is wrong. When children are naughty they shouldn't be smacked, they should have there privilages taken away, like there games consoles & tvs, there mobile phones and allowances. This will hit them a lot harder than a mere smack across the arse. :o Also, they should be made to know the values of family instead of being aloud to roam the streets at night. They should be made to come straight home from school, do there homework and be made to sit with there families and talk about there day together and all eat at the same time together. Also, they should be made to work for there allowances and not be handed it on a plate, thus teaching them that life isn't a free ride and that money has to be earned and children of a young age should not be allowed to play violent computer games. -_- At the same time, children should be loved and listened to and given the freedom and youth that children deserve. Whether your a One parent family or both parents have to work, you just all pull together and help each other. It's just a case of being strict but at the same time letting your children know how much they are loved everyday and that you are always there for them no matter what. 'Nuff said. :D

Children need to be loved, but at the same time need to be disciplined. They should be taught from an early age that any kind of fighting, violance or any kind of crime is wrong. When children are naughty they shouldn't be smacked, they should have there privilages taken away, like there games consoles & tvs, there mobile phones and allowances. This will hit them a lot harder than a mere smack across the arse. :o Also, they should be made to know the values of family instead of being aloud to roam the streets at night. They should be made to come straight home from school, do there homework and be made to sit with there families and talk about there day together and all eat at the same time together. Also, they should be made to work for there allowances and not be handed it on a plate, thus teaching them that life isn't a free ride and that money has to be earned and children of a young age should not be allowed to play violent computer games. -_- At the same time, children should be loved and listened to and given the freedom and youth that children deserve. Whether your a One parent family or both parents have to work, you just all pull together and help each other. It's just a case of being strict but at the same time letting your children know how much they are loved everyday and that you are always there for them no matter what. 'Nuff said. :D

 

Bravo, Bravo. Well saId CJ. I Couldn'tn have put it better myself. I agree with every single word of what you just said.

 

Nice one! :yahoo: