The apparently unprovoked and senseless beating to death of a man in Hsinchu earlier this month shocked society and provoked widespread discussion.
Five suspects were arrested, four of them minors.
The parents of these teenagers apparently had no idea prior to the incident that such a thing could happen. When police informed the parents of the arrests, they were shocked to learn that apparently perfectly good children could suddenly become suspects in a murder case.
As children develop emotionally, they need role models. If children’s need for love and attention is not fulfilled at home, they will naturally seek emotional support from outside the family.
Often they will try to build self-confidence and gain a sense of belonging among their peers.
CRUCIAL PERIOD
Adolescence is a crucial period for character formation. If a teenager falls in with a circle of friends who are not stable or mature enough, he or she may be lured into a pattern of delinquent behavior such as seeking instant gratification through acts of violence.
Perhaps such children have had no adults by their side to keep them on the right path, or else they think they are already grown up and so refuse to accept advice from anyone outside their circle.
What influences were at work on the youths involved in the Hsinchu killing?
The four minor suspects are all high-school dropouts. Although a lot of social resources are now available for dealing with such children, those who return to school are generally not welcome. Often their character has been influenced by social factors that make it hard for them to get on with their classmates, while teachers may not have enough resources to give them the help they need.
Even if such teenagers manage to finish the compulsory component of their education, more often than not they are regarded as poorly educated and incorrigible.
They often become marginalized, neglected by their parents and forgotten by the education system.
BUSY WORKING
We at the Child Welfare League Foundation (兒童福利聯盟) know from our many years of experience working with families that parents are sometimes so busy working that they cannot set aside time to be with their children.
This can be the case even to the extent that parents do not know how to interact with their children apart from asking “How is your homework coming along?” or “When are your next exams?”
Family meals are accompanied by television, often with little communication between those present.
As they grow increasingly distant, parents may be quite unaware of what their children are up to.
When something goes wrong, the parents cannot understand or forgive their children’s behavior, and the children don’t accept their parents’ criticisms.
Parents have a pivotal role to play in keeping their children company as they grow up, but they need to discuss with other people how to teach and discipline their children.
Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, the Child Welfare League Foundation provides a family counseling hotline. Parents are welcome to call (02) 2550-5959, ext. 6, to talk to a social worker about any problems they may encounter in relating to their children.
Kelly Hsiao is a researcher at the Child Welfare League Foundation.
TRANSLATED BY JULIAN CLEGG
Recently, China launched another diplomatic offensive against Taiwan, improperly linking its “one China principle” with UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 to constrain Taiwan’s diplomatic space. After Taiwan’s presidential election on Jan. 13, China persuaded Nauru to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Nauru cited Resolution 2758 in its declaration of the diplomatic break. Subsequently, during the WHO Executive Board meeting that month, Beijing rallied countries including Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Egypt, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Laos, Russia, Syria and Pakistan to reiterate the “one China principle” in their statements, and assert that “Resolution 2758 has settled the status of Taiwan” to hinder Taiwan’s
The past few months have seen tremendous strides in India’s journey to develop a vibrant semiconductor and electronics ecosystem. The nation’s established prowess in information technology (IT) has earned it much-needed revenue and prestige across the globe. Now, through the convergence of engineering talent, supportive government policies, an expanding market and technologically adaptive entrepreneurship, India is striving to become part of global electronics and semiconductor supply chains. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of “Make in India” and “Design in India” has been the guiding force behind the government’s incentive schemes that span skilling, design, fabrication, assembly, testing and packaging, and
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s (李顯龍) decision to step down after 19 years and hand power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong (黃循財), on May 15 was expected — though, perhaps, not so soon. Most political analysts had been eyeing an end-of-year handover, to ensure more time for Wong to study and shadow the role, ahead of general elections that must be called by November next year. Wong — who is currently both deputy prime minister and minister of finance — would need a combination of fresh ideas, wisdom and experience as he writes the nation’s next chapter. The world that
As former president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) wrapped up his visit to the People’s Republic of China, he received his share of attention. Certainly, the trip must be seen within the full context of Ma’s life, that is, his eight-year presidency, the Sunflower movement and his failed Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, as well as his eight years as Taipei mayor with its posturing, accusations of money laundering, and ups and downs. Through all that, basic questions stand out: “What drives Ma? What is his end game?” Having observed and commented on Ma for decades, it is all ironically reminiscent of former US president Harry