After last month's horrific incident that nearly ended a 15-year old Michael Brewer's life, a 14-year old in Miami brings a gun to school while the teacher notices this student scribbling names on a paper. What was it? He remarked to the teacher he wanted to kill another student. The police later found a handgun in his backpack.
Thankfully the teacher alerted authorities, she is an example of being proactive and definitely a teacher that needs to be commended for her immediate response.
What is going on with teens today? Why are they turning to criminal activity?
Criminal Activity and Your Teen
For many kids, adolescence is a trying phase of life. Body changes, school pressures, and personality changes can be very overwhelming to your teen when occurring all at once. Because of these pressures, adolescents can be more susceptible to things like peer pressure. Whether it's out of a desire to fit in or stand out, your normally levelheaded teen can be easily pressured into committing dangerous and illegal acts they might never otherwise consider.
Sometimes, these activities are relatively harmless, and can include things like dying their hair a bold color, or cutting a class or two. But often, many teens find the desire to fit in so strong they are willing to compromise their own morals to be part of the ‘in' crowd. They may be more likely to experiment with drugs or alcohol, or commit other criminal activities, all for the sake of ‘fitting in'.
Though there are many dangers your teen may encounter, this site deals specifically with teenagers and criminal activity, like shoplifting, vandalism, and violent crime. Teens can partake in these activities for many reasons- peer pressure being just one of a long list of possibilities.
References: NBC6 News, Parents Universal Resource Experts, Teen Criminal Activity Awareness, Teen and Youth Violence Prevention
Click here to read more articles about Parenting Teens.
Comments
You know what concerns me? That teenagers don't think twice about reacting violently toward someone or something that has upset them. Honestly, it's no different than road rage. I think as a society we are dealing with things that upset us using lethal means. Adults who do it make it okay for teenagers to do it. Couple that with peer pressure and there is definitely a recipe for disaster.
Thank god this teacher took the comment seriously.
This is for all the "adults". The reason teens are getting worse is because their parents are wrapped-up in themselves. The "me" generation is still focussing on itself...it's "rights" and it's pleasures. They do not have the spirit of sacrifice for their children that previous generations had nor do that have the spirit of hard work. They are pleasure-seekers and their children do not know right from wrong.
Diane, what can good parents who teach their children well and are involved in their kids' lives do about the neglect their classmates are subject to? My son was harassed on his way home from school and refused to fight... in this case the school that the other boy went to ended up being notified by one of their own van drivers about the incident and the young man who tried to goad my son into fighting was disciplined by the school, which is near our house. I am concerned that the offender will return on a weekend and with a weapon. Short of hiring a bodyguard, driving him everywhere he goes (and who says that being in a car would stop an attack?) or relocating him to live with relatives where it's safer, I'm not sure what I can do... so I pray.
How is the desire to "fit in" and the reality of peer pressure any different than high school has ever been in the last say, 30 years? I mean, let's be realistic ... things have been this way a long time, and the vast majority of us came out okay in the end. I really suggest keeping things in perspective and doing what you can do to make your kids stronger: be free with information to arm them with knowledge, and be honest with them as to build mutual respect, which is increasingly important as your kids become adults and wish to make their own decisions.
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