Task 2.3

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Recent figures show an increase in violent crime among youngsters under the age of 18. Some psychologists claim that the basic reason for this is that children these days are not getting the social and emotional learning they need from parents and teachers.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

            Currently, one of the topics that attracts quite a lot of people in society is an increase in juvenile delinquency. To be more specific, there have been several opinions and statements on the topic, and one typically suggests that the basic reason of juvenile crime is the lack of concern from parents and teachers. Personally, I agree that because of the following reason which I write below.

            To begin with, one of the main reasons could be that parents and teachers play an important role during adolescent phase of children. At this age, teenagers are not mature enough to identify the justice. Most of them want to prove themselves to others and without guides’ parent, they are easily involved in a gang, thus crime is unavoidable. In addition, the lack of care from parent and teacher make them hostile and cynical towards the society. When they feel look out of the place, they try more to prove the existence of them by their action.  

            On the other hand, antagonists might argue that many people who do not have many social and emotional learning from parents and teachers when they were a child still succeed today. However, I cannot agree for the following reason because the more modern life is, the more difficult children have faced. A clear example of this is the negative effect of violent movies, programs. Watching hours of murders, fights and crimes every week is to suggest to children that violence is an ordinary way of life, and that shooting and cheating are ways to succeed. 

            In conclusion, as both sides of the argument prove to have some good points, people may find it hard to determine which one they should stand for. However, from my point of view, I am quite in favor of the idea saying that if children get more the social and emotional learning from parents and teachers, they will avoid crime easily.

 Model answer:

It does seem to be true that parents find teachers have lost the authority they used to have, especially in the eyes of teenagers. They are no longer seen as models for behavior: hard work, politeness and other positive qualities are seen as old fashioned. Many young people have no respect for these qualities or the people who represent them. In fact, I think when young people today are so rebellious that it's possible that both parents and teachers are afraid to exercise their authority. However, I do not agree that this is the basic reason for the increase in teenage violence.

While I believe it is true that a lack of social and emotional learning contributes to the problem. Other factors are surely involved: economic factors, for example. If a child comes from a poor family and they live in low-quality housing in all undesirable area, this is sure to affect the child, however loving the parents are.

There is also the question of who your friends are. I believe that when you are in your teens your friends have more influence on you than your parents or teachers. At that age, you want to be part of a group, or even a gang, and this might lead to breaking the law in a number of ways.

In conclusion, while I agree that lack of social and emotional learning from parents and teachers is a factor in the growth of teenage violence, I do not believe that it is the only or main cause.

(255 words)