Chow Pak-chin says city's schools and its principals need to stop coddling violent protesters and focus on teaching students how to distinguish right from wrong

It is heartbreaking to witness so many of our young people being caught up in the ongoing anti-government protests over recent months. The latest police figures serve as a shocking revelation that our children have been radicalized.

Since September, nearly 40 percent of those arrested in protests were under 18, and 10 percent were under 15.

Police said 77 people, including a 12-year-old, were arrested for violating the anti-mask law, which came into effect on Saturday. The people involved in violent protests seem to be getting younger and younger.

Our youngsters are being radicalized - both offenders and victims. But why are the young in particular being drawn into activities that blatantly break the law and disrupt the social order? They are far too young to be involved in political activities - let alone such violent protests. And have we not come across this phenomenon in other parts of the world?

At least 15 Hong Kong youths aged between 12 and 15 have been arrested so far since the citywide protests began in June. Two teenagers have been shot and wounded in skirmishes with police; it is likely the count will not end there.

On Oct 1, an 18-year-old Form 5 student at Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College was shot. Tsang Chi-kin was seen on video attacking an officer with a metal rod at a scene that can only be described as a riot. After the incident, the principal of his school came out to say Tsang would not be expelled.

School Board members said they wanted to show support and sympathy for the injured teen. However, they did not state the circumstances in which Tsang was shot, nor did they make clear whether this would still be the case if Tsang is later convicted of any crime related to his involvement in the protest. Tsang is facing a riot charge in court.

On Oct 5, another boy, a 14-year-old, was shot in the leg and subsequently arrested for rioting and attacking a police officer.

What is worse is that his school, Chong Gene Hang College in Chai Wan, has pledged not to expel him even if he is convicted.

These students were participating in illegal and violent activities. Tsang was in press reports and videos fully dressed in a combat-style clothes, armed with a metal rod to attack police officers. It was in this situation that he was shot. His case is now going through legal proceedings, but his school seems to have pledged not to expel him if he is convicted.

What is going on? Why are these schools harboring violent student criminal suspects?

Schools have a responsibility to lead their students down the right path. But we still need to abide by the principle of crime and punishment; these students should be appropriately punished and corrected before being welcomed back to society.

If a school cannot uphold such basic moral principles, how can it be expected to discipline other students properly for even minor misconduct such as cheating on exams? A school must be able to uphold ethical principles and moral rules, which are a sign of self-respect, and only then can it have the authority to discipline pupils. What would become of these teenagers when they become university students?

So what has driven our youngsters to turn into angry mobs and go on the rampage?

Some say they are voicing their discontent prompted by pent-up anger. But still, this doesn't explain why protesters are getting younger and younger.

Others say their anger is caused by police brutality. I beg to differ; if police brutality is a factor, then why haven't we seen protesters as young as those in Hong Kong in other countries such as the United States, France, and Indonesia, where police brutality is widespread?

I would rather focus on the inadequacies of our education system.

According to the great Chinese text Three Character Classic, education and schooling are essential for developing children's values and shaping their moral character.

According to the text, parents cannot raise a child without proper teaching and nurturing. When at school, it is the responsibility of the teacher to be strict with the child, or problems with young people will be the fault of the teacher.

In Hong Kong, school education seems to be the weakest link in the entire education structure within which our youngsters are nurtured. With strict and well-structured schools and universities, students will not get on the wrong side of the law. A case in point - the two schools of the two teenagers who were shot handled the young offenders with such leniency that it could be interpreted by other youngsters to mean schools condone and should condone their wrongdoings. This will only encourage more criminal behavior from young people.

Finally, proper social education is also missing, leaving our children exposed and vulnerable so they can be corrupted by an uncontrolled social media - which is partly responsible for driving young people to embrace radicalism.

We need to urgently set targets and tackle these problems to bring our children back on the right track. Schools and society need to take the right steps because our children are our future and the pillars of our society, but pillars need to be strong and well-formed.

Schools and principals must do their jobs. Strict school disciplines can help students and keep them in line. Being strict doesn't mean teachers have to be mean. Strict teaching helps students learn to adhere to rules and regulations in an effective manner and shows them there is no room for bad or unruly behavior.

Our education sector, which includes the Education Bureau, schools, principals and teachers, has a lot to answer for in regard to our serious situation with a culture of violent or even criminal students today.

Society has a responsibility to speak up and condemn this kind of radical and illegal behavior and expose those forces behind the children who are encouraging them to commit crimes and fall foul of the law.

Our Education Bureau officials would do well to be reminded of what President Xi Jinping once said: Officials who try to evade tackling problems facing other people will bring shame upon themselves for life.

The Education Bureau has a huge responsibility to act as the gatekeeper to monitor schools, principals and teachers and make sure they do their jobs and see our children are properly educated and taught right from wrong.

(HK Edition 10/11/2019 page12)