Juvenile Delinquency and Education: A Comparison of Public and Private Education - Research Proposal Example

Juvenile Delinquency and Education Introduction and ment of the Problem The question of juvenile misbehaviour and crime was not taken seriously until modern times. It was till the eighteenth century that children were regarded as non persons. They were neither recognized nor received any special treatment from either the state or society. The concept of discipline was at most a violent treatment of reinforcing specific norms acceptable in society. Perhaps a reason for that was that child mortality rates were high. It was not considered feasible to form attachments with children. They were left up to nature and the survival of the fittest approach. However, at the end of the eighteenth century, the age of “The Enlightenment” brought about changes regarding the status of children. This new cultural awareness was a part of the humanist movements of the age. They were now considered to be the welfare and responsibility of the state. The strict disciplinarian ways were giving way to nurturing and concern. At this point, children were now considered a distinct group. It wasn’t until the establishment of The Juvenile Justice Courts were children officially considered as a group commissioning their own legal frameworks. But historically, juvenile crime and its subsequent punishment are nothing new. The actual term arose in modern times but in ancient Britain, children were punished as adults without question. The term, ‘Juvenile Delinquency’ in modern times is the broad legal term used to describe the behaviour of children and adolescents that would be punishable by law if found being exhibited in adults. Serious criminal activity can be found most frequently to be occurring in the 16 to 20 year age group. This age group is actually considered to be ‘adults’ in many places around the world. This is supported by the fact that most adult criminals have histories of criminal activity during their youth. The most common offences which children or young adults commit are theft, vandalism, and rape in the slightly older strata. Internationally, juvenile delinquency is most common and found in the highest extreme in countries which have better economic and technological resources. Statement of the Problem: Where and how can both the public and private education sectors arrive at mutual and complimentary measures to reduce juvenile delinquency. Review of the Literature The various case studies and researches which have been conducted over the years have attempted to pinpoint its causes. With high ranging statistics of the causal links between adult crime and juvenile delinquency, there is no wonder that there is much effort to gauge the reasons for it. The causes for such behaviour, similar to those of crime irrelevant of age, are found to be due to a number of encompassing social, psychological, and economic factors. Clinically speaking, the underlying roots are related to emotional maladjustments with strong links to dysfunctional family situations. Various other studies have investigated the role of economics. They conclude that there are regular and moreover persistent patterns of criminal behaviour in poor neighbourhoods regardless of the inhabitants. This has sustained a new argument that there is a system of poverty which is actively responsible for crime. However, there is much scepticism and controversy regarding it. Rather, the gang, is considered much to blame for rampant juvenile delinquency. It is known to be a common activity for young adults and is most common in city areas. In 1899, with the establishment of The Juvenile Court, age specific offenders were taken into consideration. Children were now treated lawfully different. The system was designed t implement informal procedures and focused less on punishment and more on ‘correction’. This was taken from the behaviourist schools of thought which termed criminality as a result of wrongly learned behaviour. This new approach was what gave way to child correctional facilities such as Juvenile Hall, an alternative to adult prison, or more simply put, a jail for children. In some places, psychiatric help is also provided. There has been a noted tendency to settle child related crimes outside the courts when pertaining to public welfare agencies. These juvenile correction facilities operate independently and have been progressing themselves in terms of child helping techniques. There is much complains to be heard from the likes of these as being not up to the level, however, some have managed to develop more effective facilities. They offer intensive rehabilitation programmes, psychiatric help, and also attempt to reintegrate deviant adolescents into society as contributing citizens. More than just the state correctional facilities, various other efforts are at work, showing a collaboration of both public and private educational sectors. Such of these efforts include the parole system which includes children and child guidance counseling to help delinquent and maladjusted children. But perhaps the most important preventive action can be by the community itself. Community groups can contribute a great deal in regards to providing children with alternative groups and extracurricular activities in order to counter the influence of gangs. The most prominent questions then seem to be whether private or public schools are more effective in reducing crime? A research into the US problem of juvenile delinquency has important findings and hypotheses. The most common cause of delinquency related to schooling is due to teacher-student conflicts. Labels which are placed onto children confining them usually result in bitterness and frustration, leading to inappropriate behaviour. Resultantly this can be solved if there is a choir available is schooling and institutions. More choices would also entail the availability of private schooling. And it becomes a given that interschool competition requires schools to keep discipline in check. These are the results by the N.I.E Study that interschool academic competition does indeed tend to decrease school violence. This finding is very much relevant to the lingering private/public debate. But this also poses a hindrance in modern day teaching approaches in regards to academics. Schools and educators prefer not to induce competition into students but rather healthy, co-operative learning atmospheres. Ironically enough, it is the private schools which have argued that the older system of competition amongst students in education is useful indeed. Another finding of the N.I.E is that schools which are larger “tend to experience more violence and vandalism than smaller ones.” (West)The reason for this may be that private schools in the US have a smaller number of students as compared to those in public schools. This itself plays a role in lesser number of juvenile crime rates. Various data that proves that the larger students sizes of public schools may be the result of attempts to merge into more integrated school governances. Private schools have so far, not been seen to be going through such ordeals. This may then be substantial support for the argument that religious schooling, which most private schools are, are better than private schools for turning out adults who are an asset to society. Though this question is not irrelevant in modern times with crime rates increasing world over, a more looming question is whether these both school systems can come together effectively in order to cover the problem from all sides. Research Aims: This research aims to comparatively find the actions both the public and private sectors can take in order to reduce juvenile delinquency in each strata of society. Method of Research This is a qualitative exploratory research. The various case studies and findings concerning the causes behind juvenile delinquency are submitted to a comparative analysis of the measures in effect and the measures which need to be taken in order to eliminate juvenile delinquency. Summary and Conclusion: Overall, various studies have shown the short comings of both the communities, public educational facilities, and in many countries world over the inability of the government to take corrective measures due to various reasons. Public education has shown through various studies around the world to be lacking as compared to private sector educational institutes. In conclusion to the juvenile crises, it can be said that the best way to tackle the problem is by approaching it with a collaborative approach. This kind of an effort can be encompassed in a juvenile justice/dependency system. This kind of a system attempts to prevent child abuse, neglect, and stop juvenile delinquency. In this all share a responsibility to rehabilitate juvenile offenders and help them to prepare to be productive members of society. This would of course require support and early identification of children and families which are prone to criminal behavior causing attributes. Social care and development would require major time and initiative investments as well as the correct services which work hands on with such children and their respective families. The most effective way in which this can be done is to keep in mind the rights of children rather than any other individuals or communities. Private sector education should immediately report abuse, deal with social and societal discrimination both, support young by providing them with jobs, and provide a healthy put turn of volunteers, tutors, mentors, and advocates for youth. Local governments and communities can enforce vigorously juvenile delinquency laws and make available other activities and alternatives available. Moreover, security in the form of job training, work assistance, and employment benefits for those adolescents and young adults who have been released from correctional facilities. References LWV. (n.d.). Juvenile Justice/Dependency. [Online] Available at: http://ca.lwv.org/lwvc/issues/socpol/juvjusdep.html [Accessed February 21, 2010]. West, E.G. (n.d.). Schooling and Violence. Ottawa: Carleton University. [Online] Available at: http://research.ncl.ac.uk/egwest/test/egwest/pdf/various/schooling%20and%20violence.pdf [Accessed February 21, 2010]. Western Illinois University. (n.d.). Alternative Treatment Methods for Juvenile Delinquents. [Online] Available at: http://www.wiu.edu/users/mucdr5/jdalttx.htm [Accessed February 21, 2010]. Read More