|
|
| |
|
Steps to Overcome Vandalism among Adolescents |
|
|
Vandalism can be defined as an act of destroying or damaging public or private
property. Recently, the problem of vandalism has become increasingly prevalent
among adolescents, whether in schools or public places. According to the
Ministry of Education Malaysia, one of the eight behavioral problems among
students in schools is vandalism. Adolescents are easily influenced and often
difficult to advise, as it goes in one ear and out the other. Vandalism, which
damages public property, not only harms various parties but also tarnishes the
image of society and the country towards the attitude of adolescents. Therefore,
it is essential to discuss the steps to overcome vandalism among adolescents as
a solution to the problem that afflicts the future generation of the country.
The main initiative in solving the problem of vandalism among adolescents is to
identify the causes of this deviant behavior. Acts of damaging public property
in schools or public places often occur because adolescents want to release
their frustration or anger towards something they are facing. The rebellious
nature that arises among them is undoubtedly due to the pressures of life, which
have submerged the good qualities they once practiced. However, there are also
some adolescents who commit vandalism just for fun and are influenced by actions
displayed on social media or television. Therefore, it is essential for schools
or authorities to approach these adolescents and interact with them to identify
the causes of their behavior. If they have internal family problems, the school
can offer counseling services as a step to ensure they do not feel pressured and
repeat acts of vandalism.
The next step in overcoming the problem of vandalism is for everyone to play a
role in being a witness for the authorities or school. To catch those who have
committed the offense, we need strong evidence, and witnesses are one way to
confirm the offender's behavior. If you are passing through an area and witness
vandalism, you should report it to the authorities if it is in a public place or
to a teacher if it is in school. Those who engage in these activities usually do
so when there is no one watching, as they realize that their behavior is wrong
and only brings harm. After reporting the vandalism that occurred, the
authorities or teachers should use caution in apprehending the offender because
they are still young adolescents. As an adult, teachers or authorities should
show that releasing frustration or catching offenders does not necessarily
require the use of violence. Instead, it can be done through proper
communication and understanding of the situation of the offender's behavior. In
short, all members of society need to work together to report vandalism to the
authorities so that the problem that afflicts adolescents can be curbed.
In addition, a step that can be taken to overcome vandalism among adolescents is
to provide a special space for them to create or engage in beneficial
activities. Most of the perpetrators of vandalism engage in this activity during
their leisure time. Therefore, if the government is concerned about ensuring
that the adolescent population of this country becomes a useful generation for
society, they should provide infrastructure or facilities that can be used by
adolescents. For example, a well-maintained, free sports arena can provide easy
access for adolescents to spend their leisure time engaging in beneficial
activities such as sports. Looking at it from a different perspective, some of
them have good creative values when they engage in vandalism in the form of
graffiti or paintings. If this creativity is directed towards productive
activities such as art classes or mural projects, it can provide an outlet for
their artistic abilities and prevent them from engaging in vandalism. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
|
