I READ with concern reports about a student who threw a chair at a vice-principal, a 14-year-old who punched a teacher and a counsellor, and a teen who used a chair to strike a glass door at a Meet the People session.

Such incidents are shocking and made me wonder what has happened to our students. It is also common to read reports of school bullies and students who flout school rules with impunity.

However, in the above cases, the young people involved exhibited violent behaviour.

Violence cannot be tolerated and assaulting someone is a serious offence. A rising inclination towards violence among Singapore youth should be a major concern for educators and parents.

I have come across parents who lament they should have meted out more severe punishments to children when the kids were younger.

They regret their inaction as some of their children have developed violent behaviour, joined gangs or got into serious fights.

As for the reported incidents, the parents should be made responsible for their children’s actions.

If parents are unable to discipline their children, the kids might grow up to be criminals. - Mr. Sabastian Tan