It is now becoming unusual to stay at home and look after your children

Kate, UK

Everyone has been rightly pointing out the importance of parenting, but that 'job' has been and is being systematically undermined on many fronts and is not regarded highly in our society. It is now becoming unusual to stay at home and look after your children, almost sometimes regarded as deficient in some ways, as parents seek more money for things and more self-fulfilment in other roles. Parenting is the hardest and most important job there is to do, as these discussions have indicated. They must therefore take time, energy, thought, planning, learning about etc etc. Trying to fit this job round full/part-time work for money, hobbies, degrees etc must take its toll on the what is left to give to the parenting role.

I'm not advocating chaining the woman to the washing machine, I'm saying that a child needs a lot of love and time from one or other or preferably both parents, however unfulfilling that may be at times for the adult, although my experience shows that as with many things the more you put in, the more you get out. Looking after children is very hard work, it is constant, demanding, stretching every resource you have and then some - no wonder some people seek to avoid it even though they have children and pass the buck so-to-speak. Sometimes as a parent of young children you may not even be able to go to the toilet in peace or get time to make or drink a cup of tea or coffee - but in time your child will learn how to make you one, and in more time your child may be able to take care of you in old age or infirmity. Please- it is worth the input - and done well it can stretch the intellect as much as you need it too.
Kate, UK

Of course parents are responsible for the behaviour of their children. Parents should be held accountable for all their children�s actions, even outside of the home. Teachers in the worst schools have enough on their hands ensuring our kids can obtain a basic education. We must change the law so that unruly children can not hide behind a mask of censorship, or avoid punishment by the courts because of their age.
Anonymous

Schools themselves all too often do not want anything done.

GB, GB

At my school a woman teacher was recently grabbed by the breasts by a 7th class boy. When she complained to the head, she was told to get to her next lesson, as she would otherwise be late. The boy's behaviour was put down to the 'usual pranks'. The news got around, other lads felt free to touch and grab her, and the teacher left a few weeks later. Schools themselves all too often do not want anything done, as this would be seen as bad publicity, damaging the school's and the head's reputation.
GB, GB

Of course parents are responsible for the way their children behave. If they are not then who is? Of course there are always the exceptional cases where the child suffers from learning difficulties or some condition that affects behaviour and those situations should be taken into account. The majority of badly behaved children however are that way because of bad parenting. I don't know what exactly but something needs to be done to improve this situation. I feel really sorry for those kids. What kind of a life are they going to have forever being punished for their parents lack of parenting skill?
Kirsty, UK

My own experience has shown me that some children, from very good parents, become criminals; some children, from very bad parents, become criminals; some children, from both good and bad parents, become decent law abiding citizens. Of course, every parent has the duty to bring up their children correctly - but it is not that simple. Our secular society, with it's abandonment of God, is hugely to blame for the lack of meaning in peoples' lives - which often results in a "why should I care?" attitude.
N. Harris, Great Britain

Teachers should be strong enough to admit there may be a fault in themselves

David Mooney, Wales

My eldest son was nearly excluded from school three years ago, aged 8, because of his disruptive behaviour. From a good home, a county chess player, consistently in the top two across all subjects and no trouble away from school we were at a loss as to the problem. Only when he had moved up a year and the behaviour promptly ceased did he give us the reason. The unfair, biased behaviour of the teacher, who favoured his 'pets' and was inconsistent in his handling of pupils. My son, having a strong sense of right and wrong instilled from an early age, found this unacceptable but could do little about it. Hence the disruptive behaviour to 'punish' the unfairness of the teacher. Having met the teacher I agree with my son. Another of the 'wishy-washy' liberal throwbacks to a discredited era of teacher training. Before anyone hits back too hard may I say that both my siblings are trained teachers. When teachers get it wrong maybe they should be strong enough to admit there may be a fault in themselves instead of blaming others all the time. It is not always the pupils and parents.
David Mooney, Wales

Of course they should be held accountable - its time some people realised that having children means you have certain responsibilities. This is another area where we are simply too soft. Teachers deserve protection.
Brian, Manchester

I'm glad I moved out of teaching in the UK. One thing I hated there is the way in which teachers are the enemy. We never know what is right, we always need more people telling us what to do, we can't be trusted, it is always our fault. Forget it! I can't even be bothered to fight that fight anymore, I don't see the point. Teachers have been fighting for DECADES to gain some respect, and they are still accused of being useless, rude, abusive, etc. Personally, I think as many teachers as possible should bite the bullet and go get other jobs. Overseas there are loads available.

Sometimes I think about returning to the UK, but then I think about what I have here. I am a VERY highly respected member of the community I live in, a VERY popular MATHS teacher, I receive a decent salary, I have the space within my job to invent, experiment, elaborate, suggest new ideas, a Head I can always talk to, criticise, offer support and new ideas to, Vice-Principals who support me, parents who are supportive, a school counsellor (Psychology Graduate) always around to help me and talk to children I think would benefit from the help, parents who drop everything and come in for an appointment at the time I set to talk about the difficulties their children are having, and many, many other resources available to me. Why on earth would I give all this up?
David, Colombia, ex-UK

As I and any other teacher can confirm, it is easy to identify these parents at parents' evenings - they are merely slightly bigger versions of their offspring. As the saying goes - like father, like son.
Glyn, UK

The teachers I work with do an amazing job

Alan, UK

I'm a school governor - and I wish a lot more parents were. They would soon see who is responsible for the deterioration of child behaviour. IT IS NOT THE TEACHERS!! The behaviour of some parents and the lack of acceptance for responsibility for their offspring is sometimes astounding. The teachers I work with do an amazing job trying to recover and compensate the hours lost outside of school. The problem is a fundamental change in culture where both parents are in some cases forced to work to bring in the bacon, and in others driven by the "wants" of modern lifestyle. It's a sad fact that we as Britons work longer hours than our European colleagues - the result of which is now coming home to roost.
Alan, UK

When I was in primary school, the school announced that a �10 fine would be introduced if any child failed to attend school without a valid reason. After this announcement was made, the levels of truancy in the school dramatically dropped, and remained so. I think that the ban on 'smacking' has stopped parents from having the choice to discipline their children - and as a consequence, some children feel that they can get away with whatever they want.
Simon, London, UK

Parents or students, the fact remains that teachers are being abused and assaulted. I know a teacher who having recently been assaulted is in the horrible position of being torn between her sense of duty to her students and their education, and wanting to leave due to fear, depression and a massive slump in her own personal health. It's no wonder there is a shortage of teachers, but I fear it will take a very serious incident before anything is done. The matter needs to be looked in fully and very seriously.
Richard, UK

When you are in a situation of fining parents, surely it is too late? More needs to be done to support parents before this stage is reached. Programmes based around supporting parents have proven levels of success. We should be encouraging these types of programmes and assisting parents to take up places of their own accord, not at as a form of sanction.
Emmanuel Mufti, UK

Opportunity in life is the responsibility of our government

Norman West, UK

The majority of teenagers go through a period of rebellion which often manifests itself in anti-social behaviour. However most mature out of this and develop into useful members of the community. Are we to penalise every parent for their offspring's natural misbehaviour? Of course there are bad parents who will produce bad children, but surely education and opportunity in life is the responsibility of our government of the time. Until adequate money is spent addressing such problems, the situation will continue. Successive governments have developed policies that create an underclass who only make noises about dealing with the situation and achieving nothing, because it suits us all to pay less taxes, spend the money unwisely, and gives us the opportunity to write to Talking Point blaming parents.
Norman West, UK

Surely it would be better for parents and child to attend morality lectures or parenting classes than to fine parents? Unruly behaviour is not just the province of poor neighbourhoods or lack of money and the Blairs are a case in point! It has become engrained in the very culture of our society. We no longer care for our fellow human beings. If morals and respect are not taught at an early age, from parents and society than what chance has any child being brought up in an 'I want' culture?
SP, UK

As a teacher who has noticed quite a few incidents of unacceptable parental and student behaviour, I can say that action is welcomed to ensure that there will STILL be brave people who will bother to teach feckless parents' kids in the future! It's about time something was done, if we still want to recruit staff for the teaching profession! Most teachers feel helpless, caught between violent behaviour and the school leadership's passiveness and indifference in helping them tackle the problems. I don't think it should be taken for granted that if one wants to be considered a good teacher, one must struggle with all kinds of violence and never complain, as if it is part of their job! Would lawyers and doctors stand such behaviour from their patients or customers?
T.S, Sweden

My parents taught me about self-respect

Louise, UK

When I was a child I grew up on a rough council estate in the north east of England. The guy in the flat above ours was a drug dealer. My best friend's dad was in prison for rape. Most of the kids in my class smoked, took drugs, and stole. I didn't do any of this. Not because I'm a goody-goody or weak - quite the opposite.

I was bullied, physically and emotionally, by these kids for five years. School was a living hell. The only reason I didn't give into these juvenile thugs is because my parents taught me about self-respect, respect for others and respect for them. I didn't take drugs or steal anything, because I couldn't bear to see the look of shame and disappointment on the faces of my parents. I did try smoking, but my dad caught me and stopped my pocket money for a month. We had no money and poor prospects, but my brothers and sisters and I all now have careers, three out of five of us have degrees, and all have no criminal records. Blame the parents - they are the ones who make or break a child.
Louise, UK

There is a dire need for parenting skills to be taught in secular education

Jon Matthews, UK

I believe that good parenting is essential in the development of both good citizens and well-rounded, well-adjusted children. In fact I think there is a dire need for parenting skills to be taught in secular education. Ideally senior or college level as a mandatory subject. To those who say that "I don't want to have children so why should I learn how?", I suggest that the skills involved are not only applied to children but would benefit in many other areas of life. Working relationships, management skills and public relations to name a few.
Jon Matthews, UK

I believe the single most important and challenging principle of parenting is: "Do as I do, not as I say." Parents are the biggest influence in their children's lives. Nevertheless, we do not each live on our own island and society at large also bears a responsibility. There are many other significant role models for children such as teachers, pop stars, sports people and friends' parents. Their behavioural example cannot be overlooked.
Peter Barraclough, England

"Give me the boy until he is seven and I will show you the man." That's what the Jesuits said and it's true. It's no use disciplining children once they reach 13, they must respect you from the beginning. So many people are too sentimental about very small children and laugh when they misbehave - these same parents are the ones that have problems later on.
AC, UK

Yes and no! The decline in discipline which has occurred in our schools and has encroached on our homes has led to the breakdown. As a youngster if I was naughty, I got a telling off or a smack. Friends who are the same age as me have also noticed this slip in standards. One friend in particular, springs to mind, like me, a naughty act was followed by a telling-off, or at worst a smack. His brother who is five years younger, wasn't smacked for naughty behaviour, yet he has a criminal record, and is constantly in trouble with the police for drug and drink related antics. We firmly believe that the lack of home and school discipline shown to my friend's brother has led to his slide into this pattern.
Paul, Wales

Of course the parents should be blamed. You see them going around with their litters of children, shouting, and swearing at the tops of their voices, and think "God! What are these kids going to grow up like?" It's scary.
Antony, UK

Some parents have no interest in their kids' welfare or how they behave

Steve Coupe, UK

Yes. And I believe parents who have no interest in making sure their children behave should be forced to discipline them in the following way: firstly, any seriously bad behaviour in school or general society should result in a fine proportional to the parents' income - still enforced if they are on benefit. Secondly, set up a series of approved schools where children who disrupt classes can be sent. These schools would have very good, strict teachers licensed to restrain out of control kids. There would be an 'open door' policy for a return to mainstream school, should behaviour improve but whilst in the special school, education would be normal in that they could still get their GCSEs.

This would force parents to discipline their kids

Steve Coupe, UK

This is not a dumping ground for underprivileged kids but an attempt to get something worthwhile from those who may turn to crime. It may cost now but society pays at some point anyway if they are to be locked up at some point. Some parents have no interest in their kids' welfare or how they behave; this would force parents to discipline their kids, they won't want to keep paying out, say 10% of their salary for what their kids have done. Children who lose out in the school system due to teachers' constant efforts to stop class disruption would benefit too. It's harsh, but the measures needed to change things will have to be, it's a lot easier to force parents to discipline their kids than to teach them to lead by a good example.
Steve Coupe, UK

The conduct of children is a result of a combination of parenting, schooling, social environment and nature. Some excellent parents have unruly children and cannot be blamed for their children's actions. However, bad parents more often than not produce disruptive children. The way a child is brought up helps the child make decisions in their teenage years, but it does not make the decision for them.
Anthony Walker, Czech Republic

A good few of the comments above have said that as kids people behaved because they were afraid of their parents. I was never afraid of mine, only afraid what it would do to them if I misbehaved badly. My brother and I were always treated with respect, as reasoning beings. We learned by example to treat others with the same respect we were given. All the children in our family are being brought up as we were, and the difference between their attitudes and those of kids whose parents don't take responsibility for them is quite startlingly visible.
Alison, UK

Perhaps if parents were facing fines or jail for the behaviour of their offspring, they would care more about what they are up to

Dave Whyte, UK

Maybe we should try to pass some of the responsibility back to the parents. A football club can be charged with failing to control its players and can be punished appropriately. Perhaps if parents were facing fines or jail for the behaviour of their offspring they would care more about what they are up to. This sounds terribly right wing but, unfortunately, in today's selfish society unless someone sees something impacting on themselves they will do absolutely nothing.
Dave Whyte, UK

A politician has had the guts to say what has been clear for a long, long time. Parents have to shoulder some of the responsibility for how their children behave. There will always be exceptions; examples of children who behave badly despite a good upbringing, but for too long, parents have hidden behind criticism of teachers. Much of the bad behaviour displayed by these children is learnt by the time they arrive at school at the age of five. How are teachers supposed to deal with the five-year-old who says "I don't have to do what you say - my dad says I don't have to take orders from women!" And yes, that is a genuine example.
Andrew, UK

The simple fact is, that for a child of normal intelligence and physical and mental health, it is the way that they are brought up that is important. At the extreme, there is a strong correlation between people being brought up in a violent or abusive home, becoming abusive themselves. Peer pressure is of course also important in anti-social behaviour. But, here, again, parents should ensure that their standards are passed on to their children. For example, we insist on knowing where our children actually are, at any time that they are out of the house. Obviously this will have to be put more on trust as they reach, say, 17 years old. Similarly, my elder daughter knows full well, for example, that if we ever found out that she had ridden in a stolen car, we would "go ape". The best and most effective sanction in a loving household is for the parent to demonstrate their sheer disappointment and sadness at an erring child's behaviour. This may need to be combined with sanctions such as grounding, and may have to be illustrated by a brief display of anger, such as shouting "Don't ever do that again", but immediately coming back to a normal voice to do the real telling off.
PJ, UK

The majority of children appear to be completely out of control

Debbie, UK

It seems to me that we live in a society where nobody is prepared to take responsibility for their own actions anymore. Parents are all too willing to blame the government, the teaching profession or society for their offspring's wrong-doings. It is down to the parents to instil discipline and most important of all, respect in their children. I'm not necessarily convinced that fining parents is the answer as I'm positive there will be those who will refuse to pay no matter what, however I cannot see what other options are available to the government. Something needs to be done urgently as the majority of children these days appear to be completely out of control, knowing that nothing can or will be done about it.
Debbie, UK

The first thing we must do is stop pointing the finger

Pete, Wales

Who is responsible? This question is asked to such an extent that the blame gets portioned out to everyone but ourselves. The number of ads for "sue them for cash" is getting frightening. Why work when you can sue everyone who even looks at you funny? What an appalling example to set. I know there are legitimate claims out there where someone needs medical help or genuinely struggles as a result of negligence but the something-for-nothing society we are becoming is frightening. I hope that I bring my children up to respect others and their property.

I hope they will become considerate individuals who have empathy for those around them. How do I do this? By showing them. Learn, do, teach, repeat as necessary. The first thing we must do is stop pointing the finger at everyone else and start taking responsibility for our situation. I applaud those who have been brave enough to fight back against peer pressure and take responsibility. When the message gets across to the children of today that the people who "hang" in gangs are going nowhere later in life (unless they change) the better it will be.
Pete, Wales

I believe the responsibility of children's discipline and moral upbringing is mainly the parents' job. However, I remember from my school days that a distinct lack of discipline (and lack of power to discipline) in schools led me to be naughty at school. If the teachers are unable to back up what is taught at home there's no point in doing anything!
Gwen Dobson, UK

The best thing a parent can do is work with, rather than against, the school

RLP, UK

My mum works at a school for children with learning disabilities, and I never knew teachers had to work so hard. Her class is comprised of children with severe behavioural problems, and those with the worst behaviour tend to be those who are spoilt at home. These children are the most disruptive in the class and prevent the other better-behaved children from working. It is all very well disciplining a child at school, but if this is all erased as soon as the child gets home, and gets to do what they like, there seems no point in doing it at all! The best thing a parent can do is work with, rather than against, the school.
RLP, UK

I really wish parents would responsibility for their kids, and stopped blaming the schools (who are powerless) and the police (who are powerless) for all the truancy and misbehaving.
Martin, UK

Teachers can only build on foundations laid by parents

Warwick Gibbons, Greece

People's behavioural patterns are largely established between the ages of two and three. Whoever is the dominant influence on the child between these ages must take responsibility for the future behaviour, good or bad. In most cases this will be the parents or childminder or a combination. It is between these ages that a child explores its behavioural environment. In most of its actions the child is really asking the question "If I behave in this particular way, what are the consequences?" It is this period that is often described as the terrible twos since much of the exploratory behaviour is not to our liking.

The responsible influences must encourage behaviour that is desired and which will make the child acceptable in society and discourage that which is not. It is vital that the responsible influences are consistent, since the child will often repeatedly test the effect of the same behaviour in order to make sure it understands the consequences. After the age of three all that can be done is to reinforce what has gone before. Thus teachers, who mostly only have access to a child from the age of five onwards, can only build on the foundations laid by the parents. Parents need educating in parenting skills before they become parents but unfortunately governments have seen fit to remove such training from the national curriculum.
Warwick Gibbons, Greece

Get the parents to grow up and set the example to their kids and this problem will vanish

LJ, England

Absolutely right we should blame the parents. I am 25, and quite clearly recall being scared of what my parents would say if I did x, y or z at school. And the worst punishment my school meted out was only a one-hour Friday afternoon detention! Yet I still showed a healthy respect for my teachers and parents, and that's how it should be. My mother now says that she did all she could, and it is down to me to do what I will with the values she instilled in me when I was younger. I hope I do her proud, because disappointing my parents is one of the worst things I could give back to them. Get the parents to grow up and set the example to their kids, and this problem will all but vanish over time.
LJ, England

In the first instance it is the responsibility of parents to teach good behaviour, good manners and discipline to children, but that teaching needs to be backed up by the rest of society. Currently there is too much emphasis everywhere in our society on the rights of all individuals, be they adult or child, this is no longer being linked with the idea that those same individuals also have responsibilities that go with those rights. There are too many people in this country whose answer to any chastisement is "I know my rights, you can't touch me." There is no easy way to redress the balance back to a civilised society.
Lee Correll, London, UK

It's obvious that the minority of children who have no idea how to behave is slowly becoming the majority. My husband is a teacher and only last week one of his colleagues was head-butted by a girl because she was told to sit down. It is only right that parents are punished for their behaviour, maybe it will force them to address the situation instead of defending their nasty children. Bring back the cane, every one of them deserves it.
RJ, Wales

It would be nice if parents didn't swear in front of their children. As a child - up to 17/18 years-old - there were still a lot of rude words that I didn't know the meaning of - now I hear eight-year-olds using them in the playground. Children's lack of understanding about respect for others, self-respect and basic social skills does come from the parents in the first instance, then from others at a later stage. If people don't have respect and good values for themselves, they certainly won't have them for others. I am nowhere near perfect and fully aware of the fact; I also know that it's difficult raising children, but it's a job that needs to be well done. If you mess up at work you get the sack - if you mess up bringing up children, you only get a fine! Seems fair enough to me.
Karina, UK

As a parent of four children, I believe it is MY responsibility to ensure that they grow into stable and useful members of society. I know other parents who do not take that view and I see the results of their lack of labour every day. People just refuse to take responsibility when the blame can always be found to lie somewhere else.
Bob, UK

Next week, every child will be electronically tagged at birth

Chris B, England

Government inaction has been instrumental in contributing to rising crime levels. Next week, we'll probably see some new initiatives to crack down on youth crime: every child will be electronically tagged at birth, and all parents will either face on-the-spot fines for producing off-spring, or will be thrown into the prisons which Blunkett is about to empty of criminals. I'm so glad that we are blessed with leaders who know what they're doing. We must be the envy of the western world.
Chris B, England

The government might be evading responsibility for increasing crime levels but that doesn't stop the fact that most children are clones of their parents. A child's behavioural patterns start with the parents and if parents have no respect then their children won't either. Prosecuting parents for their children's crimes is a fair way of ensuring that parents take more notice of what their kids are up to. Yes, bring parents to task for their children's outlandish behaviour.
Kevin B, Brit in US

I was eight years old when corporal punishment was banned. I watched kids suddenly realising they could not be touched and now those kids have kids of their own and think it's clever to go to the school and threaten any teacher that dares to criticise their little darlings. To the politicians and children's rights groups of the 1980s - you are now reaping what you have sown. Not a good job at all.
Wendy, UK

Blame must also be placed on the shoulders of government for their softly-softly attitude to criminals. When I was growing up, if you were caught by the police doing something wrong, you got a clip round the ear and taken home to face the wrath of your parents, which usually resulted in another clip round the ear. I agree with Wendy's comments about the do-gooders of the 1980s. A clip round the ear or slap to the back of the legs never caused me any harm.
Bob Knox, England

I fight tooth and nail to get my son into a special school

Julian Hayward, UK

As a parent of an autistic child, I'm deeply distrustful of any blanket statement that blames parents for every ill in the world. True, there are plenty of disrespectful parents who instil the same contempt for society in their offspring. However, a child who is physically incapable of good behaviour except in a strictly controlled and supportive environment is going to be a soft target for fines. This is made far worse by the government's pressure to force all children (no matter how difficult) into mainstream schools without any extra assistance. I am having to fight tooth and nail to get my son into a special school, even though it's obvious he cannot cope elsewhere. Labour's meanness and dogma is another part of the problem, but I would never expect Ms Morris to admit that.
Julian Hayward, UK

Holding parents responsible will reinforce their own anti-authority feelings

Steve Harrison, UK

We have reached the position where we have a second or third generation who are locked into a cultural more that it is cool to despise authority. As a result the parents are on the side of their children and cannot be relied upon to help assert authority over them. They are not bad people or bad parents; they are historically victims of the same pressures which now act against their children. Holding parents responsible for the actions of their children will only reinforce their own anti-authority feelings. Why not exploit the natural tendency for children to rebel against their parents? Use a bit of psychology, it almost always proves more effective than a big stick.
Steve Harrison, UK

Parents have a lot to do with it. My old man kept me on the straight and narrow. I was too scared to do anything wrong.
T Gill, UK

Blaming the parents without giving the teachers the power to punish misbehaving pupils is good for nothing. Teachers must have authority over their pupils or nothing will work.
Andy, UK

Would Tony and Cherie have been fined when their son was found drunk?

Mel, UK

Wow...that is a sweeping statement. There are doubtlessly some bad parents but you cannot treat adults like this. There are bound to be extenuating circumstances. Would Tony and Cherie have been fined a grand when their son was found face down, drunk and refusing to give his name to the police? That was lousy parenting by these rules. Where will these children be when the parents are at 'parenting school'? Will parents who have jobs and are only just holding it together still be fined? Why is the government getting so totally overexcited about fining us for everything these days? Drinking, parenting, driving in central London without a permit etc. This REALLY needs coherent thinking through.
Mel, UK

I get really annoyed by people like SCB who make blanket statements about parents being "blamed" for not controlling their children. I'm the father of a 12 year-old boy, with learning difficulties, who has a genuine problem understanding the consequences of his actions. Recently he had some disciplinary problems at school - fortunately my wife and I were able to sort out the situation with the Headmaster. To be told that these problems are somehow "my fault" indicates a total lack of understanding of how demanding it is to bring up a child who does not fit into the "average to intelligent" bracket. Whilst I'm on my soap-box, can any of the advocates of corporal punishment explain why countries like Sweden and Denmark, which banned corporal punishment some years ago, have much lower incidences of juvenile delinquency than we do here in the UK?
John, England

Parents should be blamed for not controlling their children and should have to pay accordingly for not fulfilling their responsibility of raising children properly. The government should also take blame and reinstall proper deterrents into school. I never appreciated being spanked by my headmaster but I soon stopped getting into trouble. Kids need discipline - there should be some form that teachers can rely on to rein in unruly children for their own good.
SCB, UK

To Shaun of Teignmouth - If you've allowed your child to reach the age of 15, and are only now trying to instill some discipline, there's no point in trying to blame "liberal do-gooders" for his lack of respect. This is exactly the attitude that has lead to the situation we're in today. It's the liberals' fault, the government's fault, the teachers' fault. It's never your fault is it?
Andrew Smith, US -Ex UK

Parents have virtually all their rights taken away from them

Shaun, Teignmouth, UK

When we tried to apply a little discipline last week, our 15-year-old son refused to accept us grounding him and would sneak out when our backs were turned. He has never been in any serious trouble with either the police or his school, but faced with this situation, one sees how powerless we have been made by decades of interference by liberal do-gooders. What is one supposed to do? It is all very well chastising parents but they have had virtually all their rights taken away from them to instil even fairly mild forms of discipline.
Shaun, Teignmouth, UK

Parents should be leading by example from day one

ALB, UK

Of course parents are responsible for the behaviour of their children. Children need to be taught respect, empathy, understanding and they will only get this from their parents. And there is no point starting to instill discipline at the age of 15, this is too late. Parents should be leading by example from day one. Coupled with this, if society had a little respect for teachers, then perhaps the kids would too.
ALB, UK