THREE TEENAGERS, in Shaoyang, Central China's Hunan province, aged 13, 12, and 11, have been detained on suspicion of causing the death of a primary school teacher in her 50s and robbing her apartment on Oct 18, rousing a heated online debate over juvenile crime. Because they are underage, if they are found guilty they will be sent to a local reform school and exempt from criminal punishment. Comments:

Of course, one should neither demonize nor discriminate against the so-called left-behind children in some remote areas of China. But their situation must be looked at, because being left behind by their parents at a young age is very likely to lead them astray, as the latest tragedy in Shaoyang shows. Growing up without proper parenting makes it very difficult for children to learn the correct social values.

Beijing Youth Daily, Oct 22