Adults must set standards for juveniles: panel

Japan Policy & Politics, July 26, 1999

TOKYO, July 22 Kyodo

A government advisory body on issues related to raising juveniles submitted a report Thursday calling for society to change its attitudes toward juvenile problems. The report, compiled by the Juvenile Problem Council and submitted to Seiichi Ota, director general of the Management and Coordination Agency, says adults need to be more aware of their responsibilities as parents by setting moral standards. Stressing that juveniles grow up in communities, the report calls for the creation of networks of local residents, schools, companies and other organizations in which juveniles can experience various human relationships. Specifically, the report calls for more use of part-time teachers in schools and the establishment of centers where parents of elementary school pupils can discuss troubles in raising children. The report also suggests consideration be given to compiling a plan for juveniles stipulating basic principles and important goals for government policy. The report calls for self-restraint in the distribution of harmful material and urges the media to publish information in advance on the contents of TV programs as ways of combating juvenile delinquency. The report also proposes loosening academic and age restrictions on sitting public qualification exams in an effort to move toward a society that values ability from a society that values academic background. Meanwhile, the report highlights cases in which juveniles get into trouble and says the root of these problems is a lack of home discipline and human relationships.