Hwa Chong JC student Punch Bus Driver

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It was the hot topic of the week. A Hwa Chong JC student had punched a bus driver and it was reported in the front page news. Following up was the news of his father kneeling down and begging the bus driver for forgiveness.

I was shocked by the news of a top JC student committing such a rash act. But what surprised me even more were his father’s actions as well as the boy’s claim that it was “all an accident”

It was no doubt a touching story. The father’s act of self sacrifice is admirable, and his love for his song moved many. His is acting based on what he perceived as what is best for his son. However, one could not help but question the wisdom in his actions.

First let us look at the actions of the student. What the son did was definitely wrong and unacceptable. No matter how angry he might be at the moment, his anger can never be an excuse for anyone to commit such acts of violence, let alone a student studying in a school where future leaders are being made. Even if the bus driver had been provocative, violence is never the solution to any problems. As a fellow teenager, I can understand the impulse to let our emotions overwhelm us and act rashly, especially when his girlfriend is around. Still, youth is no excuse for such acts. After all, if others of the same age can control their emotions, why cannot he do the same?

Next, let us look at the incident from the perspective of the father. From what I have mentioned above, we can safely conclude that the boy had been responsible for this whole incident. Thus he should bear the full responsibility for his actions and learn from the experience. However, his father’s actions denied him this chance. The one kneeling down begging for forgiveness should not be the father who is totally unrelated to the incident. Instead the one begging for forgiveness should be the son.

Also, from the son’s claim that everything “was an accident”, it is evident that he still does not feel any genuine remorse for his actions. Is this what the father wanted?

In some ways, this incident reflects the approach that many parents take when educating their children. In pursuit of academic achievement of their children, they often forget about the character development of their children. As a result, their children make mistakes that ought to be punished. However, these parents are often over protective of their children and choose to shield from the responsibilities that they ought to take. The result of such parenting is a generation of youth that is irresponsible and weak. This incident is probably just one among the many that happen each day but are not reported. Our parents are forgetting that they cannot accompany their children for the rest of their lives, and that they need to stand up for themselves one day.