衛生類B級：閱讀理解Valuing Childhood

　　The value of childhood is easily blurred(模糊) in to says world. Consider

　　some recent developments: the child-murders in the Jonesboro， ark. Schoolyard

　　shooting case were convicted and sentenced. Two boys， 7 and 8， were charged in

　　the murder of an 11-year-old girl in Chicago.

　　Children who commit horrible crimes appear to act of their own will. Yet，

　　as legal proceedings in Jonesboro showed， the one boy who was to address the

　　court couldnt begin to explain his acts， though he tried to apologize. There

　　may have been a motive - youthful jealousy and resentment. But a deeper question

　　remains: why did these boys and others in similar trouble apparently lack any

　　inner， moral restraint(束縛)?

　　That question echoes for the accused in Chicago， young as they are. They

　　wanted the girls bicycle， a selfish impulse(沖動) common enough among kids.

　　Redemption(拯救) is a practical necessity. How can value be restored to young

　　lives distorted(扭曲) by acts of violence? The boys in Jonesboro and in Chicago

　　will be confined in institutions for a relatively short time. Despite horror at

　　what was done children are not cannot be dealt with as adults， not if a people

　　wants to consider itself civilized. Thats why politicians cries for adult

　　treatment of youthful criminals ultimately miss the point.

　　But the moral void(真空) that invites violence has many sources. Family

　　instability(不穩定) contributes. So does economic stress. That void， however， can

　　be filled. The work starts with parents， who have to ask themselves whether

　　theyre doing enough to give their children a firm sense of right and wrong. Are

　　they really monitoring their activities and their developing processes of thought?

　　Schools， too， have a role in building character. So do youth organizations.

　　So do law enforcement agencies， which can do more to inform the young about laws， their meaning. And their observance(遵守)