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SCMP Reporter

Don't just dip a toe in the water
Reading about the World Winter Swimming Championships has given me an idea.
Young people today find it very hard to finish a task, and often give up as soon as they meet any difficulties. 
I think a winter swimming competition could provide a useful challenge for our teenagers, and develop their ability to persevere. 
Swimming in these conditions must be physically demanding, but once they've jumped into the water, the only thing they can do is try their best to reach the finish. 
During the race the swimmers may feel exhausted, but when they realise they are getting nearer  to the finish they surely wouldn't give up. 
Swimming in such cold water could also help make them physically stronger.
Heidi Shek Wing-ting
Extra lessons don't guarantee success
Hong Kong is a highly competitive city, and its people are constantly in competition with each other. Because of this, most parents feel forced to enrol their children in as many extra classes as possible.
 It goes without saying, classes which teach subjects and skills not covered in the standard school day can give children an edge over others. But the drawbacks of this approach seem to far outweigh the benefits. 
Long working days can exhaust children and leave little time for relaxation - this may even put their health at risk. And there may be no space for student's other talents to develop properly. 
Knowledge on its own will not guarantee children a bright future. This depends more on the enthusiasm and dedication they have for their studies, and on their time management skills.
Lau Pui-ching, Fung Kai Liu Man Shek Tong Secondary School
Police in classrooms could damage trust
Recently, a 23-year-old policewoman went undercover in a secondary school in Fanling to investigate drug abuse. 
The policewoman joined a Form Three class to investigate the sale of drugs at the school. With her help, an offender was arrested. 
However, the name of the school was made public. This made the principal angry, as the police had promised to keep the school's identity secret.
 Tang King-shing, the Commissioner of the Hong Kong Police Force, apologised to the principal in person. 
 Using undercover officers in schools may help solve cases, but it could also mean that any new students joining a class are now treated with suspicion.
I think the police have  to consider the feelings of students before using such tactics again.
Fish Sung
Teenagers having time of their lives
Some older people want to be young again, and some children want to be adults already. But I would like to remain a teenager all my life.
Teenagers have more freedom. Babies can't speak and express themselves, and, worse still, they can't walk or run. And they have to stay with their parents all the time. 
You may say that, unlike teenagers, adults don't need to obey their parents. But they do have to work in order to earn a living, and therefore have much less spare time. 
Also teenagers have more fun. They have lots of friends at school and they can enjoy their holidays without worrying about work. Nor do they usually suffer from poor health, unlike elderly people. 
Some people will disagree with me, as they think teenagers also have their own troubles and worries. Of course teenagers have problems. 
But, while no stage in  life is perfect, I think the  teenage years are better in comparison.
Unfortunately, we can't stay the same age all our life - but I'm sure we can enjoy different things at different ages. 
Ruby Li Yuen-ying



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