Should teenagers be legally obliged to take care of their parents?

Jessica Leung, 16, Our Lady of the Rosary College

Children know nothing about society's rules before they grow up. It is up to parents to teach their children how to behave properly and to become productive members of the community.

Some may argue that school is like a miniature society. It provides children with most of the skills they need as they grow to become adults.

There's no doubt schools can teach them many things. But it is parents who best know their children. Children spend more time at home than at school so parents can take better care of their children than schools can. That's why parents have a legal obligation to look after their children.

The law is there to protect children. We cannot ignore the fact that some parents have no sense of responsibility towards their children. It is important that children are legally obligated to take care of their parents when they grow up. Society needs to set an example for our future leaders.

If parents ignore their children, their children might copy their behaviour in return, starting a vicious cycle.

Just as parents are obliged to take proper care of their children, to provide them with love and shelter and teach them skills to help them get on in the world, so too should their children be obliged to provide care for their parents when they are too old or sick to look after themselves.