Stop unruly behavior by young people

Having spent most of my adult life working with young people as a school principal, I am fully aware of young people doing stupid things and using poor judgment. This behavior has been on full display in the incidents in downtown Chicago and on the lakefront.

My involvement with young people on an individual basis was and always is one of respect and civility. Working with large groups of young people was another matter. When young people are in large groups, they tend to behave and do silly things that they would not do as an individual. Call it mob mentality.

In the school setting, when large groups assembled like at football games, extra security and vigilance was always employed. The smallest unruliness was pounced on to prevent a major flareup. This same tactic has to be employed downtown to prevent unruly behavior from disrupting the peaceful pursuits of the citizens of Chicago.

Mobs of young people should in no way be allowed to interfere with citizens who want to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. Any unruly behavior that results in the disruption of traffic, commerce and the movement of people should warrant the offenders being taken into custody and held until a parent comes to get them. Of course, if the behavior is more serious and criminal in nature, those offenders should be arrested. There is no perfect solution to this problem: however, the above tactics should in the long run be a deterrent.

Ned L. McCray, Tinley Park