'Left-Behind' Children Need Our Attention Now

The tragedy that saw four children in Bijie, a city in Guizhou Province, take their own lives has reopened a deep wound suffered by society amid rapid modernization. The incident prompted the local government to evaluate the conditions of other so-called left-behind children – youngsters left at home while parents go off to find work in cities – and raised public attention to their plight. These responses are necessary, but far from enough. It should not take such extreme problems for the government and public to pay more attention to these children and their families. Rather, they should be at the center of discussion when policies and reforms are considered.