As the OP says, we treat children like little darlings who turn into teenage hooligans. The former is a myth, the latter is gradually becoming a reality.
My mother worked as a teaching assistant for two years at the second-worst high school in the region. Six months of that was spent on sick leave due to depression. She routinely told my sister and I how little respect she was given, she was hit several times (by various objects) and of course all she could do was fill out the requisite forms (as far as I can recall, all those involved got off scot-free). Only a few of those she worked with were genuinely good human beings stuck there due to financial constraints or learning difficulties.
Speaking as a teenager, more respect needs to be given by society to teenagers, but equally we must earn it.
