Youth of Today Risk Going Deaf

This has been pretty heavily reported over the last week but I though the fact that it presented a good argument against those horrible ipod things and a fine health promotion message for young people warranted an inclusion here.

“Today's youth are at risk of going deaf up to 30 years earlier than their parents because they are listening to MP3 players too loudly and too often - according to a new survey carried out to mark the launch of a partnership between Specsavers Hearcare and Deafness Research UK .”

UK'S FIRST NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO CHILDHOOD

The Children’s Society announced yesterday that Lord Layard, Emeritus Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics would chair the UK’s first national inquiry into childhood.

“The Good Childhood Inquiry, managed by The Children's Society, aims to renew society's understanding of childhood for the twenty-first century, with the charity believing that too many children in the UK are experiencing poor childhoods.

The society highlights that Recent research has revealed that while we are wealthier than fifty years ago, the well-being of children in the UK is amongst the lowest in Europe, and our young people are experiencing increasing levels of mental health problems.

Refugee children, children in trouble with the law, disabled children, and children at risk on the streets, with whom The Children's Society works on a daily basis, are among those most affected by these issues.

The Children's Society is also concerned that the current climate of fear and confusion surrounding children is clouding the way childhood is understood today. The charity argues that left unchallenged, society's contradictory attitudes towards children - on the one hand idealising them as angels and on the other demonising them as yobs -will lead to a breakdown in intergenerational relationships.”

Jings, crivvens! Is Oor Wullie turning into Our William?

Jings!

The Scotsman reports that even Oor Wullie is becoming a little gentrified in these more sophisticated times. Disenculturation? Aye, right.

Scouts Struggling for Volunteers

I caught an article on the BBC TV news this morning suggesting that the Scotus and Guides had long waiting lists for young people that wanted to beccome members. That in itself is no bad thing, however the reason given for the waiting lists is because of difficulties in attracting adult volunteers. Now the uniformed organisation have always had a reputation in Youth Work for having a greater sense of loyalty in their alumni, and consequently better at attracting volunteers from their old boys and girls.

Now I know that the uniformed organisations are not always seen as the cutting edge of work with young people but it would be very interesting to know the reason for this phenomenon. Is it just part of the apparent decline in voluntarism in the UK? Is it a result of something to do with the people who were in uniformed organisations as young people and are now of age to return to volunteering? Has the introduction of the CRBS had an impact?

Anyway other than small mention at the tail of the article linked above I coundn't find any report on it on the BBC website.

From Hoody to Goody

A study from Young People Now magazine and the Office of the Children’s Commissioner (England) makes the case that concerning behaviour is not confined to the, erm, lower classes.

That’s hardly a revelation and the Observer article I found it in STILL uses the word ‘Chav’ but it’s worth reading because it makes an interesting point that young people from more middle class backgrounds may be less able to deal with the consequences of their behaviour. Can a case be made for resources targeted at the young and affluent on this basis…?article I found it in STILL uses the word ‘Chav’ but it’s worth reading because it makes an interesting point that young people from more middle class backgrounds may be less able to deal with the consequences of their behaviour. Can a case be made for resources targeted at the young and affluent on this basis…?

Rush up and Hug A Hoody

I know I did comment on this yesterday but I just found this poem submitted by a listener to BBC news . I hope they don't mind me reproducing it...

Cameron craves "Con" converts
So he's gone all goody-goody
He cries to all in shopping mall
"Rush up and hug a Hoody!"

The Tory Party needs more votes
To make things as they should be
Run short of nobs - espousing yobs
Rush up and hug a Hoody

Our Dave's inclusiveness shines out
So curb our hate please - could we?
They do not mean to look so mean
Rush up and hug a Hoody.

Each friendless faceless garmentee
A quiet conformist would be.
The hood they wear just de rigueur
Rush up and hug a Hoody.

Though you might fear a butted nose
What would a little blood be?
That scowling cowling wants your love
Rush up - and hug a Hoody.

Also, I just heard Karen Dunbar on Radio Scotland saying that she intends to do a Hug a Hoddy discussion this morning. I can see that this one will run and run....

Cameron Calls for Understanding

What a strange politcal world we live in. The leader of the conservative party calls for a softer approach on that scourge of our communities, the hoody. Truly there has been an amazing flip-flop of the ground the main parties traditionally hold.

I know this one has received extensive comment in the press - some of it really quite funny - but I really couldn't let this pass without saying something.

It's a shame that Mr Camerons comments are really no more than an attempt to win voters appalled by the programme of demonisation of young people imppmented by the current government.

It's sadly apparent that Mr Camerons views on 'threatening' young people are grounded in no greater an understanding of the perspectives of young people than Mr Blairs. Calls to "understand what's gone wrong in these children's lives" fail to accept that for the majority of young people the behaviours he regards as problematic are in fact absolutely normal.

"We - the people in suits - often see hoodies as aggressive, the uniform of a rebel army of young gangsters. But hoodies are more defensive than offensive. They're a way to stay invisible in the street. In a dangerous environment the best thing to do is keep your head down, blend in."

His call to show more love to aberrant young people is still rooted in a view that the correct response to issues of intergenerational conflict is some form of treatment of young people, not some form of mediation or dialogue between the generations.

The fact remains however that young people have no political power - and by that I mean that they are not organised to represent their interests, not just that they are largely voteless or non-voters - and as long as that is the case any sensible electioneer is going to play to the people who can provide them with political power. It would take a brave politician to suggest that adults look at their behaviour in relation to young people.