Don't upset thugs

[wuz one]

Who are these people who are on the news saying.........We should not call them thugs as we might upset them.........GOD FORBID

[Leilapups]

ruby and maxximus
glad to hear I am not alone. Started to think maybe my teenage years in the late 70's in South West was very unusual and that our loutish behaviour was due to an over abundance of clotted cream and scrumpy. We didn't see ourselves as being in a gang just bored teenagers who were desperate to be grown up but with limited levels of maturity.

[ruby27]

Naomi
Just a couple of things
Why are you saying maxximus has made uninformed comments? You should say in your opinion as it is not a proven fact. I don�t think and I assume maxximus doesn�t think (s) he made uninformed comments.
Not sure that I agree with the word discipline but do agree with you that some parents fail to apply ground rules and boundaries with their children and that by the age of 5 could easily be described as out of control. This appears partly due to their own experiences of being parented, (you as a parent will probably fully understand doing parenting is hard work and to be consistent takes more effort than giving in to temper tantrums), ignorance and lack of insight into child development/needs. Understanding this is part of the reason the Government pumped millions of pounds into the Surestart programmes and continues to fund via LA�s the Children Centre and Extended School programmes. Also as part of the governments RESPECT agenda YOT�s either have to provide or commission parenting programmes with the view that attendance at these will teach parents to apply different and more positive parenting.
Do I think it is normal for children to be in contact with the YOT�s? Well it�s not abnormal given they have been set up to be in contact with young people, but certainly not desirable, I don�t understand where you get the idea I would think it was. Sadly for certain sections of our community it may be almost commonplace. I imagine in certain housing estates where the housing dept has followed the policy of placing �problem� families then there is a high percentage of those children who will be in contact with the criminal justice system. Also as sadly young black (African Caribbean) boys will also be disproportionably known to the YOTs, due to institutional racism and the longitudinal effects of slavery.

[naomi24]

Ruby, when I said I would ignore maxximus's uninformed comments, I was referring to his supposition that my childhood was spent in church which according to him I hated. Additionally, I really don't need you to tell me what I should or shouldn't say. I said discipline and that's exactly what I meant. You can call it what you like, but whatever, and however many words you choose to use to describe the process of instilling a modicum of social awareness and responsibility for their own behaviour into children, discipline is what it boils down to.

Parenting isn't the easiest thing in the world - I know - I've been there and done it - and as I've already said it's far easier to say 'yes' than 'no'. However, the results of that are destructive, and finding excuses for the outcome of that form of education is no solution to the problem.

[chompu]

Naomi, You seem to be rather outnumbered so I have posted in support. I agree that the majority of young people don't behave in this manner and this type of behaviour should not be condoned. What's the definition of 'low key theft and criminal damage' Whatever the cost it is someone elses property and should be left alone.I have just finished working after 10 years in a large comprehensive. It annoyed me the inordinate amount of time and resources that was spent on a small amount of troublemakers. This is at the expense of the better behaved students education. And whilst I'm on, perhaps Ruby you can explain a couple of your points in your last post. If a disproportionate number of young black Afro Carribeans offend against the law and come to the attention of the authorities,how can this be classified as instituational racism. And why should the slave trade have any bearing? I wouldn' t think that any of the Afro- Caribbeans in this country didn't have an ancestor who was a slave and the majority of these desendants are law abiding citizens.

[naomi24]

Hello Chompu, thank you.