Canny lass

Now you've got me on my hobby-horse again. This is gonna be a long one so go and make yourself a cuppa before you start reading ... I think the cause of vandalism is complicated and has many different factors involved. I don't think we can lay the blame at the feet of any one person/authority. Some very good points have been raised here. Vic, you lay the blame on parenting, schooling and to a degree employment, or rather the lack of these. Symptoms, you say that the media is to blame, partly because of violence on TV and partly because TV has made children more aware of their rights and more prone to demand them. Keith (Lockey) you say that it stems from some innate quality. I agree with you all but I think it's difficult to separate the one from the other. They are closely intertwined. I agree Vic that parents aren't teaching their children the meaning of respect. There may be a variety of reasons for that, one of which I feel to be the rapidly decreasing amount of time which parents and children spend together. Today, both parents often work, whether it be to make ends meet or to be able to live their lives in the manner to which they've become accustomed. This leaves evenings and weekends for the essentials of running a household. Not much time over for children there! Children themselves don't make it easy either. Today they are more active than ever, have more free time and above all more money than ever, so they are hardly ever at home. Then there's schooling. Is it a teacher's job to teach children the meaning of respect? I think not. The foundations for understanding the meaning of respect should already have been laid, pre-school, by the parents, who should also know that their responsibility doesn't end when the child starts school. A teacher can reinforce the work of the parents but he/she cannot be expected to replace the work of the parents. Teachers have neither the time nor the resources. I do think however, that a large part of the behavior we see in young people today may have its roots in the schools – not so much in what teacher's are, or are not, teaching there but rather in the political decisions being made concerning the way in which it is taught and even to whom it is taught. Which form current day education should take is being debated politically, not just here and in Britain but in most places in Europe – and in Canada also I imagine Vic. That in itself is a good thing and it's clear from discussions on this site that there are more than me hoping for a change for the better. Children, it's often said, are our future and schools are society's direct opportunity to influence them. Unfortunately, all influence isn't good influence. Changes for the worse can and do occur. I think you'll agree that some schools have in fact become worse instead of better due to some changes previously made in the system. If we go back to the 50s and 60s quite a lot of children left school, prepared for university (remember the grammar school system)? Many others left school prepared for a white collar job (remember the streaming system?) and many others left school prepared for a so-called blue collar job. And let's not forget the apprenticeship system which allowed children to continue their education, learning a trade, after basic schooling was completed. The main point here is that those who weren't going on to higher education left school prepared for working. We don't see much of that today. Then some politician came along and decided that we should do away with this sort of elitism and we did, but quality of education paid the price as standards dropped so that everybody could achieve the same academic result and nobody is any longer 'prepared' for work. I've lost count of how many young people I've met who prefer unemployment to taking a job for which they deem themselves to be over-qualified just because they've got a college education. Nobody wants to start at the bottom and work their way up anymore. Unfortunately, we need people on the bottom rung of the ladder in all industries if the wheels are to keep turning. While I'm not one to advocate elitism, I am one who believes in educating children to the best of their abilities –their abilities being the key word here. Unfortunately, and I speak from my experiences with A-level students here, the ability of the child is often overlooked. All children are equal and have a right to the same education, they say here, and I agree wholeheartedly. However, I cannot agree that all children are equal in their ability. Nevertheless, all children are expected on completion of their basic schooling to be eligible for higher (A-level) studies. On completion of their A-level studies they are expected to be eligible for university at least in the 4 core subjects. In other words, the goal is way too high for many of these children and I believe this is so throughout Europe as the one country after the other tries to have 'the best' education system, best being measured only in terms of numbers. The result is many young people who are totally out of their depth in school, many young people who are bored in school and many young people who really would rather be anywhere else than in school. For these children every day is a nightmare when they are constantly reminded, by the mere fact of not coping, of their academic shortcomings. Ironically they are rarely praised for their practical skills though many are enormously gifted. It's theory which counts! Can you imagine what it would be like to be obliged to go 5 days a week for up to 3 years to a job that made you feel like that? These children don't really want to be there. Many know they are out of their depth but they feel the pressure from society – and peers – to be there. It must be soul destroying! There, I believe, you have the root of the problem. A lot of the bad behavior starts here, born out of boredom, frustration and a feeling of inadequacy that drives youngsters to 'stand out' among the crowd in other – unfortunately, less socially acceptable - ways. Many are cheeky to teachers and deliberately cause disturbances in class for no other reason than to get a minute's respite from the pressure caused by being there. I think Keith (Lockey) this might be the group you are referring to, who would be the same, whatever the social or employment conditions (in today's system I might add). You call them bad, and doubtless some of them are, but really it's sad. And the downward spiral doesn't stop there. We don't have to look too far to find one of the greatest threats to schooling today – an all too rigid application of human rights, which Symptoms has already touched on, would appear to be eroding the very foundations of what little educational system there is left. The reason is quite simple. Human rights are based to a certain degree on a liberal, anti-paternalistic way of thinking. That is to say: it's wrong to govern what people do both during and with their lives, as long as what they do doesn't encroach on other people's right to do what they want to do. We can then ask the question - How does this relate to children? Take the Montissori schools for instance. From day one it is the child who decides where they want to do their work, what work they want to do, who they want to work with etc. In the ordinary state run schools, at least at high school level, they decide which subjects they want to do and later, which ones they want to drop. Later they are given almost total responsibility for their studies. Nobody wants a 4 year-old to decide what he wants to eat. Nobody wants to see 6 year olds running around the streets at all hours and nobody wants a 13 year old to decide on what sort and how many drugs they should take. Despite that, there are plenty of politicians and pressure groups throughout Europe who campaign diligently for the child's right to decide his/her own future. However, there is one really big difference between children and adults which leads me to believe that children should not be subject to the anti-paternalistic principles and that is quite simply that CHILDREN ARE NOT MATURE!! To not be mature means not being able to make all sorts of informed decisions. Children have not acquired the necessary knowledge or the life experience to be able to do this. Learning to make decisions is part of growing up and, correct me if I'm wrong, growing up is a part of childhood. As adults shouldn't we be aware that a child's right to freedom of choice is somewhat restricted by immaturity and as adults shouldn't we be doing what we can to resist the political pressures which seek to widen the child's sphere of autonomy? At the same time let's remind parents, who de facto have the right to make decisions on behalf of their children (consent to surgery, to mention just one instance), that the wishes of a child are not always in agreement with what's best for the child. Children need boundaries to feel secure and a natural part of growing up and learning about the world we live in is that we continually test the boundaries. We need to know where the limit lies and how far we can go. Just knowing gives a sense of security and parents need to know when to say yes and how to say no. Parents should take Adam's advice (well done Adam) when they're 'threatened' and call their children'sbluff. It's a pretty empty bluff if you know you're not abusing your child. Better still offer to go with them and make the report. Feeling a lot better having got that off my chest!!

and don't you just love that orang-utan! Didn't know they had them in Bedlington woods!

I can't explain the point of it Malcolm but you've got to admit, it's a better way for young people to spend their time than burning picnic tables!

My man also watched it several times. He's building his own car at the minute (well, the last 18 months actually)! He thought it was brilliant. Myself, It made me rather ashamed knowing how many times I've complained about the price of repairs and service. I never knew it was so much intricate work.

Cliff was a former class mate of mine. I heard recently that he made it to Chief Inspector in the Northumberland police force but died sadly at the age of 55. That would be about 10 years ago by my reckoning.

I think Bedlington's looking great. Can't wait to get there and see it for myself!

Now you're talking!! Well 'sun-tanned' bloke.Didn't he come into the ring with a tigerskin, head and all, draped over him?

Now don't go spoiling all my memories! I've already had a shock finding out that every minute of it was put up!

You don't half get about Foxy!!

Don't know if Keith's house is there but I can see my old flat on Arundel (Drive Or was it Arundel Close)?

Wasn't there a whole McManus family in wrestling? Used to be two brothers in a tag team - Mick was one of them I think?

Now would we do that Foxy?

P.S. I'm not a Brown-ale lover!

Nostalgia is really getting to me at the minute. It's all you lovely folks fault! Cocktails - from a tea-pot no less - are the in thing here at the minute.I would like a nice recipe for a cocktail that embodies everything that is Bedlington. Any ideas?

Never mind getting out on the lash, when you've had all that practice get yourself across to my place and get bthe same thing done here!!

Later is better than never - is it not?

That goes for me too. Have a goodun!

I have a look in now and then. Latest last night. Only once have I had a chat with anybody,

That's the best piece of advice I've heard given to a young person seeking work that I've heard for many a year! Mind if I use it on my grandson?

Hi Mobius, could this "cross formy quadrate sable" you mention be St. Cuthbert's cross and could the lions for some reason be holding a cross bow?

Looks like a cross bow to me Malcolm

Lovely pictures Adam. Thanks for sharing. I have to say that I think Bedlington is looking really nice. It seems as though a bit of thought and effort has been put in. Hope it wasn't just because "the torch" was coming to town.

The H&S laws are very strict in Scandinavia as well but it seems to work out to everybody's stisfaction. I'm not really sure what arrangements are made regarding accidents and the like but most sports clubs have an insurance which covers members engaged in club activities. Not sure how it is from the council's side of things. I'll make some enquiries and get back to you.

Couldn't agree more. There's a couple of good reasons why verges in Scandinavia are so nice. First and foremost it's to help reduce accidents caused by elk and deer running on to the road. Verges are generally speaking quite wide here and the vegetation is kept very short to give motorists a better chance of seeing wild animals before they reach the tarmac. It's easier to take avoiding action if you see the animal before it gets onto the road.Another reason why verges are so nice is that we have spring cleaning 2 weekends in April/May every year. The government pays a small sum of money to all clubs and associations who participate. The members take care of a stretch of road and get paid by the kilometer to pick up and bag anything that shouldn't be there. Bags are provided by the local council and when filled are left on the roadside. These are then collected by the local council within the week. The clubs get a boost to their funds and the members get fresh air and exercise. I think it's a great idea.

Keep at it! Been off them for 26 years now myself. Don't worry about the weight. If you've got the will power to quit the fags you've got the willpower to lose the weight - when the time is right. Tackle one problem at a time. The longer your off the weed the better your health will be and the more energy you'll have. The more energy you have the more active you'll be. The more active you are the more calories you'll burn. And - if you then start adding some gentle exercise ( you did say you liked the new gym equipment in the woods) the weight will disappear without really having to try too hard. It took a couple of years for me to reach that stage and then I started running. Still running today 3 X 10K every week. Keep up the good work. Every day without a cig is an achievement to be proud of. if you should happen to fall by the wayside, don't give up and never say "I've started again". You haven't started again you've only had a small lapse - get back on track!Here's a little tip for you to help with withdrawal symptoms: Wash and dry a bunch of celery. Cut a few sticks into strips about the length of a cigarette. It's important to keep all the strips the same way up and remember which end is which - top or bottom. Take a glass large enough to hold the strips. Fill it to 1/3 with vodka and place the strips in the glass with the bottom end in the vodka. The strips should be as upright as possible so choose your glass accordingly. Place in the fridge overnight. next day the vodka should have disappeared as it's been drawn up into the celery. These are great when the craving sets in (actually they're quite nice without the craving as well)!