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There has been a lot written about the riots already (much of it by me) but I have decided to get my thoughts down in a blog.
I grew up in a stable family with two loving parents who both worked hard and brought in enough money to put a roof over our heads and give us a decent holiday every year. At school I was taught to repsect authority and as a result I rarely caused any trouble (apart from growing my hair beyond school regulation length).
The general feeling is that the riots are caused by people from poor economic backgrounds, broken homes, unemployment, poverty and poor education. Sadly these things are all interlinked.
I work as a supply teacher and one of the things which is highlighted on the register is those entitled to free school meals - ie. those from poor economic backgrounds. Innocently highlighted, but there for a reason. These are OFTEN the kids who have less regard for authority and will cause the most disruption on class.
They are also OFTEN the kids who's parents offer the least support when it comes to disciplining the child for behaviour issues.
Many of these pupils get issued with "Time-out" cards which entitles them to ten minutes of cooling down time when they get stressed in the class room. What this allows them to do is to cause as much disruption as they like and then wave their card to prevent being punished for it. It teaches them nothing - even less, since they are not even in a classroom learning what they are supposed to for that time.
These kids come from homes where their parents often do not work. They do not see the reward for a hard day's work, they see the government giving them a meagre amount for nothing. So applying themselves to work hard to get an education is alien to them.
Then we get a recession. A government who thinks that cutting away support for the poorest is a sensible way of making improvements. Suddenly all those sixteen-year-olds who had decided that they would get A-levels even if it was only to get the educational maintenance allowance that it entitled them to, find that there is no point to this any more, since their EMA has been taken away. But there are no jobs, cause we are in a recession.
And even if they wanted to get their A-levels, going to university is now out of the question, since tuition fees have been raised through the roof. So they are back to feeling like they used to - parents unemployed, no role models, no money, no jobs. Yet the high street seems to be prospering.
One mistake by the police and suddenly it all blows up. Ten years ago I worked in Brighton with a black chap who used to travel down from London early every morning. He would leave home at about 5am, carrying a holdall, and head for the train station. Apparently he was frequently stopped by police and asked what was in the holdall. I spent two years getting up early to commute to London. I was never stopped by police.
None of this answers the real question. I can see why these kids are unhappy. I can see the disregard for authority. I can see the hopelessness they must feel. I can see the anger towards an un-elected government. I can see the damage they are doing to our society.
I just cant see an answer.
We need to bring back respect for each other and their posessions, otherwise we end up like wild animals - stealing each other's food.
First offence - crucifixion. They wont try it again.
