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I actually think that crime is on the increase but people don't bother reporting much of it because of the fear of reprisal, lack of faith in the police, justice system etc.

Somce crimes have reduced, some have stayed about the same but petty crime and anti-social behaviour that is fuelled by drink and drugs has definately increased.

Getting old - I suppose if you remember when a policeman would clip you around the ears and then your dad would do the same when you told him about it...................

I agree - I think crime amongst School age is on the increase. When I was at school I didn't hear of anyone carrying knives - even the "hard and bad" lads. Good old smack in the gob it was back then..........

I remember there being some nasty pieces of work when I was at school. But what's changed is the younger cohorts - as year 7s, we used to be terrified of year 11s after tales of head flushing and fights on the school field.

But when we were year 11s or even sixth formers, we'd get gobby little first years barging into us, shooting their mouths off... an absolute disgrace. Where's the fear?!

I don't honestly know whether "crime" has increased. The population certainly has, so the incidence would by default. But it's never been a good idea to walk round town when it's dark on your own - it's not now, it wasn't 40 years ago. And as abraxus mentioned - mods and rockers, skinheads, teddy boys - people were stabbing each other in the neck with sharpened umbrella points before all these knife crimes.

What does seem to have changed is the way everyone seems to think the world owes them a living, and no one can touch them.Years ago, getting into trouble with your dad was serious, you were scared! Nowadays your dad is more likely to be arguing with the police on your behalf because one of them grabbed you by the arm as you were kicking an old lady.

This probably makes me old but honestly - I blame the schools. Or rather, the government for castrating the schools. It seems the majority of this new crime wave is caused by kids who are growing up an authority to themselves, the day we stopped insisting adults remain in control was the start of the end.

Bring back the cane!

What does seem to have changed is the way everyone seems to think the world owes them a living, and no one can touch them.Years ago, getting into trouble with your dad was serious, you were scared! Nowadays your dad is more likely to be arguing with the police on your behalf because one of them grabbed you by the arm as you were kicking an old lady.

Sadly it's been that way for 20 years or more. Freinds who are/were teachers have plenty of examples where discipline of a pupil in accord with the school policy meant Dad (or other Neanderthal relative) came into school and assaulted the 'offending' teacher.

Sigh. I hit 47 next Tuesday, so am feeling middle-aged enough right now, thank you all very much.

More ways I've realised I'm getting older...

Starting to be interested in property programmes on TV. And the property section in the weekend paper.

Bending over to pick something up, then seeing something else on the floor and staying bent over as you walk to it, because it's easier than straightening up and bending over again.

Taking your glasses along when you have a bath, because you need them to trim your toenails.

Realising that not only do you not know all the latest cartoon characters, but you don't really care.

Have things really changed or do we just look back on things with rose tinited glasses? The good old, 'things were so much better in my day' is something that my 98 year old great aunt is always saying but rethinks when I remind her that average life expectancies were under 50, quality of life far lower and armed and gang crime was actually double what it is now.

No I don't think things have got worse, changed certainly, some things may not be as good and some things are far better. All in all, I think I'd rather be here now than 50 years ago.

Lady of Mystery I agree with you.

I actually think that our generation has become very spoilt. We have kind've got used to our lifes styles nowadays and now complain when we don't have what all the celebrities have.

I'll be eating my words though if a recession comes along

I realised what a geriatric I'd become two nights ago when I got all excited because Mrs Bronz and our housemate had left the house and I could do whatever I wanted...

So I sat down in front of three gorgeous hours of BBC 4 medieval history.

I'm 2f*****g6.

I feel so much better now - thank you Bronz!!!!!

i did have a point, but i've forgotten it between thinking it, and clicking reply...

honestly...

ah! that's it! yeah, i agree - bring back the cane definately...

as my dad says, why do you need a licence for a pet, but anyone can spawn a kid...

lack of moral fibre in this day and age old bean!

Farlsborough wrote:What does seem to have changed is the way everyone seems to think the world owes them a living, and no one can touch them.....

You've hit the nail on the head there Farlsy. Well at least I think you have. But...

.......This probably makes me old but honestly - I blame the schools. Or rather, the government for castrating the schools. It seems the majority of this new crime wave is caused by kids who are growing up an authority to themselves, the day we stopped insisting adults remain in control was the start of the end.

Most of the youngsters we get coming into year 7 (I work in one of those 'bog standard' comprehensives) are thoroughly convinced of their own rights. They expect the very same rights as adults but concurrently they expect not to have the same responsibilites. In other words they expect to be able to act like monkeys, swinging off the light fittings and so forth, but do not expect to be treated like children and be punished.

This really is endemic and causes a lot of problems. I have no natural authority as an adult, and have to resort to purely persuasive means. Legally in fact - I am not even allowed to raise my voice. This makes for some very interesting moments ( ) but ultimately makes my job incredibly difficult.

I genuinely have no idea why a lot of the kids are like this. I have my ideas, as do most people, but I suspect it's an inherent fault of this country as a whole.

Oh aye, and you can tell you are getting old because you have to curtail your rants.

Interesting to get your opinion as a teacher, MM.

Do you think that the government is at fault for busy bodying? Or the lobbying groups that seem to think that any kind of discipline other than gently explaining what they've done wrong equates to child abuse?

I try not to be hot-headed and overreactive to these things but it *really* winds me up when some eejit is on the radio telling everyone they're wrong for smacking their children.

When I have kids, they'll be smacked if they're bad. Simple.

Farlsborough wrote:I try not to be hot-headed and overreactive to these things but it *really* winds me up when some eejit is on the radio telling everyone they're wrong for smacking their children.

When I have kids, they'll be smacked if they're bad. Simple.

I agree with you Farls. The way I see it, children are too young to really understand why adults are in charge and why adults have responsibility. There's no point trying to explain; we are in charge, and that's really about it.

And since there's no real point trying to reason, punitive measures have to be used when a kid does something wrong. As far as I am concerned, it's as simple as that.
This does not necessarily include hitting the little b******* but I have nothing against it. The problem is, however, that there is always someone who abuses the system. This I suspect is one of the reasons why it's no longer used in schools.

It certainly beats the encouraged method of sitting the little chav down and talking to him. It simply does not work - they quickly realise that all they have to do is listen and make the right noises and they'll get away with it.
It grates when people are horrified to see a parent fairly punish a child. Kids are not responsible citizens yet, and until then they have to be controlled using only the things that they understand. And if that includes pain, then so be it. On the contrary I have seen a lot of children respond positively to it. Thank god some of the parents have their heads screwed on properly.

Incidentally I held exactly the opposite view until I worked in the education system.

It was once explained to me by a very PC Social Worker friend that smacking naughty kids doesn't serve any useful purpose. All it does is vent the adult's anger and frustration on the child. When I replied, ' You say that like it's a bad thing?' she walked off and hasn't spoken to me since .

if a dog eats food off your plate and its a vindaloo..it'll yelp and run away..and not eat from your plate again...

if a monkey sticks its tail in a fire, it burns and it learns not to do it again..

if you are warned twice, and told that if you do something bad a third time, despite the warnings you'll be smacked...then...you learn responsibility for your own actions...

i was smacked as a kid, each time, i deserved it...

and as an aside, its just down to lazy idiotic parent(s) these days, thinking saying "no" is wrong - and not caring enough to teach their own kids morals/ethics/decent behavior/manners/respect...

i get quite angry thinking about all this you know, lack of basic care for kids - it's kinda not thier fault in some ways cos if they have terrible parents who only regard them as a pain, out in some cases, a means to get a free flat and money and an easy life...what chance have they got?

but most of the time, i just wanna whack 'em in the stocks...