A 16 year old student took half an hour to break it and has some wise words:
Filtering pornography is going to play a part but the main things that need to be done are collaboration with kids, because the problems that we have are directly affecting kids, not adults, and unless you speak to them quite a lot you're not going to do anything with any effect.
Now don't get me wrong, we need to do something about internet porn, stalking and other such practices, but its not going to be achieved by rigid fences. Firstly the idea that kids will not access porn in whatever medium it is available is naive, it's a part of growing up (and some never grow up, look at the so called Lads' magazines in any newsagents). Tracking down and prosecuting child pornography and other forms of abuse is also key, although it can go to far as I discovered in Dallas once. However it's is the restraints that you teach your children (and that you practice yourself) that are the real barrier.
Mind you one does from time to time feel nostalgia for an earlier age. While I was in Liverpool last week I picked up a complete boxed set of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series and am reading them through in sequence, cover to cover. The books were an essential part of my childhood and an inspiration for summer holidays and weekends. My sister and I with our kayak Tarka (yes we were Henry Williamson fans too) attempted to emulate the Walker children with a log of our journeys and hand drawn maps of Llyn Tegid and Traeth Penllech.
I doubt if anyone these days would create a series in which one of the main heroines is called Titty and mixed sex groups camp on islands and go on long sea voyages with balding old men. News that the National Theatre plans a musical based on the series is interesting to say the least, it may enable a generation to discover that sense of innocent adventure which the books convey so well. The knowledge gained will be abstract however, that life is no longer available, and it was only available in the early part of the last century to the privileged. So I will not be over romantic, but I will be nostalgic.
Comments (2)
Dave,
I could not help smile as I read your post, both on the main point and on Swallows and Amazons.
On the substantive point, too many still place their faith in technology-based solutions for safety and security. It always suprises me to find that educationists put so little faith in the power of education - we do need, as the 16 year old says, to talk to young people about all the issues around this, openly and honestly. We have to take responsibility for thee issues and help young peope to understand the dangers and how to deal with the issues as simply and straightforwardly as possible.
On Swallows and Amazons, coincidentally, I am also re-reading the series. I bought the books perhaps 3 or 4 years ago, worked my way through them then, and am enjoying another reading at the moment. Like you, these were books that were important to me in my youth - but for me they opened up a world that I could only know in my imagination, coming from an urban working class background To an extent they can still really only appeal to my imagination, since I have never sailed or messed about in boats. I also shared exactly your thoughts on how these tales would go down in the modern world.
Posted by John Connell | August 27, 2007 4:42 PM
Posted on August 27, 2007 16:42
Educate your children. Trust their skills and abilities. Let them manage the risk.
Or as Ransome wrote (in a telegram!):
BETTER DROWNED THAN DUFFERS IF NOT DUFFERS WON'T DROWN.
Posted by Pete Mitton | August 28, 2007 4:55 PM
Posted on August 28, 2007 16:55