So we are looking to America now for advice on how to raise our children?
The U.S? A seed-bed of inequality, racism and inadequate and unequal social, educational and health-care systems.
Punishment is not the only answer. Money is not the only answer. And bribing young people to stay in education, with EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) is not the answer.
The London riots took place during school and college Summer break.
Many of our disaffected young people have no desire to continue education but are tempted onto a college course due to the lack of adequately paid employment and the dubious incentive of EMA. For the majority, education has been a difficult and painful experience – often from within the Child Looked After system which is of itself endemically abusive and has been known to produce young people who are disruptive, aggressive and academically demotivated who turn to crime which has for them, become the easiest way of earning money and of gaining 'respect'.
I have spoken to Tutors who are at their wits’ end trying to cope with not only violent behaviour but abject rudeness and insolence - the use of mobile phones throughout the lesson is 'normal' as is shouting across the room and out of the windows, fighting, clambering over desks, the use of foul language, 'scooting' around the classroom on chairs, using college PC’s to access social networking or buy-on-line sites - walking out of lessons, often to the pub and attacking staff are only some of the pastimes regularly adopted. If students are reminded that this is not statutory education and they do not have to be in college, the response usually, ‘We won’t get our EMA!’ EMA is deemed to be paid to encourage students to ‘engage with learning’ not for just walking into a building.
Those students who want to learn are constantly disrupted by their peers. Colleges have guidelines for dealing with misbehaviour though I am told that if a tutor attempts to report poor behaviour support is often not forthcoming from either quality managers or head teachers. Forced by government stats to be obsessed with ratings and tick boxes tutors lose their self-confidence, feel de-skilled, trying to accommodate a 'hierarchy' that does not want to know about 'failings.’ Tutors are left unsupported - the implication being that they should be able to ‘control’ the class and any difficulties with behaviour are due to their own inabilities.
EMA for these students has no benefit whatsoever. I feel they would be better employed – employed!! A couple of years in the working arena would hopefully mature them and give them time to reflect on their future and possible further education and free them from abusive and manipulative parents. Bring back a properly assessed Youth Training Scheme with consequences for poor behaviour and attendance which are adhered to by all stakeholders and where students and parents have a voice.
A percentage of students genuinely want to learn and some of their home circumstances enrage me. Several young people have to give their EMA to their parents and some of these parents use it for drugs and alcohol. Whilst I was teaching at a local Institute this year, one young man told me that his father (unemployed with alcohol issues) has removed his son’s bedroom door to sell it and was taking his EMA in order, he says, to purchase another. As a result this young man has to walk daily to and from college, three miles each way. A young woman whose mother is addicted to booze and Weed not only gives her parents her EMA she has to work as well as attend college in order to buy food for herself. Another student in receipt of EMA attends college not only because she receives the allowance but it is better than staying at home being ‘knocked around by me Mum’s boyfriend and his sister.’
These stories are not the exception and the issues are not only with EMA students, many are from privileged backgrounds with wealthy parents but who are often poor role-models.
We are letting many of our young people down; not all want to extend their education, especially if their experience was a negative one. We all have differing needs and learning styles. Technical colleges addressed these differing abilities – where did they go? What happened to apprenticeships?
Some FE teaching institutions are rapidly becoming remedial colleges. I have witnessed Tutors in tears (male and female) so stressed and unhappy in their working environment, the lack of support and futility of their situation. Experienced, competent tutors will leave FE colleges and I do not blame them. Currently it is the most dedicated tutors who remain as well as those who feel they have no alternative due to financial commitments. The level of staff absence through 'sickness' is escalating in my experience. Shelf-stacking at Asda can seem an attractive alternative for many.
What has to be addressed is; why do successive governments and certain elements of society turn a blind eye?
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