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During the riots we were forced to acknowledge the existence of Two Britains; one in which the rule of law was upheld and where people shared a common set of moral values, and a shadow Britain of morally displaced others who do not share these values. David Cameron has referred to these anti-social elements of British society as 'sick'. The Prime Minister's ideal of Big Society had clashed with the reality of a very Sick Society.
There are complex and multiple causes of this societal 'sickness': a lack of unifying local community identities and a cohesive National identity; a culture that is ambivalent to violence; a global climate of unrest; a breakdown in traditional values; the breakdown of the nuclear family; high rates of teenage pregnancy; a culture of materialistic entitlement and debt; socio-economic inequality based along the lines of race and class.
What then are the cures for this sick element of society comprised mainly of young people? How do we transform young people with anti-social values into young people with positive pro-social identities and robust inclusion in their communities and wider Britain as a whole?
The cure for such a potentially serious societal sickness must be equally drastic and happen urgently. Building positive personal and pro-social identities requires new strategies, new thinking about the way that we educate children in families and at school, and fully exploiting the potential of the local community. The riots have shown us that the time to rethink our priorities and methods when it comes to positively moulding the identities of our youth is now.
A revision of the purposes of formal education is necessary. Mentoring is the process of instilling of values and is vital for the formation of social identity. Mentoring needs to begin early. Mentoring should start at home, later through children at school and more widely with older relatives and community elders as well as mentoring services. Cross-generational mentoring should be prioritised as well as the inclusion of mentors in all schools to ensure the continued moral and social wellbeing of children who may not receive such support from the home.
The recent anarchic scenes of young children running riot on the streets of England evoked visions of a Dickensian apocalypse. Yet perhaps the Victorians could teach us something about the potential of the local community. In the 19th Century Civic leaders fostered a civic identification with the local polity by promoting a strong local economy and promoting social capital.By social capital I mean the idea that individuals must invest in their communities in order to fully identify with them. This investment is through charitable acts, taxes, building businesses, and generally 'putting in' to their communities.
In the 19th Century, municipal leaders raised their own revenues and organised the collective life of their communities, built hospitals and schools, sewers, set up public gas and electricity companies and built many of the great Victorian buildings. Citizens actively participated by giving to their communities through local philanthropy.
A critical rethinking of the education system is necessary so that school curriculums include structured and incentivised ways for children to actively practise social responsibility and regularly take part in charities, volunteering and social entrepreneurship initiatives in their communities.
A model of youth mentoring leading to youth led social entrepreneurship is The Rosebush Foundation's programme 'What Goes Around Comes Around' scheme'. In this scheme children are taught social responsibility by organising weekly non-profit community projects and receive cross-generational mentoring in return.
This model of strong active citizen participation should be seen as a complement rather than an alternative to hard work and determination to reduce and punish crime, fight prejudice and promote fair life chances for all members of society. .
"England", as Nelson told his soldiers as they prepared for the Battle of Trafalgar," expects that every man this day will do his duty". It is vital that we all do our part and indeed duty to rise socially included young people who identify positively with their communities and country.
Whilst I laud the sentiment of your article, Bridgitte, I have to say that not much has changed, really. Of course, we have less abject poverty and people are not dying in the gutter but there is still a huge disparity between the 'successful' people in our society and the others.
Add to this the fact that some 'successful' people still think its ok to commit fraud so long as they can get away with it and you have a recipe for huge marginalisation... a gulf.
Free-market capitalism does not work for the majority. Witness the amount of debt required by most to have a 'respectable' lifestyle - mortgage, car HP, furniture HP, etc etc. Then consider the kind of debt poorer people with no means to pay also accrue. Consider the ongoing images we're given of what we should be aspiring to. The fact is that most people are being chased around by debt companies now - even our adolescents. The future for our children is not good. And they know it.
With respect to you it is not mentoring that's required here. It's Enlightenment.
As for shared moral values, I thought the rioters did share moral vaules, the morals were low and not in keeping with the rest of the country, but the shear number of rioters and looters proved that a significant number definately shared the same plunderous morals.
I do agree that it is time to rethink the way that children are educated and I think it is also time to reassess the whole topic of political correctness, in these times where schools can't promote the state religion in 'church shools'- (Lets not forget the Monarcy is the head of the State and the Church of England) in the form of hymns and bible readings on moral subjects for fear of reprisal and insenstivity for other cultures is it realy a suprise that there is no social identity or moral understanding?
As the joke goes; How do you define and English Man?
He drives a German Car, Drinks Belgain Beer, his favorite food is Argentinian Beef.
Is there anything British left in the UK to rally around?
I'm also inclined to agree with Blockem1's comments below, it's all well and good coming down hard on the rioters, but with the MP's Expenses scandal in the not too distant past, is this not a case of the pots calling and the kettle black.
www.SeeingTheReflection.com
He drives a German Car, Drinks Belgain Beer, his favorite food is ArgentiniaÂn Beef.
Which takes me to the next point on social cohesion : on Identity . .....stay tuned, sir !
A minimum 5 year sentence should be applied to all who are convicted of burning, looting or conspiring to loot. These people are not part of society in any healthy way and they should be removed from it.
no wonder that this new kind of "american dream" captures the heart and minds of the "lower class": They get shown every day in their live by the rich, that only crime pays.
There are far more than that. Proof: Consider each and every individual that has been interviewed. Do any of their understandings match? So, what and where is that which they are attempting to describe? Appreciate the existence of the delusion, and we’re on our way to overcoming the dilemma.
"There are complex and multiple causes of this"
No, just one. See above.
"How do we transform"
Simple. We require only two things.
1. To acknowledge what it is we are trying to do.
2. To recognise what it is that impedes us.
Both of these are best revealed by asking questions of the individual.
1. Because they already inherently know the answer.
2. Because unless it originates from within them, they usually won’t believe or accept it.
"moulding the identities of our youth"
The very last thing we should to do is mould anyone. Especially into the image of deluded idiots like ourselves.
"The riots have shown us that the time to"
question was long ago. But instead of integrating that technique, we eliminated the inventor.
"A revision of the purpose"
Teach the art of questioning. Sorry for any outbreak of debate and transparency. That is always going to happen, when those who profess knowledge are exposed to queries Now stand back and let intellect have its day.
"England, as Nelson told his soldiers"
is a my palace and your prison. But we don’t want to flag that up.