Rue kids on the block
The recent claims that youthful anti-social behaviour is reaching worrying proportions suggests people are scared to approach youths - and often
their own kids.
Teachers are reporting comments from pupils that would make most decent human beings shudder. Threats and taunts are becoming common place in the classroom where teachers are being slowly stripped of any productive retort. But is this really anything new, and are the kids the real problem or is it the parenting and education that needs to be reviewed?
In the 50s, the cane was the choice of discipline for most unruly teens, whereas in the 80s you’d more likely get a detention or possibly be put on report. These days, your average classroom upstart will be offered the choice of an appointment on Monday morning or Wednesday after lunch to arrange whether they deserve a punishment and to what degree would be acceptable. Teachers, it seems, cannot lay down the law.
Let’s not go down that old road of ‘in my day you wouldn’t get away with that kind of behaviour’ but surely there must be a line drawn. If nothing else children should be taught to respect their elders and obtain some manners – ‘pleases’ and ‘thank yous’ don’t cost a penny.
Discipline should be mandatory in the upbringing of kids. I don’t advocate violence and certainly beating up your children is not an acceptable pastime but people and teachers should be allowed to enforce some reasonable and effective levels of order without being sued by their 11-year-old.
Maybe adults should fight fire with fire and start wearing hoodies - that’ll scare the shit out of them!
Posted by Gen. ‘Buck’ Turgidson
December 1st, 2006
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Arthouse roundup: Dec 1-7
Follow the main cinema links for dates, times and matinee screenings.
Follow the title links for movie details, friendship and maybe more.
PLYMOUTH ARTS CENTRE
Stray Dogs (12A) Kids try to get themselves arrested so they can join their mum in chokey.
Keane (15) Not, as you might expect, a drama about fat-faced, piano-lovin’ balladeers, this is actually the story of a mentalist looking for his missing daughter. Cheery stuff.
TAVISTOCK WHARF
The Queen (12A) Helen Mirren manages to keep her clothes on, you say? Give the lady a Bafta!
DARTINGTON ARTS/THE BARN
History Boys (15) Teacher encourages lads to ditch full-time education and have lots of gay sex. Be warned though - by following that course of action you’ll inevitably end up working for the PRSD.
Johanna (15) A young female druggie cures the sick by offering them some rumpy-pumpy. Form an orderly queue, gentlemen.
Frozen Land (18) Darkly amusing fun set in Finland, land of dypsomania and suicide. What japes!
EXETER PICTUREHOUSE
Casino Royale (12A) Featuring Daniel Craig getting whacked repeatedly in the bollocks by a sadistic torturer with a bit of rope. Another one for all the family then.
Little Children (15) Kate Winslet stars in this perceptive tale about the souring of ideals. Hey, that’s our specialist subject.
The Page Turner (15) We know this has something to do with someone failing a piano audition but that’s as far as we got with the synopsis before zoning out.
The Holiday (12A) Wifeswap chick flick from the person behind What Women Want. You don’t seriously need any more details than that, do you?!
The Big Lebowski (18) Shut the fuck up, Donnie.
Posted by Thin White Duke
December 1st, 2006
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