The benefits of the Jesuit approach

In its Doing Better for Children report, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) declares that high public spending in the UK on child welfare and education is failing to deliver results. Despite the UK being relatively well placed in the rankings, our rates of teenage pregnancy, drunkenness and young people not in education, employment or training are still worrying. The report highlights the fact that money is more effective if spent on younger children, who are more susceptible to positive change, rather than teenagers.

The Jesuit approach (give me the child and I'll give you the man etc) has a lot to be said for it.  Waiting until young people have dropped through the net is no substitute for ensuring the net is strong in the first place.   Engaging children (I am talking 5+ here) in their communities, making sure they feel connected to each other and that they have a valid role to play in their world is essential for building a cohesive community.  Hauling young people back from the abyss, although heroic, should not be necessary.