It's more than 10 years since respected youth work academic Mark K Smith drew our attention to the three negatives associated with the term "youths": thugs, users or victims. Thugs need to be constrained; users abuse substances or need services delivered to them; and victims require protection from themselves or others. Nevertheless, much of what has constituted youth policy over the past decade has continued to reinforce, rather than counter these negatives.
While I don't want to pick over the bones of youth policy - others have done that far more eloquently than me - it may be worth looking more closely at the thinking that has shaped it.
A few years ago, I was interviewing candidates for the youth offending team manager post in Wiltshire. I asked each applicant the question "when does a child become a young person?" Most referred to the law, viewing all as children up to the age of 18. Legally speaking, I agreed, but I went on to point out how thinking of them as children affects our understanding of their needs, especially when they reach their mid-teens.
My contention is that by continually referring to young people as children, a practice that appears to be the default mindset of today's 'integrated' services, we are denying young people the right "to be valued as human beings for what they are now, not only for what they may become", as academic Fred Milson once wrote. At worst, this perpetuates their dehumanisation and, at best, constrains them prior to their demonisation as 'youth'.
Interestingly, the green paper Every Child Matters became for young people Youth Matters. Is it possible that this title unwittingly reinforces a deficit view of young people, or do I read too much into the use of language?
While it is important for us to protect the child, is it not equally important that we respect the young person? We should not treat teenagers as "children" or perceive them to be "youths". Granted, these are not easy responsibilities to hold in balance, but balance them we must if the young people our services work with are to continue being safeguarded and empowered.
- David Whewell is chair of the Association of Principal Youth and Community Officers.
