Letters: Don't dismiss achievement
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Your editorial (CYP Now, 5 November, p15) contrasted the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) House of Commons debate with the low profile given to the voice of young people in care.
It perpetuated the myth that young people involved in UKYP somehow emerge from their mother's wombs fully articulate and politically adept. In doing so it dismisses these young people, who have been brave enough to stand for election, work hard in their constituencies and regions and have had the courage to stand up in the House of Commons and speak on behalf of other young people as somehow unrepresentative.
We do young people a disservice by writing young people off as unrepresentative whenever they are able to operate effectively in an adult world.
Gill Millar, regional youth work adviser, Regional Youth Work Unit at Learning South West
Definition of youth work
Just because agendas change it does not mean we can pick and choose as to what constitutes youth work and redefine it (Youth Work Now, November, p14).
Voluntary association is the main dynamic from which relationships develop between youth workers and young people. By definition, therefore, anything that does not have this voluntary relationship, cannot be youth work.
This does not mean that work done with young people that involves involuntary association is any less valuable. We have projects in Hartlepool that are very positive. But it isn't youth work, even though youth workers may be doing it. Call it something else - don't look to move the goalposts.
Peter Davies, principal youth officer, Child & Adult Services, Hartlepool Borough Council
Landmark PSHE decision
It was hugely disappointing to see that the controversy surrounding sex education has overshadowed the government's landmark move to make personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) compulsory in all schools by 2011.
Sex and relationship education forms only a tiny part of the PSHE programme, which covers a full spectrum of life skills.
We must not allow this debate about sex education to detract from the overall benefits of PSHE.
Maggie Walker, director of curriculum and deputy chief executive, Asdan
The editor, Children & Young People Now, 174 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP
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