The script can be judged only by its performance
Maggie Atkinson
Monday, January 9, 2012
One week into the new year and here at the office we are back and already trying to remember what - however briefly - not being at work was like. We are still digesting a flurry of consultation materials issued by government in the run-up to the break, wondering what to say, and more importantly what to do, in response.
My thoughts are about only one document: the government’s strategy on all things 13 to 19, entitled, promisingly, Positive for Youth. Before you all start a pantomime chorus of "Oh no they aren’t", please at least read it thoroughly. It is rich in its content, and its language about young people, stating unequivocally that most are great contributors to a society that too often judges all of them in the light of what a very small number actually do.
Much to welcome
It states clearly that they have a lot in common with previous generations of the young. It sets out what the government, across departments, wants for, promises to, expects from and will give to young people. It recognises their many vulnerabilities, whether or not they are in the groups that a wise person tells me are not "hard to reach," but "hardly reached". It covers health, welfare and safety, education, citizenship and economic prospects, the workforce and their place in and contribution to society. There’s a lot to welcome.
I have now read it many times and found something to smile in recognition about every time. It even mentions my role as scrutiniser of policy and action, and champion of the young. There’s also an annex, which we should use, on delivering the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It’s also all in one document – a real achievement across so many departments in any government, whether local or central. It’s rich in case studies showing the brilliance, perseverance and the triumphs over adversity, which readers of this column will meet in 13- to 19-year-olds every day.
It should give you material for sharp retorts whenever somebody – who should have the sense to know better, but who clearly does not remember ever being young – steps up on the basis of flimsy evidence and biased portrayals of their generation to stereotype, prejudge or castigate your young people.
But there’s a huge "but". For as long as there are prominent politicians on any platform who wilfully contradict the positive evidence underlying this strategy, it will be nothing more than words on a page. Until we find a way to keep the eyes of the mainstream press open to the greatness of most young people, we and they will continue to have moments of despair at the stereotypes they battle every day.
Late last year, for example, I met a despairing teenager who told me she had a friendly chat with an older lady at the bus stop one week. The following week the teenager was with her friends and the woman looked too terrified to approach her. How can we as adults create and encourage such an atmosphere of fear?
This fine strategy will remain worthy, promising and unrealised until there are no longer a million out of work, no young carers saving the state millions of pounds, no youngsters living in fear of their abusers, and far fewer witnessing good services diminish despite their protests. Words are a script. Action is what will make this live or die. Oh yes it will.
Dr Maggie Atkinson is the children’s commissioner for England
