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Written by Uponnothing
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Tuesday, 24 March 2009 22:01 |
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The Daily Mail has identified the reason why adults are so terrified of young people: Adults are suffering from ephebiphobia - fear of young people - and it's worse than ever: Children are being demonised because society suffers from ephebiphobia - the 'fear of youth', according to Professor Tanya Byron. The clinical psychologist and TV presenter claimed adults were increasingly frightened and suspicious of youngsters - driving children to play up to their wayward reputations. Children were often perceived as being some of the most unhappy, unhealthy, fat, alcoholic, pregnant and generally miserable in Europe, she warned.
Professor Tanya Byron refers to 'stories of bad behaviour' and that 'as a society, we make it very difficult for young people to just be young people'. She also admitted 'there were undoubtedly some "hideously behaved" youngsters, and classrooms where "staff are terrorised"'. However, here is the interesting part: But she added: 'If you suggest that they are vulnerable and need understanding and support, you are labelled a wet liberal.
I can only imagine that Professor Byron had a certain newspaper in her mind when she said these things. Interestingly the Mail doesn't look into the reasons behind the increase in ephebiphobia, or who is printing 'stories of bad behaviour'. Presumably if they did analyse their own behaviour they might have to hold themselves partly responsible for these problems. I'm sure they'll find it far easier to just keep demonising the young, after all, to try and understand a situation is to become one of those evil liberals. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 March 2009 17:44 |
A national Youth Service is urgently needed, on the lines of Nye Bevan's NHS - if we are to have a future society run by human beings, not sociopaths.
I work in an FE college in a deprived area of Wales which most people would probably assume is full of horrible teenagers, but having taught across all subject areas (from A-level courses to hair and beauty and construction) I can honestly say I am refreshed by the attitudes and honesty of the vast majority of students.
Mail readers will always judge people on appearance and the scare stories they read, they do not have access to the reality of what the vast majority of young people are actually like.