Kids who won’t grow up (From Dudley News)

Kids who won’t grow up

10:35am Thursday 7th June 2007 in Letters

JUST wanted to share my theory with you for what it's worth.

I grew up in the Black Country where I still live to this day.

My father was a welder and my mother well, she had all sorts of jobs but neither of them was ever idle.

I am 54 years old this year. When I left school in the 60s as a 15-year-old boy I was destined for the factory floor.

Not that this was a negative thing, I couldn't wait.

I had no academic qualifications but I was useful with a bit of wood or metal.

I remember my father saying to me "Get yourself a job because if you don't work you won't eat!"

He probably didn't mean it but it had the desired effect. So I left school on Friday and started work on Monday morning at 7.30am sharp. Working as a platers mate' and running errands until my apprenticeship started. By the end of my first week I had grown from a 15-year-old boy to a 15-year-old young man'.

In those days you had to pull your weight and learn to interact with other adults' in an adult environment. If you didn't your workmates would have you for breakfast.

I learned how to be part of a team and that the world didn't revolve around me'. It was my right of passage'.

I will never forget my time on the factory floor - it made me strong, gave me character, and shaped me into a decent human being.

Compare that then with what happens now in many cases.

Leave school at 16 or in many cases 13 if they feel like it'?

Lie in bed till lunchtime until someone persuades you that you ought to go to college', probably to get the qualifications that you would have got if you had bothered to pay attention at school.

Mom and dad will support you with their benefits of course. So that will be my money then?

Realise after a couple of weeks that in order to get an A-level in English Literature you need to be able to speak and understand proper English innit'.

So go back to bed for a rethink. Hang around with my mates, get drunk cos that's what adults do'. I'm so confused I don't know which way round to wear my hat.

Anyway I don't need a job, my mom and dad never had one and they've done all right? Why do I need to grow up? I'll soon get my own benefits and probably a council flat if I can persuade the council that my parents don't love me anymore. Then I'll be able to play wiv mi m8s 4 eva and eva'.

They won't behave like adults because they don't grow up. They are still kids, and they will remain that way for as long as they can get away with it. Instead of giving them benefits, make them earn it. They could empty some bins for instance!

Steve Nicholls
Dudley