|
Hardly a
week goes by without a story about a youngster being seriously wounded
or killed in a knife attack. The news stories can never show the
terrible pain and anguish felt by the parents of a dead child and the
agony and fear of friends and other youngsters.
Recent
newspaper interviews with some youngsters tell of them:
·
being threatened at knifepoint several times a year in
streets that surround their homes
·
actually being stabbed a few times
·
being afraid all the time – wondering when it will be
their turn to be “shanked”
·
taking every precuation to avoid conflict and hiding
anything of value
·
feeling the need to cary a knife to protect themsleves
·
becoming desensitised – having a friend who has been
stabbed is not shocking any more.
Whilst
people wring their hand and politicians make inane statements about “knife
attacks being unacceptable”, there seems a lack of political will to
do what is required in the short term.
It is
sensible to assume that catching people who carry knives and then giving
tough punishment will help. Similarly, severe punishment for those using
a knife would help. As Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Rose Fitzpatrick, of the Metropolitan Police recently recommended in The
Times, at every opportunity the message should be given that there are
consequences: it will lead to either injury or death and a prison
sentence. He reports that
185 officers go into
schools across London and 59 officers go into pupil referral units
[youngsters that have been excluded from their own school] to get this
message across. If people carry a knife we they must expect a custodial
sentence.
However, most people
realise that there must also be a longer term aproach that gets
youngsters to willingly give up carrying and using knives. In values
education classes, whether in schools or community youth setting,
youngsters can be brought face-to-face with the stupidity of carrying
and using knives.
Values
education for reducing knife crime
Remember that in
values education class, there is no telling or lecturing. Socratic
questioning gradullay brings people around to their own best interests.
Yes it takes time, but nothing else is working. Here are some of the
questions that could be used in a values education class.
Why do some people
carry knives?
[This would raise issues such as, showing off – being the
“main man”, feeling safe and a fashion accessory].
Is it a good thing
to carry a knife?
[Responses could be, no – it’s against the law and it could be used
against you, and yes – if it helps you when others pull a knife].
Should we report
someone we know is carrying a knife?
[Responses could be, yes because he may use it to hurt someone and no
because he would get into trouble, he wouldn’t have protection and he
might shank me].
Why do you think
people need knives to feel important?[Because
they have nothing else in thie lives to make them feel important]
So what else could
be done to make them feel important?
[Hopefully people will list things
such as getting an education, getting a job, doing somehing worthwhile
and an opportunity to build something].
Does it really earn
respect or do we look on them as stupid and bad people?
[Again, hopefully the response is no – we fear thyem and fear is not the
same as respect]
What makes people
respect us?
[Helping others, being a good person, earning money in a job, helping
your parents]
If someone pulled a
knoife on you and you pulled a knife oin them, what would be the result?
[Proably bad injury, hospitalisation – even maiming for life and even
death].
How would you feel
if you stabbed someone and they died?
[This may elicit some hard responses initially – such as well if he was
gonna shank me I wouldn’t care. However, when you probe a bit more most
people will feel bad and have feelings of guilt].
How long do you
think the feelings of guilt would last for if you unfortyunately killed
someone?
[A long time – a life time – and you may not be able to forget – it
would stay with you all your life and people would know].
What’s the best
thing to do when someone pulls a knife on you?
[If possible run away or try and talk yourself out of it by staying calm
and not saying anything to make it worse].
What do you think
the punishment should be for carrying a knife?
[Hopefully some responses will be jail].
What do you think
the punishmen should be if someone stabs someone and they can’t walk
again?
[Hopefully jail and paying compensation].
Do we agree that
carryting knives is just stupid?
[Hopefully – yes and we won’t ever do it].
No one is naïve enough to think that a few chats will
convert all young people into not carrying knives. However, over time
and with continually asking youngsters to draw on their own innate human
wisdom, most will be converted.
Copyright © 2008 Dr William Robb
|
