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control. This definition is helpful because it rules out innocent
ignorance when for example, a child throws a firework down a toilet to
see how high the water spray will rise and ends up blowing the seat into
five pieces!
So the purpose of
vandalism education is to prevent vandalism. For some people the first
step in reducing vandalism is understanding why it happens. I’ll explain
in a moment why I don’t agree with that, but for completeness sake let’s
list some of the possible reasons for a person deciding to vandalise
another’s property.
Some of the reasons for
committing acts of vandalism could be:
- boredom – having
nothing else to do
- excitement – the
things that are available to do are dull
- showing-off to
impress the opposite sex or one’s gang members
- revenge –
tit-for-tat - for something someone did to you
- deep anger at one’s
parents, teachers or society – a way of hurting them
- drunkenness or under
the influence of drugs – in other words not being in control of
oneself.
While it is academically
pleasing to document this and to go into more detail about for example,
what kind of boredom and why people are bored or what kind of excitement
people experience and how long it lasts, it doesn’t come up with
practical solutions to prevent vandalism?
Vandalism education
Why does one bored
person spray paint someone’s car while another bored person volunteers
to paint an old person’s home? Why does one unhappy person get
excitement from seeing a car set on fire while another will join a
karate club? I know these are weak examples but the principle is clear –
vandalism is a personal choice.
Once we stop making
excuses, the hard truth is difficult to avoid and some difficult but
powerful discussions can take place. This is what vandalism education is
about. If you can get say 15 – 20 youngsters in a group and hold a
series of open, direct but respectful dialogue on the rights and wrongs
of vandalism, an innate wisdom is uncovered.
Youngsters are human
beings and deep down, even if raised in an emotionally impoverished
background, know that it is wrong to damage another person’s property.
Vandalism education will work because it does not tell or dictate or
impose, it allows, with time, people to come to their own realisation
that to hurt another will in the long run and probably in the short run
if caught) hurt oneself. Just how vandalism education would be conducted
and within what kind or curriculum structure are questions that still
need answering.
In
Values education: the contribution of some voluntary youth organisations
I’ve described how some voluntary organisations are doing values
education. Perhaps this will give ideas that can be adapted for
vandalism education.
Dr Bill
would be delighted to talk at your next conference or event and explore
how vandalism education can be applied in practice and lead to a
reduction in vandalism in your community. Contact him on
bill@valueseducation.co.uk
Copyright
© 2008 Values Education Ltd
Note to editors.
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retained. “A values education article from CAVE
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