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We all need someone to blame for
society's ills but are the "PC Brigade" simply
hard working people trying to do their
best in unimaginable circumstances? |
For the past two years or so the UK has been on a soul
searching mission as more and more examples of abuse of some kind have come to
national prominence: the Jimmy Savile scandal and its aftermath which has seen
several high profile celebrities in court accused of being sexual predators of some kind or other; we have heard allegations of corruption and abuse involving
public figures such as the late MP Cyril Smith; and more recently the spotlight
has fallen on abuse within the family and the local community – most recently
the abuse of young girls by Asian men in the Rotherham area of South Yorkshire.
Without wishing to minimise the dreadful nature of the allegations or findings, these events have been ready made fodder for the salacious monster that is the
media and especially the tabloid newspaper industry. They have also been ready made
platforms for solemn faced politicians, legal experts and moralisers to make
pronouncements as to the state of the nation and what must be done. Government
committees have sat and reported, the full weight of the courts is threatened
and those who, it is deemed, should have prevented these dreadful happenings –
the police, social workers, doctors, the BBC, teachers and the rest – have been
pilloried. In the fall out from the Jimmy Savile scandal last year the newly appointed BBC Director General George Entwistle was forced out of post because someone had to be blamed for the BBC's failings in relation to Jimmy Savile - and this despite the fact that Entwistle was a long term and faithful servant of the BBC, recognised by all as a good and decent man and had had no hand in events that took place long before his tenure. His removal was filled with invective and hate such is the need for a sacrifice and that the mob be sated. All the current angst, of course, may well be
justified. Clearly, given the nature of the allegations and findings no person
in authority can turn a blind eye; in short, something must be done – and
rightly so we all cry. But just maybe our society needs cooler heads and more thought given to what is so wrong with our society rather than howling at those doing the job on our behalf. I am reminded of Friedrich Nietzche's comment:
"If you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you" - truly, as we wring our hands and scream abuse, what we see in society's ills is only a reflection of ourselves.
And.......... in amongst all this I have another slight anxiety.
This is not about whether those accused or found wanting should not be punished
or castigated, nor is it in any way to deny the truth of the reported
occurrences. Clearly, there is something very wrong in our society and it is
right and proper that the issues are addressed - but it is our society and ourselves that we need to look at first rather than blame and pillory those who have worked (and, yes, maybe made mistakes) to try to solve the ills of our nation. In the photo above, just maybe we should be more concerned about the picture and the comment about the young woman and the messages that it sends to people about the sexualisation of young women and its effect upon wider society's attitudes towards girls and women rather than castigating "the PC Brigade" - and before we start throwing brickbats at the social workers, police, administrators and others who are involved on a daily basis with the problems that result in our towns and cities.
The present Home Secretary, Theresa May - into whose “in tray” all this eventually
falls has to be seen to do something. Now although Mrs May is not my favourite
person I do have to say that she has managed the “can of worms” that is the lot
of any Home Secretary very well. It is not a job that I would like. In short
she is damned if she does and damned if she doesn’t. In this morning’s
Guardian, for example, she is taken to task by an MP who complains that she has
made the wrong choice to chair the enquiry into child abuse arising out of the
Rotherham and other exposures.
“Just when
it looked as though the inquiry into child sex abuse could finally get under
way” says the MP,
“it once again has to face whitewash
accusations. After the absurd appointment of Lady Butler-Sloss, which ensured
the inquiry got off to a farcical start, Theresa May has made the equally
dubious appointment of a replacement chair in Fiona Woolf. This time it
emerges the chair has close links with Lord Brittan. Yes, Leon Brittan, the
former home secretary who has been accused of covering up a massive child abuse scandal. May’s inquiry
was supposed to reflect the change in attitudes to these crimes, showing a
willingness to bring perpetrators to justice and face failings that have
destroyed lives. Above all, it was about telling the story of people who have
been ignored for far too long”.
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Theresa May - a good Home Secretary - but can she really
understand the issues and problems facing many for whom
she has direct responsibility? |
I’m sure that the points being made by this MP are entirely
justified – but there is, I believe, another dimension. Let me explain.
Last Christmas while visiting my son and family in their
village (Twyford in Berkshire) we went as a family to the village Christmas
Fair – street stalls selling Christmas ware, Santa, fairground rides and the
like – a very pleasant evening out. Twyford is a very wealthy place where top end cars are parked on every drive and no one would dream of shopping at (say) Tesco or ASDA when there is a local Waitrose! Everything at the Christmas Fair was done in the best possible taste – morris dancers, polite stall
holders, no bad behaviour or drunkenness and as I stood at one of the stalls I suddenly
realised that Theresa May was standing at the side of me – she is the local MP
and lives at the adjoining village of Ruscombe. It was good to see a minister
of state supporting the local charities and community. In the background
hovered her two “minders”. She bought something at the stall and then disappeared
into the throng. This area of the country – the Thames Valley is, as I say, the UK's “wealth belt” – all the celebrities
live in the area, it is the home of the rich and powerful in every sense of the
word. Mrs May is married to a London banker and I am sure lives a pretty
privileged life – which I do not begrudge her at all.
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Twyford Christmas Fair - enjoyed by all, and all in the best
possible taste of the Thames Valley.A far cry from many
parts of our unequal nation. |
But, when I look down the list of government ministers I
find that every single one, like Mrs May, represents a wealthy, leafy area of
the country. The vast majority are in the pleasant green areas surrounding London but those
that are not are based in equally affluent and pleasant places – for example,
George Osborne who is MP for Tatton in Cheshire, one of the richest areas of
the nation. And when I look at those
figures I can’t help asking myself how can these people have any concept of
what it is to live and work in a “deprived area” or at least an area where
there are significant social, educational, ethnic or financial problems. When I
read of the dreadful problems in Rotherham like everyone else I was horrified,
but was I surprised - no. South Yorkshire like many parts of our country, faces huge
problems. That does not excuse child abuse or lack of action on the part of
those responsible for administering the area but I have absolutely no doubt
that the police, social workers, teachers, health workers, local government
workers and the rest each day are fire fighting in a way that does not have to
happen in the Royal County of Berkshire, in the Cheshire’s millionaire belt or
in Oxfordshire’s dreamy Cotswold landscape where the Prime Minister David
Cameron is the MP.
One of the trendy phrases that became fashionable on social
networking sites a year or so was “Check your privilege”. Its meaning is not
always obvious, because all too often the well-intentioned phrase is abused.
But roughly speaking, it is a way of telling a person who is making a point that they should remember they are speaking from a privileged position,
because they are, for example, white, male, heterosexual, able-bodied or wealthy.
It is, in other words a reminder that not everyone sees life like you – and
often for perfectly good reasons based upon their upbringing, their
environment, their cultural identity and so on.
And I wonder, if these well meaning Ministers can, from their wealthy
constituencies and ivory towers, ever understand, say, why a policemen or nurse
or social worker struggling to keep his or her professional head above water in
a tough area for day after day after day and week after week after week
sometimes doesn’t react exactly how they should. But when they don’t and
problems occur they are routinely pilloried by those in power who not only have
the privilege of hindsight but also can easily come out with the quick fix,
easy solution to the problems – without ever having to address them themselves.
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A thuggish, unpleasant man with no comprehension of
people or places.But bizarrely he is our "Communities
Minister"- whatever that is! Just the sort that one would
not want in your community - loud, abrasive and totally
lacking insight or empathy. A Yorkshire man by birth but
now a"professional northerner" living in the sunny south
where life is easier, pleasanter and more "rewarding" -
far from the poorer, less favoured parts of our nation. |
I can relate to this from two of my experiences in the
classroom. Many, many years ago, as a fairly newly qualified teacher, I had a
child in my class called Steven. He had caused major problems in the school
from the earliest times. In today’s terms he probably wasn’t so bad but in
those days he was classed as a very difficult child – not unable but attention
seeking, plain naughty, aggressive towards
the other children, dishonest and constantly demanding. This was not a
tough school – it was a pleasant rural place where the vast majority of the
children were able, high attaining and well behaved and their parents were
supportive and anxious for their children to do well. When Steven came into my
class at the beginning of the academic year I was determined to do what no
other teacher had so far done - succeed with him. I would pour resources in, I
would support him, praise him and I would ensure that every bit of work was
specifically addressed to him so that he could feel valued and succeed. After
half a term I knew I had failed. I knew that every morning I was planning
lessons and arranging my own teaching style and class management purely to keep
Steven in check.I was spending most of my time either sitting with him
or at least hovering in his area so that I was constantly available and so that
he did not disturb the rest of the class. And, of course, what I also realised
was that in doing this was being to a degree “unfair” to the other thirty or so
children in the class – I knew that I was giving able, hard working children
work that they could simply get on with so that I could be available just to keep
Steven on the straight and narrow and ensure that he didn't disturb others too
much. Finally, I also realised something else – any one of the parents of the
remainder of the class could quite legitimately say to me ”Why don’t you spend as much time with my son or daughter as you do
with Steven – it’s not fair – think what progress they would make if you did”. I knew that I had to try a different strategy.
I also knew that other teachers had started off just as keen and idealistic as
me and failed. I had to become “hardened” to the fact that there would be other Stevens in my class and learn that although I must try my best there was only
so much that I could do but I could not professionally or morally deny the
others for whom I was responsible just to favour one child. That
was the reality of the situation. And in a way I believe that is a situation
that many professionals working in difficult circumstances day in day out have
to make. I also knew that in the hurly burly of the day, while trying to keep
the lid on Steven so that other children could work and progress I had to cut
corners, take decisions that I would not have taken in a different set of
circumstances - and I knew that sometimes I made mistakes. Of course, as I gained in experience I learned other strategies,
but for the rest of my career I knew that although I would try my very best in
some situations one had to make hard choices which were not always the right
ones but were necessary, in order that those deserving of your care and
attention could be helped – not just those who shouted loudest.
So when I see social workers, teachers, health professionals
and the rest pilloried by society and by those in power I often reflect......”If only you knew the reality of the
situation”. In the end these people
have to make tough choices that under normal circumstances they would not wish
to make, they will often regret this,
and, they are under such pressure in certain areas that they are
continually “fire fighting” and managing one crisis after another that they
will make mistakes. It’s the reality of the situation. When those who work and
reside in the leafy suburbs come with their criticisms and quick fix solutions and
have the great benefit of hindsight and the moral high ground I am immediately
suspicious. I ask how can someone who lives and works in the delights of the
Thames Valley have any conceivable
understanding of what it is to be facing the professional and moral
problems faced by many employed in our inner cities and deprived areas year in
year out. They cannot.
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| Yep......the blame game is in play |
The second experience from my past is more recent. In the
latter years of my teaching career and after I retired I spent almost 12 years
working with, supporting and assessing young teachers and those training to
teach. It was a very rewarding time and one which I look back upon with fond
memories, partly because I enjoyed it but mostly because it was a huge
privilege to work with these talented and hard working young professionals; I
so often reflected how much better they were than I was at the same stage of my
career. But I soon realised one thing. I could visit a
classroom where the young teacher had planned a good lesson but for reasons
often out of their direct control were finding that the lesson wasn’t going as
it should - and, from my ivory tower, I could give a quick fix solution. As I watched I often thought to myself......”I’ve been here myself, this has happened to me” - a difficult
child, an unplanned interruption, snow suddenly seen to be falling through the
classroom window and the class erupts with excitement, a child sits in front of
you and is suddenly sick, something that they children just didn’t ”get”
despite the best efforts of the teacher. All everyday classroom things that are
not always planned for but are outside your control – and the professional has to
manage this on an every day basis. Often when I saw things not working out it
was easy, as an outsider, to spot what was going wrong and why – a simple
organisational or management error that the young teacher was making or a
better way of explain something so that the children could understand. But all
that, of course, was based upon my years of experience and of the privileged
position I held sitting at the back of the classroom watching without any
obligations or distractions or pressures. For the young, inexperienced man or
woman standing at the front of the class trying to teach some mathematical
concept to a lively group of 10 year olds whilst I sat judgementally at the
back it was not so easy – what was so obvious to me was not so to the young
teacher embroiled at the “chalk face” trying to teach fractions while little
Jimmy throws a tantrum because he was up late last night playing on his
computer and is now critically tired. I am sure that some of these social
workers and policemen and health workers and teachers might, at the moment, be
looking askance and ruefully shaking their heads as the great and good make their quick fix solutions and pronouncements from their positions of privilege far removed from the blood and
guts of the daily grind. And I ask myself, rather than castigating failure why
are those in power not supporting and building bridges. I can well remember
that if a trainee teacher gave a less than successful lesson they knew it – they
didn’t need me to weigh in with more criticism or pointing out all their
failures. What they wanted and needed was positive advice, support and
confidence – so that they could do their work better.
Just maybe, if there is a problem in many areas of our
national life – and there certainly appears to be in the wake of all these
scandals and dreadful happenings - then it seems that what the politicians and
those in power should be doing is examining what is wrong with our society –
for we are all members of that society, we are all guilty – rather than
pillorying those who have been fighting the fight to the best of their ability
under impossible circumstances. Just maybe, those wealthy government ministers
living in their wealthy constituencies should be asking themselves what they can
immediately - no ifs, buts or maybes - do to make some of the wealth
of their areas available to those struggling to hold together society in the poor deprived areas where many
of the problems occur. Maybe Mrs May should be ensuring that her banker husband
directs some of his bank’s millions into ensuring that jobs are created in the
poorer areas rather than in booming London! I won’t hold my breath – it’s
easier to castigate failures – and anyway it’s good media fodder: "Home Secretary gets tough with lazy social workers" makes much better reading in the corridors of power and in these austere times than "Home Secretary increases funds for social support in under privileged areas".
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A Ruscombe christening - all very pleasant and afterwards a
reception Buratta's in Twyford. Life doesn't get
much better - few social problems and few to blame here! |
So, having recounted those tales I am left with two
questions: how dare those in positions of power, who largely reside and work in
ivory towers of privilege, wealth and remote from the reality of everyday
life criticise and threaten those who
are trying very hard to succeed doing jobs that many would not take on. And,
secondly, how can people like Theresa May, David Cameron, George Osborne and the rest given their positions of
privilege and the environment that they operate in possibly comprehend the
world of the inner city or of places, like Rotherham, where perhaps
things are going dreadfully wrong. I live in a village on the outskirts
of Nottingham, I like to think that I am an aware sort of person, not
particularly privileged or posh or wealthy but I am also very aware that I
could not even begin to comprehend the lives and values and problems of many
who live only two or three miles away from me. I could not begin to face their
daily problems or know where to begin if I taught in some of the schools only a
mile or two away. My world in my little village, not a particularly wealthy
place, is only 3 or 4 miles away from inner Nottingham but it is light years
away in terms of attitude, opportunity, culture and outlook; I could not begin
to survive there. So how can Theresa May or David Cameron?
But, sadly, times have not changed. It has always been thus.
It all reminds me of Kipling’s wonderful poem “Pagett MP” written over a
century ago. Rudyard Kipling was born and lived for many years in India - a member of the British Raj when India was indeed "the jewel" in Victoria's crown. He loved the country, but knew that those like him working and living in there were viewed by those in England, and especially those in power, as having a soft life - a life of servants, pleasant climate, riches, indolence and luxury. Kipling knew that wasn't the real picture at all - hence is wonderful poem:
Pagett, M.P.
The toad beneath the harrow knows
Exactly where each tooth-point goes.
The butterfly upon the road
Preaches contentment to that toad.
Pagett, M.P., was a liar, and a fluent liar therewith --
He spoke of the heat of India as the "Asian Solar Myth";
Came on a four months' visit, to "study the East," in November,
But I got him to sign an agreement vowing to stay till September.
March came in with the koil. Pagett was cool and gay,
Called me a "bloated Brahmin," talked of my "princely pay."
March went out with the roses. "Where is your heat?" said he.
"Coming," said I to Pagett, "Skittles!" said Pagett, M.P.
April began with the punkah, coolies, and prickly-heat, --
Pagett was dear to mosquitoes, sandflies found him a treat.
He grew speckled and mumpy-hammered, I grieve to say,
Aryan brothers who fanned him, in an illiberal way.
May set in with a dust-storm, -- Pagett went down with the sun.
All the delights of the season tickled him one by one.
Imprimis -- ten day's "liver" -- due to his drinking beer;
Later, a dose of fever --slight, but he called it severe.
Dysent'ry touched him in June, after the Chota Bursat --
Lowered his portly person -- made him yearn to depart.
He didn't now call me a "Brahmin," or "bloated," or "overpaid,"
But seemed to think it a wonder that any one ever stayed.
July was a trifle unhealthy, -- Pagett was ill with fear.
'Called it the "Cholera Morbus," hinted his life was dear.
He babbled of "Eastern Exile," and mentioned his home with tears;
But I told him, I haven't seen my children for close upon seven years.
We reached a hundred and twenty once in the Court at noon,
(I've mentioned Pagett was portly) Pagett, went off in a swoon.
That was an end to the business; Pagett, the perjured, fled
With a practical, working knowledge of his "Solar Myths" in his head.
And I laughed as I drove from the station, but the mirth died out on my lips
As I thought of the fools like Pagett who write of their "Eastern trips,"
And the sneers of the travelled idiots who duly misgovern the land,
And I prayed to the Lord to deliver another one into my hand.
Rudyard Kipling
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The lovely church in Ruscombe, home of Theresa May -
a lifetime and light year away from the people and places for
whom she is responsible.. |
Just maybe the MPs, moralisers, London tabloid editors and
legal experts should get themselves out and about a bit to work at the cutting
edge. Maybe Mrs May and her ilk should leave leafy Ruscombe with its beautiful, quintessentially
English church where my grandchildren were christened a year or two ago and get
herself up to some of the poorer parts of our nation – not on a flying media/photo
opportunity trip to wave the government flag but to work as a social worker,
nurse, teacher or to man the police vans on a wet Friday night. And then, just maybe, like
Pagett in the poem, they might understand that there is another reality and
quite a different universe to the one
that they inhabit. They might then learn a little about the reality of life and
why people behave as they do, not as they should. They might understand why
sometimes people fall short of what we all desire, why and how mistakes are made, why the daily grind and the insurmountable
problems might force people to regretfully make the best decisions they can in
the circumstances they are forced to operate in. In short, they might be more humble. I don’t, however, see it happening any time soon.
These are surely important life lessons that I would want my grandchildren to experience and learn from for it is not really about sport it is about life itself – the accepting of what is and being able
to rise again from failure or accept that wining or succeeding is a very
transitory thing. Enjoy your successes but remember that failure might be just around
the corner. That is the real value of sport – it is a vehicle, a metaphor
for life where one can learn about yourself and about others – how far you can
push yourself and how you must treat others like you. It is a huge lesson that
most of the top teams and players in England clearly have not learned – when they
see winning as an entitlement and defeat as unacceptable then they “chase and
hack down” or “storm out of the ground” when things don’t suit them - it appears to justify their actions to both the player and the fan. Clearly
something goes very wrong between the recreation ground and the great stadia across the nation. 
