1. The odd leg slap defiantly got my attention and undoubtedly others, did we have the option of anger management ??? or indeed did we experience it.!! I don’t recall children with anger related problems, something that WAS apparent to some teachers. Yes the odd temper tantrums, the few playground confrontations, play scuffles resulted in letting off steam, but in general we lead a calmer less stressful life, our lives heavily controlled by our peers and their threats.

2. Children 2008, are raised in a much more stressful environment without proper parental guidance, therefore probably do suffer some related anger, resentment build up, CP is defiantly not the way to go. The powers to be would be better to investigate and invest the underlying problems that have changed so many of our children’s attitudes and wellbeing. We are sadly becoming a nation of therapy dependants.


Ketta

Our anger as kids was managed by the occasional fist-fight in the playground.

It only bothered teachers if it involved hitting girls or bullying, which I never gave a moment's consideration to.

What really bothered the teachers at Halstow, though, was the annual fight with Annadale, who were about 6 streets away in Greenwich & naturally our sworn enemies.

One year, about 50 of them came to OUR school gates armed with milk bottles from the afternoon break, which articles they were about to offer us as an after-school "gift". A gift to break over our heads, by the way!

Let's just say one 6 ft 4 teacher put them to rout,and rather squashed our ambitions of a raid on Annadale with some serious tanning threats that went out to boys & girls at will, who were gathered there.

The tanning was also not connected with sun-lamps, under which the single mums who breed the little cockroaches these days spend much of their time and my money. I'd personally tan both Mums & children, but can't find this in Child Support law!


Steve M

Thank you, Ketta. As ever on this estimable Forum the voice of reason. You are absolutely correct in saying that modern children find themselves in a very stressful environment. I frequently say in conversation that I would not like to be young now. I don't think the world is going to treat those now at school as well as it has treated my generation.

I have to differ though on the question of school corporal punishment and its applicability today. There is, I know, absolutely no imminent prospect of CP returning. However if it did I believe it would have decided beneficial effects up to around age 12 or 13. It was the ultimate sanction which enabled the excellent teachers I had in primary school (at that time junior school) to teach classes of 50 plus from which every child (in my class at least) emerged able to cope with quick-fire questions on their 12 times table.

I was horrified to discover that now, despite class numbers being down to 20 or so, around 40% of children exit primary school unable to deal with even the 6 times table! Not a good omen for the increasingly technological future and the competion from countries where children are still properly taught by traditional methods. The decline here, in my opinion anyway, is down to classroom discipline. Even where there are good teachers, they can't teach because they have to deal with too many issues of anger management - or rather the lack of it! Quickly dealt with and put aside to enable the serious teaching to continue in my day!

Steve, a most pertinent comment when you say "It only bothered teachers if it involved hitting girls or bullying". No boy would have hit a girl when I was young. We had a curious double standard though, because we didn't think it particularly unusual if an adult male, parent or teacher, did. Possibly the distinction was between fists and open hands or punishment implements. Or maybe we just accepted that adults could do what they liked. Weird but it somehow worked!

Nobody kicked in fights either, you'd have been totally ostracised. It bothers me when I see little lads kicking each other, let alone kicking girls. Mind you, these days the girls seem quite capable of kicking back!

Your final sentence leads me to give you my nomination as the Civil Servant I would most like to see promoted to take total charge of all those government departments engaged in disbursing my hard earned cash to the less deserving elements of society. And there's no smiley after that, so I'm serious!

Anger can be fully justified. We need more angry people. There is a lot to be angry about. The problem is usually how anger is expressed rather than the anger itself. Often, minor frustrations cause boil over because of a deeper frustration and anger that has been supressed.

A-L

Thank you for that faith!!

I should have added tanning of mums will remain confined to those I fancy.

Those with arses the size & shape of a Belfast sink supported by a thong can simply wash my recycled garbage out for me. With 10 cats & several fusspots, there are usually a few sachets that need doing!

The children-I might just have an office sweepstake at £5 a ticket;canes will be supplied IF my runner beans finally get going up them before the pole-vaulting slugs of Plymouth get them again.

Or Tescos can sponsor it & supply slippers,too.


Steve M

Sounds good to me Steve. I'd like to think that the cats will be properly looked after!