There was a time when we had community. The community used to look out for our young people as they played in the streets. Dare any of these groups of youths get up to mischief, they would be threatened with a ‘clip ‘round the ear’ and ‘told on’ to their parents. At which point, there might be another clip. These neighbours would probably know his parents – they might work together, for instance. Mother would keep a careful watch, like many other mothers, outside the window. She might be completing a chore, like washing up, so good behaviour was encouraged - you just didn’t know who might be watching.

Kids used to attend school and were well disciplined – if they ‘back-cheeked’ the teacher, there were consequences to these actions. Corporal punishment saw to that. Unfortunately, some people in positions of power abused this deterrent. This led to its abolition. The threat, however, was there in those days and children respected a very black and white rule - if you went against convention, then you were punished. This punishment did not hang over you for long – it was short, it was sharp but when it was done, it was done! There was no sympathy from your parents, either. Oh no! If you complained, at best you may have had a repeat punishment and, at least, told that you deserved it. At the end of the day, your parents had been through the system too and there is no substitute for experience. Today, I often hear older people say this sort of discipline didn’t do them any harm. Most of these tough ‘birds’ and ‘geezers’ had lived through the war, you know!

Today, when children play and congregate outside, what used to be viewed as ‘groups of youths’ are now considered ‘gangs’. ASBO orders are awarded to children for doing what kids have always done or, at least, what they could have done, given the opportunity. There is no empowerment for community members. Give a kid a clip around the ear hole today and wait for a summons or be sued. There is simply no community or community responsibility. Parents are working 24/7. They pay their mortgages (remember there is no social housing anymore – all that was sold off in the 90’s!) and basic expenses in order to live.

It appears, therefore, that it is socially unacceptable for young people to gather within their local areas. It is easy when this does happen to simply… BLAME IT ON THE PARENTS! Why let kids out on the streets anyway? They are a menace! Good parents, therefore, keep kids in the home. They have to be entertained somehow. So, kids sit for hours on end on these computer games. Stop! This is bad parenting –tut tut! Look what you are doing to your child! You are encouraging the epidemic condition within our society - childhood obesity! Not to mention, the psychological affects upon your children from the games they play! Ummm… so where does the responsibility land for this? Well, there is only one finger to point to – BLAME IT ON THE PARENTS! Good parents encourage their children to go and play in the local playground. After all, it is only 1½ mile down the road. Anyway, it is good exercise! Playing on your lonesome isn’t too much fun though - the other kids are glued in the safety of their own homes, playing video games! Today there is a lack of local common knowledge of community (what community?), compared to the old days. Everyone knew what everyone else was doing and children were educated as to who to trust and who not to. Kids were watched and were encouraged to stay within the safety of their peer groups. The neighbourhood knew the dodgy old geezer from down the road. He might even have a ‘community nickname’ like ‘Flashing Freddy’, for example. Today, however, because of the isolating nature of our society, it is not a surprise that our children may be targeted by some paedophile. So, when this happens, what is society’s first question? Where were the parents? The possible answer? They might have been working extra time to cover the rise in the council tax charge or work uses psychological pressure to keep their worker back – they are inundated! Of course refusal often offends - you could even lose your job! Losing your livelihood could mean losing your home! Bad parents, like these, should take responsibility - blame it on the Parents!

Now the fear has really set in. Well, at least you know your kids are safe at school, so using the car; you drop your kids off at school. Bad parent! Childhood obesity alert! What about the environment?! Well, at least you know you have safely dropped them off and they won’t be a target of sexual deviance! Anyway, a parent can do everything in their power to get the kids to the school gate on time, but what is to stop the child from leaving from the exit school gate? In many cases, parents are the last to know of such truancy! It isn’t until the parent gets a call from the school to learn of such things. After all, no one is allowed to discipline children nowadays! This can lead to the parent being fined or even imprisoned – lets not even go down the line of the consequence of this, but you can imagine what an impact this could have to the fundamentals in family life! For the sins of our kids, it is much easier to just BLAME IT ON THE PARENTS!

So, imagine the confrontation at home with parent and child. You might shout. Bad abusive parent! You might give your child a ‘short, sharp, shock’, as they would say in the old days. Now you are an abuser. Bad parent! You know, every action you perform on your kids has a long-term affect on them. BLAME IT ON THE PARENTS! All right, a good parent does nothing. Maybe send the child to bed (they like this, they have all their things here). Don’t you think we are encouraging more bad behaviour? Yes, definitely. BLAME IT ON THE PARENTS!

Now imagine this. You have an adolescent male who knows you can’t do anything to discipline him. He learns that he has the control over you. He might even be threatening and confrontational to you. It is normal for adolescents to rebel, after all. If you were to behave in the same manner, you would be an abuser and if this happened to you by your partner, for example, you would be supported (advised to go to a refuge, get legal support and even have the right to an injunction). In today’s society, however, there is no such support for parents. If your lovely darling does this to you, it is obviously because of the way you have brought him up. Therefore, BLAME IT ON THE PARENTS! Not only, is he is protected under a certain age, it isn’t wise for a parent to disable their child by getting the police involved and having them prosecuted. Remember, this could lead to a criminal record, thereby limiting the choice of future work. It could end up that you are lumbered with the behaviour for the 20 years! At the end of the day, our kids are who they are because us parents have made them what they are today. The only thing that I can say to that is…. BLAME IT ON THE PARENTS!

This work is covered under Creative Commons License

 More historical social changes that affect our lives?  Check out this hub: Kids of the 60’s - The First Selfish Generation - Changing Expectations - The Cycle Keeps Turning & Reversing

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