My wife's friend had a son that went off the rails and got in trouble at nearly 11 years old. She was distraught with him as he was brought up her way: but the school he went to allowed no competitive sports at all. Not even board games like chess or draughts are allowed. So with her permission I put in him in our Army cadets. The first night there the instructors told the parents; he or she will get a good education, they will be taught how to cook, sew, wash and iron. They will go to camp and learn outdoor skills. Go gliding and many other sports. They will also learn discipline and a trade.
Of course he still had to go to school, but went to the cadets three nights a week. If as usual he did not go to school, he was reported to the Army cadets, and he was made to pay for it.
He came out of the cadets at sixteen as a sergeant cadet, with now a good education from them; both academically and life skills. He liked electrical stuff, so did an apprenticeship in electrical engineering, and now earns lots of money doing that.
Children are our way forward. Until we can show them from our experience the practical and academic skills we have learnt, and indeed been taught. Then they will slip into the behavioral problems and obesity, we have in the UK. A lot of children here sit in the parks, drinking high strength cider and smoking, that surely is not a way forward.
Dave and Trish are doing the right thing. I had to learn from an early age. My father used to give me a wallop if I missed a rabbit on the farm, with my little .410 shotgun; sat on the back of his tractor.
Regards from England.
Neil.
