Your Opinion: Letters

When our children remember their childhood, I wonder how many will smile and think back positively?

Whether today's children will thank us is debatable. The 21st century was heralded as a time of hope and optimism for humanity across the world, which would provide answers and solutions to right the injustices of society. Globally, the message was clear that nations would unite to protect and provide for their people against poverty, disease, terrorism, threats of war, climate change, economic and environmental challenges.

Surrounding each issue would be the right of its nation's people to live well and have a right to a good education. But events have taken over - natural disasters, political or religious unrests which have resulted in trauma and terrible consequences across the world. We know only too well of injustices where these ideals are struggling against considerable odds.

Will our children thank us? Not those children in a society where they have been abducted, molested or trained to hold a weapon against another. Nor where they have been made to work in small factory spaces making clothes to be sold cheaply in the western world. The orphans herded together after another horrific tragedy? Or those children who have taken the role of parent, as theirs are dead?

The number of children living in relative poverty in the UK has risen since 2005, although we are the fifth richest country in the world. The UNICEF report on Childhood in Industrialised Countries, in February 2007, found that the UK ranks bottom in child well-being assessment out of the 21 industrialised countries.

Children need to have a childhood of fun, not fear, to have a childhood of activity, not boredom. They should not be limited by stepping stones, league tables, goals, targets and SATs. They should not be constricted by over-prescriptive learning of literacy or numeracy gimmicks. Instead, they should experience the wealth of rich, first- hand experiences for learning.

The UK is still in a vulnerable place regarding the rights of children. The report of the UK Children's Commissioner to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child concludes, 'In the UK today, the gap between rich and poor is increasing, along with associated disparities in the well-being of children and respect for their rights. Many of our children are depressed and anxious and suffer deprivation.'

There are exceptions to the rule, where the spirit of childhood is still valued in communities despite legislation and government dictates. Places where education communities are 'flying' with creativity and rich in opportunity to engage their children and parents in thinking and learning. Where adults and children are energised by the activity and learning is a shared experience. They have been able to develop in competence and self-motivation. They have had a wealth of rich opportunities to be creative, and explore and discover their talents, their culture and values.

These children have experienced positive relationships which have nurtured their self-esteem and disposition to learn. They feel valued, comfortable and confident to meet challenges of living and learning. They recognise their rights and responsibilities to themselves and others in the learning process.

Not so for many other children, who will look back and reflect with grim acceptance that all was not well in their childhood.

Politicians and decision-makers need to give back authenticity to our children and practitioners. Government pressure from ill-founded goals, tests and levels needs to be reduced. Remove the shackles of teaching to the tests and ticking the boxes; give time to learn, explore, discover and play.

We need to return to the values of a neighbourhood society that cared, understood and valued the well-being of others and celebrated together; that demonstrated the principles and practices of a good childhood, so that children have appropriate role models within the community.

We need to champion their rights so they can have a good and happy childhood. We need to give back to children their future. Then our children will remember us.

Manny Lewis, education consultant specialising in early years, Chudleigh, Devon

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