https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/jun/05/schools-in-england-to-give-extra-lessons-on-dangers-of-knives
Schools in England to give extra lessons on dangers of
knives
Home Office plan to support and inform pupils aged 11-16 ahead
of summer break as knife and gang crimes soar
Wed 5 Jun 2019 18.44 BSTLast
modified on Thu 6 Jun 2019 00.30 BST
Pupils in schools in England are to be
given additional lessons before the summer holidays warning them of the dangers
of carrying knives.
Children at risk of knife crime
are known to be vulnerable during the long summer break, especially if they
have time on their hands and, with the schools shut, have no safe space.
Campaigners say that, due to government cuts to youth services, there is also a
shortage of activities for young people during the six-week holiday.
The new hour-long sessions, intended for pupils aged from 11 to
16, will attempt to challenge the myths surrounding knife possession. Real-life
case studies will be used to help youngsters resist the pressure to carry a
weapon. such as the story of Dean, a teenager who was arrested for carrying a
knife but then turned his life around after getting help from a local support centre.
The lessons, which have been drawn up by the Home Office in
collaboration with teachers and the Personal, Social, Health and Economic
(PSHE) Association, build on existing school curriculum information on knife
crime, which was first introduced last year.
Pressure has been mounting on schools to help tackle the
recent rise in knife crime among young people. Between March 2017 and March
2018, there were 285 killings using a knife or sharp instrument in England and
Wales – the highest number since Home Office records began in 1946. The number
has risen four years in a row after a long-term decline.
Victoria Atkins, minister for crime, safeguarding and
vulnerability, said: “Early intervention is a key part of our serious violence
strategy, and it’s vital that we give young people the tools and resilience to
keep themselves safe over the summer holidays.”
The St Giles Trust SOS project works with young people exposed
to, or at risk of, violence and exploitation by gangs. One of its members,
Pablo, said the summer holiday period was a particularly risky time for
vulnerable youngsters.
He added: “If you’ve got a lot more time on your hands and a
lack of direction, that can make a young person more vulnerable. In the summer
holidays young people will be outside, they will be exposed to a lot more
influences from older gang members who are looking for the most vulnerable
people to groom, recruit and exploit.”
He said young people needed signposting to positive alternative
activities to keep them engaged and in a safe space during the long summer
break, but because of austerity cuts there were fewer activities available to
keep them out of trouble.
Last month, the all-party parliamentary group on knife crime
revealed data from more than 100 councils showing cuts to youth services of up to 91%, and
claimed that areas that had seen the larger increases in knife crime had
suffered the largest cuts to spending on young people.
Jonathan Baggaley, chief executive of the PSHE Association,
said: “These new materials are designed to challenge inaccurate perceptions
about knife crime, help young people develop the confidence to resist pressure
to carry knives, and recognise positive role models.”
The lessons have been sent to 20,000 PSHE teachers. The existing
teaching materials, which were first introduced in July last year, were
downloaded more than 14,000 times by schools.
Points for discussion
- As yesterday, look at the headline and subheading and the ways in which they summarise the article
- The 5Ws:
Who - The home office plan to inform school children
What - The danger of knives
When- Before the summer holidays
Where - Across the UK
Why- Gang crimes are soaring
- Notice how the writers will often use quotations from experts to strengthen their argument
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