Jack Chat

February 2008 - Posts

• Multi-Culturalism - the Latest Moral Panic

  Multi-culturalism. It is one of those words that we all decode in our heads according to our own beliefs and values. My take is to look at what may be the opposite to "multi-culturalism", "mono-culturalism". How boring is that? My only reference point for mono-culturalism is the United States, aaah yes, the kind of mono-culturalism that expresses itself in the dark corners of Abu Ghraib, or the quiet streets of Fallujah. The Royal United Services Institute report, that has lead to this issue being raised suggests deference to multi-culturalism is to blame for the terrorist threat. The RUSI spokesperson, speaking on the Today programme earlier this month, suggested that we had the evidence in the 7/7 bombings. But he failed to explain this logic in relation to 9/11. There was also a suggestion that immigrant Muslim communities were at fault for not integrating. Well, integration is a two way street. I know a little about this having spent a good deal of my working life working within the Muslim community. I also know from personal experience how difficult integration is, I was estranged from most of my family for many years because I married an Asian. I also witnessed the discrimination he suffered, for example when he was looking to buy a house in Luton the estate agents only ever sent him houses in Bury Park, the Asian area of town. When we were looking to buy a house in Stockport, if I went to estate agents on my own I would be told about areas which were very nice, no foreigners............I used to enjoy going back in and introducing my husband! So, as I say, to crack this nut we need a little more honesty about the underlying racism that still impacts upon our ability to truly build community cohesion. We cannot insist that people adhere to this or that culture, that way lies facism. And yet, to hear some of the commentators one would be forgiven for thinking it was just a question of Mr Brown announcing that from now on we were to be a mono-culture nation and that would do it! So, let's have some honesty. It is not multi-culturalism (the existence of a number of cultures?) that is the issue, it is the nervousness about Muslims who appear to live in closed communities, with an idea that out of them springs an anti-western anti-Christian discourse that feeds the minds of the young who then become suicide bombers. But, we have one important missing factor. The young people who get radicalised are often on the surface very well integrated, or, if not, they are estranged from their own community as well. So, what are we saying? As a former youth worker I am well versed in the idea of "moral panic" - it seems to me this is exactly what we are witnessing. A notion that distorts and exaggerates reality, fuelled by a sensationalist media. Yes, there are young people, disaffected and angry, driven to become involved with terrorism, but I think that has more to do with the idealism of youth, the power of a strong religious belief and, dare I say it?, frustration at our foreign policy. It has little or nothing to do with a notion of "multi-culturalism". This nonsense would be amusing if it were not so dangerous. All the time we are being deflected by a misplaced moral panic about multiculturalism we are unlikely to begin to even scratch the surface of a solution. Posted Feb 27 2008, 08:43 AM by LINDA JACK with 2 comment(s)

• The Poverty Trap.............what future for our children?

  The news that one in five of our children are growing up in homes dependent on benefit is indeed shocking. There is the normal moral panic from some (Robert Whelan, of the Right-wing think-tank Civitas, quoted in the Telegraph "We need a stick to get people off benefits. The whole welfare policy has been based on carrots, which are not working. These people have now eaten so many carrots it's amazing they haven't turned into rabbits.") but this doesn't address the real imperative, to improve the life chances of these children. When research demonstrates how clear the link is between poverty and academic achievement there is surely a need for a complete rethink about our education system. With able children from poor homes being overtaken by their less able middle class peers by aged 6, this radical rethink must be within a context that is also tackling the underlying scandal of child poverty. Children who live in overcrowded, poor quality housing, who are unable to eat properly or keep warm, are immediately disadvantaged when it comes to learning. Whilst choice is an important aspect for any parent, the reality is, for many of those already disadvantaged, choice is a myth. So my argument is that the mantra should be about quality. Whatever your background you should be guaranteed a quality education. It is striking that the outcomes sought through Every Child Matters do not include equality. That might be a start. There also needs to be a recognition that for some of our children school is a nightmare (recent research suggested as many as 1 in 7 hate school). More effort should go into developing new approaches to learning. I often joke that I left teaching because I was interested in learning, but there is an element of truth. Youth workers have a toolkit of skills and an approach that seeks out and utilizes the "hooks" that engage young people in learning. They have a flexible enough approach to be able to seize and exploit every opportunity. Now of course, with the voluntary engagement of young people and without the constraints of a classroom, they have an easier task than most teachers. But I would suggest that a more creative and flexible approach to learning, particularly for those who are clearly turned off, would reap dividends. The fact that in one of the wealthiest countries in the world we are still failing so many of our children is shameful. There is so much to do, perhaps fundemental changes within formal education is a long term aim, but in the short term, far more investment could be going into the non formal sector along with a recognition of the important contribution good youth work makes to the life chances of some of our most marginalised young people. Posted Feb 15 2008, 02:46 AM by LINDA JACK with 1 comment(s)