School kids in Town

[cdboy2002]

Perhaps the original poster could write a factual letter to the school, outlining what happened. Just a simple mention of it by a senior teacher during a whole school event - non accusatory of individuals - lets them know that this behaviour is not accepted by the community, and the community will stand up to it, albeit in an indirect way.

 

I've spent the past year walking down Commercial Street at lunchtime and have never witnessed such an event. As usual, I guess it's a minority who tarnish the majority, so it's no point in banning them all. Us grown ups wouldn't like it if we were banned from venue a, place b, if a few people caused aggro.

[ArabiaTerra]

... how can parents discipline there children when it is against the law to hit them,...

This is what happens when you leave parents the power to beat their children:

 

Mortification of mind and flesh

 

Edit: Oh, and I Ghostrider hit it on the head. Where was plod? A couple of cops wandering the street at lunchtime/hometime would soon nip this sort of thing in the bud.

[shetlandpeat]

Don't forget the excellent role models...

 

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/?s=assaulted+on+Commercial+Street

[phil.k]

This thread amazes me, the children of Shetland are the biggest asset Shetland has, we all should be proud of them. Yes they can act like children at times and there is the odd bad apple .but Shetland’s biggest problem by far is an army of self opinionated jobs worth type bully’s that keep shouting keep of the grass .if you want to see badly behaved children visit England . If you continue to attack the children of Shetland they will eventually bite back and you will see what badly behaved children really look like. There are many things wrong with education in Shetland allowing children a bit of freedom at lunch time is not one of them.

[shetlandpeat]

We were always out at lunch time. I do find it odd that no one stood up to them. It seems the police are stretched already with the alcohol fueled crime that happens at night.

[scoots]

There's entire shifts of them, covering the whole day - or should be. But a call from someone seeing this, even an anonymous one, would be public spirited and help if you ask me.

 

I can honestly say I wouldn't have been able to stay quiet if I'd been there. More fool me, maybe.

[scoots]

Phil, I'm not disagreeing with you about proportion, but I don't think deliberately barging old folks and abusing and bullying a person with severe special needs is just "kids being kids". An accidental bump during high spirited mucking about? Certainly annoying but no biggie, unless injury caused, but even then no harmful intent. Making a noise? Same goes. But not what was described by Pleepsie, the OP. THAT'S unacceptable anywhere, world over, and needs challenged.

 

But that being said, you don't achieve that by punishing or blaming all the kids for actions of a small few. That's a ridiculous idea that only makes things worse. You may get peace in the short term, but I'd imagine you'll pay for it in the long term!!

[shetlandpeat]

There's entire shifts of them, covering the whole day - or should be.

 

I would imagine that there are more on at the weekend evenings than are on Monday lunch time. You only have so many officers, it is not as if they can be called upon from Aberdeen at short notice, or Orkney. You may be increasing the costs if you want the same levels, though I think in this case, one will do.

 

Kids can be quite truthful about things, they are still developing their social skills and do not really know what is acceptable in all cases. They succumb to peer pressure, and can be easily led. As the phrase "show be a boy of 5 and I can show you the man" or there abouts, shows. If the children are not told what is right or wrong, would they work it out for themselves.

 

I do believe it is up to parents to initiate that.

[scoots]

Aberdeen wouldn't send cops up here. That's Grampian police. It's Northern up here.

 

As for one doing it, they work in pairs. Scottish law needs that in case of crimes. English law only needs one cop.

 

You're right about the parent/s though. It's an environment thing. In the right environment, kids "absorb" behaviour without needing to be lectured. Best way, I find.

[shetlandpeat]

I was showing that on the mainland, officers can be called from other areas or districts. Shetland has a finite supply.

One would have been enough as a presence to prevent any crime with many children. If two are legally required, than two.

 

Ah well, if you leave it long enough you can dole out ASBOs.

[dB]

Where is plod in all this???

 

Back in the day when one was one of the AHS "thugs and ruffians", dinner hour and 4-5pm a couple of plod was more or less omnipresent on foot patrol. It prevented a lot of stuff starting, as no-one knew when they might saunter round a corner or up/down a lane and close it down. If anything did start that they were aware of, it was more hassle to be hassled by them than starting it was worth, they went on, and on, and on, and on, and on..............

 

Been there, done that, bored senseless by it.....

 

Totally agree re plod. What about those Community Policepersons..?? Why aren't they at the Street at lunchtimes issuing fixed penalty fines for littering..?? Hit them in the pocket (no literally) and it will certainly reduce the litter problem. A couple of the pretendy polis and a couple of the real thing - problem hugely reduced. Simples.

[DizzyKipper]

slightly off topic - i came across 4 videos made by youngsters and posted on YouTube for the world to see. Most of it was them hurting themselves in stupid stunts, some was minor damage to property. Other stunts include being loud, noisy and harrassing shop keepers and members of the public for their amusement.

For example watch this at time 3:41

 

All the kids list themselves in the credits and name themselves during the 'shoot'.

 

I don't really care if they break their necks jumping off walls in private, but harrassing other people is lame.

[RickB]

^^ their mothers must be so proud of them.

Ive just looked at a couple of the videos and while most of it doesnt harm anyone other than the idiots involved, there is certainly evidence of what amounts to a breach of the peace.

I'm not sure the kids involved realise that they are recording themselves commiting minor crimes and posting it for the public to see.

[lerwick]

I thought the editing sound and film was quite good . The content was not to my taste but no different to some of the crap on the TV , as for harassing people it was quite mild compared to the daily sales phone calls we all get. These boys looked harmless to me , i dare say they have spent a bit of time constructing their films without council loans or grants.

[Roxy71]

I attended a school in Oz which was in close proximity to a huge shopping complex. No students except seniors were allowed there at lunchtime unless they held a senior badge. The badge came with responsibility of being actively on at least 2 committees. It was seen as a privilege to leave the school grounds out with school hours. I am sure this could be introduced here?