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A 'fifth of teachers back caning'
One in five teachers would like to see the cane brought back in schools for "extreme cases", a shocking survey suggests.
The main reason given for teachers backing the return of corporal punishment was the deterioration of class behaviour. According to the Times Educational Supplement poll of 6,162 UK teachers, more support for the cane was found in secondary schools. The TES survey found that 22% of secondary school teachers would support the right to use corporal punishment in extreme cases. However, those working in primary schools were less in favour at 16%.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said violence against children was illegal and unacceptable. Supply teacher Judith Cookson told the TES: "There are too many anger management people and their ilk who give children the idea that it is their right to flounce out of lessons for time out because they have problems with their temper.
Primary teacher Ravi Kasinathan opposed: "There is justification, or an argument, for bringing back corporal punishment, if only as a deterrent. I believe some children just don't respond to the current sanctions." One in five teachers would like to see the cane brought back in schools for "extreme cases", a shocking survey suggests. ... more -
New teenage sex law 'will make criminals of young girls'
New plans to reform the laws governing teenage sex in Scotland could "criminalise" young teenage girls for having intercourse, MSPs have been told. The bill confirms it is an offence for children between 13 and 15 to have sex – and this applies to girls as well as boys.
Professor Kathleen Marshall said that the proposal, which could see girls facing prosecution for consensual sex in the same way as boys, should be abandoned until its likely consequences can be studied. She warned that the move could have a range of unintended consequences – including criminalising young girls and discouraging them from seeking medical advice.
The government decision ignores a previous report by the Scottish Law Commission which recommended consensual sex between older children should not be a criminal offence, and should instead be grounds for referral to a children's reporter on welfare grounds, effectively decriminalising sex between youngsters over 13.
A Scottish Government policy document published with the bill said: "We have adopted this approach as we believe that the way in which the law currently acts to criminalise only boys (where the activity is consensual and both are of similar age) is discriminatory." New plans to reform the laws governing teenage sex in Scotland could "criminalise" young teenage girls for having intercours... more -
STOP THE FUCKING FRAUD!!!!!!
PREDATORY LENDING AND MORTGAGE SERVICING FRAUD IS STEALING THE AMERICAN DREAM!!!!!! AMERIQUEST SUCKS!!!
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How to Steal Homes in Texas
Watch Bear Stearns' EMC Mortgage lie in this video. EMC later testified during a 2004 trial that Wright was never in default and also testified they did not own Mr. Wright's note.
While still on the witness stand, EMC was asked: So you saw Bank of America's errors, but rather than correct the mistakes, you just decided to steal Mr. Wright's home and equity didn't you?" EMC answered: "Yes."
Within moments, the judge shut down the trial and recused herself. The trial was never finished.
Mortgage Servicing Fraud Watch Bear Stearns' EMC Mortgage lie in this video. EMC later testified during a 2004 trial that Wright was never in default and ... more -
Peace march against knife crime
More than a thousand people, including families and friends of gun and knife crime victims, united yesterday to take part in two peace marches across London to Hyde Park.
Thousands of people from across the country have joined friends and family of the victims to march across the capital. Two walks beginning from Kennington Park in south London, and another from Caledonian Road, north London will both finish in London's Hyde Park.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "I am determined to support the People's March... I share the same sentiment as every law-abiding person in this country - enough is enough”
The idea was started on Facebook by two London women. The marchers chanted "Stop the knives, save lives". More than a thousand people, including families and friends of gun and knife crime victims, united yesterday to take part in two peace... more -
No More Deals for New Jersey Teen Drivers
New Jersey's attorney general has slammed the brakes on plea bargains for teenagers ticketed for driving offenses.
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Survey: Nearly Every Kid a Video Gamer
The survey found that while young Americans don't necessarily play the same thing, nearly all of them — girls included — play video games of one kind or another.
And they don't just play by themselves. Nearly two-thirds play video games to socialize face-to-face with friends and family, while just over a quarter said they play with Internet friends.
"It shows that gamers are social people," says Amanda Lenhart, a senior researcher at Pew who led the report on the survey. "They communicate just as much. They spend time face-to-face, just as much as other kids. They e-mail and text."
The survey, released Tuesday, combined the telephone responses from a nationally representative sample of 1,102 young people, ages 12 to 17, and their parents. Performed from November 2007 through February of this year, and partly funded by the MacArthur Foundation, it had a margin of error of three percentage points.
Among other things, the survey found that:
— Ninety-seven percent of young respondents play video games. That's 99 percent of boys and 94 percent of girls, with little difference in the percentages among various racial and ethnic groups and incomes. In fact, 7 percent of those surveyed said they didn't have a computer at home, but did have a game console, such as Sony Corp.'s PlayStation, Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox or Nintendo Co.'s Wii.
— They play often. When surveyed, half of the respondents said they had played a video game the previous day.
— Their games of choice are as diverse as their tastes in music or TV. Eighty percent of respondents play five or more different game genres, with racing, puzzles, sports and action the most common. Favorites were "Guitar Hero," ''Halo 3," ''Madden NFL," solitaire and "Dance Dance Revolution."
— Young people are routinely able to get their hands on games that are rated "M'' (for mature) or "AO" (adults only). Three-quarters of parents who were surveyed said they "always" or "sometimes" check the ratings on their kids' games. And yet, half of boys who were questioned listed a game with an "M'' or "AO" rating as one of their favorites, compared with 14 percent of girls.
Regardless, Pew researchers said they want to steer clear of depicting video games as "good" or "bad," says Joseph Kahne, a study co-author and dean of the education school at Mills College in California. The survey found that while young Americans don't necessarily play the same thing, nearly all of them — girls included — play vid... more -
Young arsonists expected to crack
One of the hallmarks of arson investigations is, teenagers are much easier to catch because they talk
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Computer games drive social ties
Far from turning teenagers into anti-social loners, video games help them engage with friends and community, says a report.
The Pew Internet study of US teenagers found that few play alone and most join up with friends when gaming.
It found that many used educational games to learn about world issues and to begin to engage with politics.
The report also found that gaming had become an almost universal pastime among young Americans. Far from turning teenagers into anti-social loners, video games help them engage with friends and community, says a report. ... more -
M83 Inspired by the 80's
Anthony Gonzalez and Morgan Kibby of M83 share the hot seat to fill us in on the details of their latest album, new video, and obsession with the 80's era. Anthony Gonzalez and Morgan Kibby of M83 share the hot seat to fill us in on the details of their latest album, new video, and obsessi... more
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ADD major component of teen deaths on road.
I personally think that most teen drivers are too immature to be on the road to begin with. Hell, most drivers are too stubborn, selfish, and immature to be on the road. I personally think that most teen drivers are too immature to be on the road to begin with. Hell, most drivers are too stubborn, selfi... more
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Youths' drug of choice? Prescription
Baby boomers made marijuana their 'gateway' -- and some still can't let go, a report says -- but a younger generation finds prescription drugs are an easier score.
A new generation of drug users isn't waiting to reach middle age to add prescription drugs to its portfolio of abuse, the report says. Among teens and young adults 12 to 25, one-third of those who use illicit drugs say they recently have abused prescription drugs -- including painkillers, tranquilizers and stimulants. Among kids 12 to 17, 3.3% had abused prescription psychotherapeutic drugs in the last month. Among 17- to 25-year-olds, 6% had abused prescription drugs in the last month.
Those generational trends are driving a significant change on the landscape of American drug abuse. After years of declining American use of street drugs -- cocaine, hallucinogens and even marijuana -- prescription medications have begun moving front and center as the nation's drug of choice.
-latimes.com Baby boomers made marijuana their 'gateway' -- and some still can't let go, a report says -- but a younger generation f... more -
A sex rebellion in Chile
Chile, long considered to have among the most traditional social mores in South America, is crashing headlong into that reputation with its precocious teenagers. Chile’s youths are living in a period of sexual exploration that, academics and government officials say, is like nothing the country has witnessed before.
“We are not the children of the dictatorship; we are the children of democracy,” said Michele Bravo, 17, at a recent afternoon party. “There is much more of a rebellious spirit among young people today. There is much more freedom to explore everything.”
-nytimes.com Chile, long considered to have among the most traditional social mores in South America, is crashing headlong into that reputation wit... more -
Should libraries stock ex-gay literature?
US organisation 'Americans for Truth', "devoted exclusively to exposing and countering the homosexual activist agenda", is backing a new campaign targeting public libraries and asking them to stock ex-gay literature.
Spokesman Peter LaBarbera said there should be a balance in the selections that libraries carry on the "homosexual issue." He explained: "There is no logical or common sense reason why taxpayer-funded public libraries should make available every latest gay-affirming book; including those designed to open up young minds to the false and dangerous notion that homosexuality is normal while NOT carrying faith-based and ex-gay books that oppose a pro-homosexual ideology."
A sample letter to librarians on the Americans for Truth website, from a member of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays, reads: "I could not find many books about leaving homosexuality or the origins of same sex attractions. Every day parents of gay children search for answers to their children's condition only to be given the same information: 'deal with it' or 'they are born that way.' Neither of these are satisfactory options for the concerned parent. In addition to the numerous homosexual books which appears on your library system, your library needs to provide ex-gay books to everyone seeking it. Please provide equal access to all information, including ex-gay books."
Public libraries in the US are a familiar battleground for homosexual issues. A heart-warming tale of same-sex love and parenting among New York penguins has topped the list of books most complained about in American libraries for the second year running, even though it has been accused of promoting homosexuality and being 'anti-family' as well as unsuitable for its age group. Among other literary works in the top ten are The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (alleged racism) and Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass (anti-religious). US organisation 'Americans for Truth', "devoted exclusively to exposing and countering the homosexual activist agenda&#... more -
Auto Insurance Group Wants Driving Age Raised
Taking aim at a longstanding rite of passage for 16-year-olds, an influential auto safety group is calling on states to raise the age for getting a driver's license to 17 or even 18. Taking aim at a longstanding rite of passage for 16-year-olds, an influential auto safety group is calling on states to raise the age ... more
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8-year-old child held for gun crime
Police arrested an eight-year-old boy for carrying a gun in a series of firearms- related crimes. The incident, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, is one of four gun- related crimes involving children this year. A police spokeswoman said it was "alarming" a child as young as eight was carrying a firearm.
A 12-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old were also reported for possessing a firearm with the intent to endanger life. Police arrested an eight-year-old boy for carrying a gun in a series of firearms- related crimes. The incident, in Lanarkshire, Scotla... more -
Young 'ignorant on mental health'
Almost half of all schoolchildren cannot name a single mental health condition, a study of 500 young people has found.
And fewer than half of those surveyed felt that schools provided enough information about mental health, a third preferred to trust the internet.
Great Ormond Street Hospital conducted the poll. It is launching its own child mental health information website.
A spokesman said the results were "worrying and surprising".
Mental health problems are far from rare in the young - between one in 12 and one in 15 children and teenagers deliberately self-harm, with more than 25,000 admitted to hospital each year due to the severity of their injuries.
More than 1% of 11 to 16-year-olds are said to be "seriously depressed."
However, the survey of 500 young people revealed wide gaps in knowledge, with boys between the ages of 12 and 14 the least likely to be able to name a single mental health condition.
Those who did manage to do so were most likely to point to substance abuse, depression and self-harm as the most common.
Celebrity confessions
While the internet was the most popular source of advice, 17 and 18-year-old girls said that they likely to gather their mental health knowledge from celebrities talking about their mental health problems.
Dr Jon Goldin, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at Great Ormond Street, said: "Our findings which show that nearly half of 12-18 year olds in the UK cannot name a single mental health condition are both worrying and surprising.
"This ignorance is probably one of the reasons why for too long now there has been a stigma attached to living with a mental health condition.
"It is important that young people feel they can come forward and speak out if they or someone they know is experiencing mental health difficulties."
An analysis of 2,000 confidential enquiries to Great Ormond Street's "Children First" website found that "psychosocial" problems were the most common topic.
The hospital has responded by setting up a new section on the site, complete with information and audio diaries recorded by teenagers with mental health problems.
Child mental health charity Young Minds said the website would be a "vital resource".
Its chief executive Sarah Brennan said: "Websites such as Great Ormond Street Hospital's help young people to understand more about mental health problems and ensure they have access to information when they need it.
"They provide information which young people don't feel comfortable getting elsewhere, often helping to identify what might be wrong and how to get help." Almost half of all schoolchildren cannot name a single mental health condition, a study of 500 young people has found. ... more -
Hollywood stars' take on Bristol Palin's teen pregnancy
"Since the time the news of 17-year-old Bristol Palin's pregnancy broke, it seems every star and starlet has a different opinion of John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, and whether her daughter will affect their campaign.
One of the top celebrities, Eva Mendes has also given her comments on the hot topic.
"It's never easy when you're dealing with something like teen pregnancy," Fox News quoted Eva Mendes, as saying at "The Women" premiere in Los Angeles.
"People need to look beyond that and give her [Sarah] the chance to have her fair say," she added." "Since the time the news of 17-year-old Bristol Palin's pregnancy broke, it seems every star and starlet has a different opi... more -
Father Rapes His Own 8 Day Old Baby
"Police say a Forrest City, Arkansas man has been charged with raping his 8 day-old baby."
This is one of the most disgusting things I've heard about in years.
The baby was raped during a visit from the father while other people were in the household
To add to it, he fractured the baby's skull, and the mother is only 15. "Police say a Forrest City, Arkansas man has been charged with raping his 8 day-old baby." ... more
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