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As a child (1960s) in a working class neighbourhood in the Liverpool area (UK), we lived in small terraced houses and lived very close to the neighbours. The ch
by keithpeter 13y ago
As a child (1960s) in a working class neighbourhood in the Liverpool area (UK), we lived in small terraced houses and lived very close to the neighbours. The children played in the road (hardly any cars) and in a park and on the beach (not the cleanest). During our long summer days (52.5 degrees North) we had the whole day down the beach. Basic safety: we stuck together and avoided strangers, but we spoke to known adults such as bargemen, ferrymen, train drivers, tug crew &c
Now I see children in nurseries behind substantial railings (safeguarding). They are protected from any contact with adults who are not in the immediate family. The family may or may not know the neighbours at all as modern housing seems to be designed to reduce contact - placement of doors &c. Playing on the street is impossible as your street is almost certainly a rat run for commuters.
I think I'm seeing real changes not just remembering my childhood with rose tinted glasses. I certainly see the effects in the 17/8 year olds I teach for one class. They have no idea about how adults live and communicate.
- petercooper 13y agoThe children played in the road (hardly any cars) and in a park Now I see children in nurseries behind substantial railings The family may or may not know the neighbours at all There's a separate issue which reveals itself in what you say but which wasn't specifically addressed. A big reason for less community cohesion nowadays is that no longer are large numbers of parents staying at home and interacting in the community while looking after their kids. Instead, the majority are going to work and putting their kids in nurseries instead. I live in Lincolnshire where many of the villages used to have thriving communities and shops, yet are now commuter villages and everyone has to drive to town to buy things instead. The reason? There aren't hundreds of (mostly) mothers milling around acting as the glue for the village communities. Instead, they're all out at work and the kids are in the nurseries in town. This isn't a particularly politically correct point to make, however, since obviously mothers should be free to work if they wish, but the movement of millions of mothers from daily community life into the workforce has had a serious impact on modern British society.
- tonyedgecombe 13y agoWe have gone from women not having the freedom to work to women not having the freedom to not work.
- notdrunkatall 13y agoOccasionally I come across a statement that succinctly explains some complex cultural phenomenon as well as or better than an entire book could. This is one of those statements.
- keithpeter 13y agoMaybe commuting is the problem as much as women working?