Hi
Usually my week has one highlight and that's singing on Saturday mornings. (No - I don't have a great voice - but I like trying and we always have a laugh.)
This week had two highlights.
I work with 15/16 year olds (only 8 or 9 at a time) in 'alternative education' because their school doesn't want them on their premises any more. As well as issue based stuff we are meant to deliver GCSE English and Maths, which as we're youth workers, not teachers, is a big ask! (Also I verge on being discalcular) The kids are resistant to both subjects so some of the year has been 'uphill'.
A funding source we used to use a lot dried up so we have had very few off site visits this year, which hasn't helped. Well last week we hit lucky. A pot of money from somewhere needed young people to spend it on, so last week our kids got the chance to do a Fire Marshal's Course and also spend a day with the army. They are also going to get a days work experience each.
The Fire Marshal's Course was OK but involved a lot of listening and I was proud that the young people managed to sit through it as well as they did.
The highlight was the day with the army. They were given 'combats' and taken to a local field with quite a large number of other young people that they didn't know at all. They were split into 4 teams and given various tasks. Some were crawling under a camouflage net, first with football and then with helmet, flack jacket and rucksack; some were playing 'towers of Hanoi' with BIG tyres. There was a game involving an ever changing human obstacle course, someone with a blindfold and someone giving instructions through a walkie talkie. There was another problem solving game too.
In the afternoon they were doing PE, drill and hand grenade throwing. (Not live!!)
I got pretty tired just being outside all day but I can't imagine how the kids will have felt the following day. Their muscles must have been screaming! If they didn't do what they were told they either had to run round the whole field on their own or go and do anything between 10 and fifty press-ups. It was all very military - and designed as a pre-joining up course.
Out of eight young men - only one said that we'd taken him to be tortured. He'd joined in with everything but knows that the army isn't for him. (He'll be a wheeler dealer - if he survives having a scooter) The other 7 were totally enthusiastic about it. All are now considering joining up. (Not a good idea for all of them) Two had already said they wanted to, which is why the day had been arranged. It was just nice to see them thoroughly enjoying themselves and being enthusiastic about something. I got some lovely photos, which I'd love to show you but its probably not ethical - so I'd better not.
One diminutive 16 year old said "Hey - if the army's like this, I think it'd be better than College. I suppose I'd have to give up smoking dope though........" It may be the only thing that wopuld get him off it!
Well done if you've managed to read this far! I just had to tell someone!
I even slept well that night.
Take care - Scottie
