UK is accused of failing children (US next to last)

[Porcupine]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6359363.stm

The UK has been accused of failing its children, as it comes bottom of a league table for child well-being across 21 industrialised countries.

The Unicef report looked at 40 indicators including poverty, peer and family relationships, and health.

One of the report's authors told the BBC that under-investment and a "dog eat dog" attitude in society were to blame for Britain's poor performance.

In essence imbalances of income and promotion of competition result in conditions for children that don't foster health or happiness. The US shares the bottom with the UK coming in 20th out of 21 nations studied.

[Kutjara]

1. Not surprising.

The UK and US have always been close, but they got even more ideologically aligned during the Thatcher era (she loved her some Ronnie Reagan). Tony Blair is a massive fan of all things American and has made little secret of the fact that he wants to see Britain become an "enterprise society" like the USA. As a result, both countries suffer from an overdeveloped work-ethic, a blind belief that ruthless competition is good, and a focus on individual material wellbeing at the expense of cultural and emotional fulfillment.

In societies where the adults are all in a headlong race for the brass ring, it's no surprise that children get left behind.

[Vidar]

3. Well said.

[NJCher]

2. there's a related article

Linked off that page about the bad behavior of teenagers. So--it appears that social skills are a big part of it. The kids in other countries are getting those skills from family but not in the UK and the US.



Cher

[NJCher]

4. we notice it in social skills

As a communications teacher, we see the latest research on the characteristics of the students coming of age in our classrooms. One of the most remarkable characteristics is their poor interpersonal communication skills. We guess that it probably has to do with too much time spent playing video games, watching television, and surfing the 'Net. Too little time spent interacting in the family.



Cher

[adigal]

20. I love it when a kid says to me, "I am so over it"

when they have done something wrong.

Guess what?? I am the adult in the room, and I am in charge, and I am so NOT over it!!

Who is raising these kids? Are they being raised in barns??

[NJCher]

21. and isn't that the perfect example of poor social skills?

One way communication: he's (she's) over it but there's no consideration to the other end of the communication transaction.



Cher

[panzerfaust]

5. Not Accused. Found Guilty.

Just Like US

Bottom 5 rich countries: Portugal, Austria, Hungary, the US and the UK.

Top 5: Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Spain

Odd that only one of the top five is a "Christian" country, the rest all being secular democracies. Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child.

More exactly "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him." Proverbs 13:24

God Bless Amerika, and its beloved Sons.

[gorbal]

9. The top five are the ones often refered to as "Socialist"

Dang those awful socialists...notice how the right wing constantly paints anything good as "socialist"...are they trying to promote socialism? I almost sent out for a card from the Democratic Socialists today.

(I figured I'd wait and see if the definition of socialism changed again in the next couple of years before I went that far.:))

[Stockholm]

14. Pinko bastards

:rofl:

[ShortnFiery]

6. Instead of focusing on "Child Wellbeing" the USA M$M is focusing

on the contents within the late Anna Nicole's refrigerator. Yes, they do get points for feigning concern and weeping alligator tears for her baby - but that's gratuitous to keep us peasants entertained and weirdly concerned about ONE CHILD vice the millions living below the poverty line. :puke:

At least the UK is addressing the problem. :shrug:

[Judi Lynn]

7. British and US children, among worst off in industrialized world

UNICEF REPORT
British and US children, among worst off in industrialized world
02/14/2007

British and American children are among the worst off in the industrialized world, according to a U.N. report Wednesday that ranked the two countries at the bottom of 21 nations for children's well-being.

Britain came in last place, only slightly behind the U.S., in the UNICEF report, which measured well-being by six categories: material wealth, health and safety, education, peer and family relationships, behaviors and risks, and young people's own subjective sense of well-being.

"The United Kingdom and the United States find themselves in the bottom third of the rankings for five of the six dimensions reviewed," UNICEF said in a summary to the report, titled 'Child Well-Being in Rich Countries.'

The U.S. was last among the 21 nations for health and safety, while Britain was last in two categories _ family and peer relationships and behaviors and risks. The Netherlands topped the list, placing in the top 10 for all six categories studied.
(snip/...)

http://www.eitb24.com/new/en/B24_34808/life/UNICEF-REPORT-British-and-US-children-among-worst-off-in/

[indepat]

15. When your priorities are on killing, maiming and destroying and producing the toys

to accomplish same, few crumbs are left for children and society itself for that matter. But those malnourished children living in poverty and without access to adequate medical care can take comfort and sleep soundly at night knowing we are fighting 'em over there so we won't have to fight 'em over here. :(

Edited: context

[keepCAblue]

8. Shame on Yahoo news & Reuters

While this USA Today headline of the UNICEF report blasted UK & US equally

UNICEF report ranks well-being of British, U.S. kids last in industrialized world

THIS is the headline Yahoo front page ran with, courtesy of Reuters:

U.N. report says Britain worst place for children

The Reuters/Yahoo article's content, which completely glossed over the fact that the USA ranked second to last, is equally shameful.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Reuters is a British organisation

so it's not surprising they highlight the UK being last, while USA Today looks more at the US placing.

[keepCAblue]

13. And Yahoo? n/t

[Ghost Dog]

11. Today's Guardian:

Britain: worst place to be a child
UK children are poorer and exposed to more risks from alcohol, drugs and unsafe sex than those in any other wealthy country, UN says.
Comment: Neal Lawson
Reaction to the report
More society news

ed. Agree with #1 above.

[w4rma]

12. Good job, Bush and Blair. Good job GOP and "New" Labor (the British DLC/"New" Dems).

:sarcasm:

[NobleCynic]

16. To be completely fair, such studies are usually run with the result pre-determined

Or if not pre-determined, with a desired result in mind. What I mean by this is that the proper way to read it is not as the US and UK being last, but as being 20th and 21st.

In the methodology section they admit that it was not a newly commissioned data set, meaning that they knew exactly what they were dealing with before they designed the report. Before they decided which countries to include. Before they decided which non-quantifiable attributes to include in the study. My inference is that this means if they included a few other countries, they would likely displace the US and UK from their status at the bottom of the list. Or if a few non-quantifiable attributes were included or removed, the list order may change. I would be so bold as to state that seeing the US and UK at the bottom of the list was likely a desired end of whomever designed the report.

The motivation is unclear, it could be because the statistician wished to embarass the US and UK, or because he wished to drive either the US and UK into action to remedy the situation. It could be either benevolent or malevolent. But always take your stats with a grain of salt.

Mind you, I'm not going to defend the fact the the US rates at the bottom of the list. Heavens no. Our health care system is horrendous, our smoking rates are terrible, and our public education system is no longer among the best in the world. We have serious problems, and we need to address them.

But to say we are dead last is exaggeration to say the least. And to say we are dead last among industrialized nations included in the report is not the same as saying we are dead last among industrialized nations.

[Amonester]

17. Education key to economic survival (not LBN but related, IMHO)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/education/4031805.stm

Education key to economic survival
By Sean Coughlan
BBC News education reporter in Helsinki

Finland has often been hailed as having one of the most successful education systems. But what drives its high level of achievement? And what makes it different?

...

"In Finland, we believe we have to invest in education, in research and in higher education.

...

The emphasis on investing in education has created a system where as much as possible is delivered to students without charge.

School meals are free to all pupils, there are no university fees and students can stay in the upper secondary stage (loosely equivalent to sixth forms) for up to four years.

...

EDUCATION IN FINLAND
Pre-school begins at age 6
Comprehensive school: age 7 to 16
Upper secondary school or vocational school: 16 to 19
Pupils in Finland, age 7 to 14, spend fewest hours in school
Higher education places for 65% young people
Second-highest public spending on higher education
Source: OECD

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/education/4031805.stm

[leftyladyfrommo]

18. It's hard to take care of the poor children when all our money is

going to Iraq. And what is even worse is that it isn't doing any good over there, either. We are simply pouring billions down into the desert sand.

The article I read pointed to our divide between the wealthy and the non-wealthy. We have so many people living beneath the poverty level here.

Hello, Mr. Bush. Your rich friends are doing really, really well. The rest of us aren't. Not that you give a damn.

[intaglio]

19. Makes me ashamed of my country eom

[Hawkowl]

22. Iraq War Budget

If we took the estimated $1 TRILLION it will cost us in Iraq and used it for domestic priorities, the US would be number one on that list. We could also elimate the budget deficit and pay for health care and pay for higher education. That is how much money we are wasting. That is why this administration is a gang of criminals.

[raebrek]

23. $1 Trillion

I happen to feel that no matter where the money is spent the government will find a way to fiddle fuck it away and mis-spend it. The senate, the congress, the white house, all the same to me. I think that they spend money to make themselves look good enough to get reelected while dropping enough money in the right places to grease the wheels of progress. Theirs. But then that is just my opinion on politics in a nut shell. Speaking of nutshels.....but I digress.

Raebrek