Knife Crime and Education

13th July 25

Lots of discussion today on TV and in press about the recent sad loss of life of a young man aged 17 through the actions of another young man who had decided to carry a knife. A very, very sad and life changing event of the boy’s family and those all around him. The father of the boy has been campaigning against knife crime and going, by invitation, into schools and other places to  tell his story and to advocate against knife carrying.  This response is entirely understandable and I’m sure that I would feel exactly the same way. 

The father went onto advocate that all schools should be required to build time into their curriculum to educate children about knife crime and its devastating results.  That form of state led process may, or may not, be part of any solution to reduce the incidence of such outcomes.  But, as I’ve noticed with many other recent debates about social issues affecting other heath, or safety concerns, that affect young people, there is little mention of the part that all parents (and adults generally) should play in such processes.

I would argue that their role is both central and key to addressing many of the issues that face youngsters growing up in today’s world, as it always has been in the past.  Education should start with adults and parents and ensure that they know what the problems are and how they are central to the solutions.  Instilling in young people an understanding and awareness of acceptable and caring behaviours and how they will benefit their lives is a central role for us all. We should not scapegoat ourselves and shift our key responsibilities onto our schools.  They should be supporting us in our parental role in life.