Saturday's Letters: Why won't adults tell children how to behave?

Recently, we enjoyed a memorable evening at a local village festival where the performers thrilled us with their talent, professionalism and enthusiasm.

There was, however, an aspect of the evening which was disappointing and, if truth be told, rather sad.

During the whole evening, starting at 7.30pm and finishing about 10.30pm, children were screaming and shouting and generally making a noise outside the marquee and behind where the stage was.

Now put into context, the festival was a three-day event where activities involving children and families were enjoyed, so children were around, as part of the scene, but where I draw the line is that when the concert started and "adult" time began, the children were allowed to interfere and annoy.

Despite the performers, the audience and, I presume, the organisers' awareness of the problem, nothing was done. Why?

I have several theories, but I think that, fundamentally, we, the British public, are afraid of our youngsters. No one wants confrontation, so we have allowed our children to dictate the terms of what, for them, is and isn't acceptable behaviour

And I think that is very sad. Sad for us adults, who put up with it, but sad also for the children themselves because they grow up without learning the parameters of behaviour, or respect for people and situations which would help them to become more rounded individuals.

We, the adult world, have become lazy, resigned, disinterested, intimidated, or whatever, but I think we are letting these children down if we don't have the "bottle" to be adults and correct their behaviour when necessary.

It doesn't have to be unpleasant. A polite explanation of the problem might be enough; it would give them the chance to respond positively. If not, just tell them.

Adults telling children what to do. Whatever next?

From: Roger Crossley, Silkstone, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Commitment of Dean who served Ripon

From: The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer, Weetwood Avenue, Leeds.

I WISH to express my sadness and that, I am sure, of many others in the city of Ripon and beyond, at the highly negative article about the former Dean of Ripon, John Methuen, (Yorkshire Post, July 22) published shortly after his sad death at the age of just 62.

It is a great pity that in focusing almost entirely on the difficult circumstances surrounding John's departure from Ripon, this narrow and partial account has failed entirely to reflect the many positive aspects of John Methuen's time in Ripon and the tributes to him since his death. I am glad to say that many will remember John Methuen for his enthusiasm and commitment in promoting and developing the ministry of the Cathedral, his emphasis on justice and peace, and his generosity and welcome in allowing the Cathedral to be a place used by many groups

and causes.

He used his creative gifts in producing plays there, and drew many people into projects and initiatives which put the Cathedral on the map. Dean John's hospitality was reflected in the Cathedral becoming a place where the wider community could come to express both joy and sorrow – prayers, for example, during the foot and mouth crisis, invitations to all sides to come to pray and reflect after 9/11, and opening up the Cathedral for concerts and celebrations. Many in the city of Ripon and diocese as a whole, myself included, will mourn his passing.

From: Hugh Millington, Burns Way, Clifford, Wetherby.

READERS of the Yorkshire Post deserve more in terms of a resum of the late Dean John Methuen's legacy to Ripon than the article: "Dean at centre of unholy row dies aged 62", with its mention of wine, women and evensong (Yorkshire Post, July 2010).

The bigger picture of the late Dean John's legacy, which is very much alive in Ripon today, is of course somewhat different.

The launch of the Girls' Choir, enhancing St Wilfrid's Festival,

setting up Ripon Cathedral Development Campaign which very quickly resulted in a new roof on the cathedral and continues to this day as

the vital funding mechanism of the cathedral, the Golden Wedding Anniversary services, Shrove Tuesday pancake races, the initiating of the plans for the new cathedral interior lighting, completed last year, not to mention his pastoral and outreach work in the diocese. These and more were achieved inside 10 years, during which time Dean John was seriously ill with intermittently, cancer, hepatitis and diabetes.

Inevitably, the Consistory Court Trial that never was will form a part of Dean John's legacy, however, of the 15,000 souls who inhabit Ripon, some 14,900 will have happy and enduring memories of his work, and it is the bigger picture that is sometimes overlooked.

Recession may worsen

From: Richard Smyth, Copmanthorpe Lane, Bishopthorpe, York.

THE national debt is the amount our Government owes to buyers of a sort of IOU called gilts. It is about 60 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). The national debt as a percentage of GDP fell to 29 per cent in 2002 and then went up to 37 per cent by 2007. This was due to the Labour government implementing its pledges to increase spending mainly on health and education.

Liberal Democrats at the time agreed that this public-sector spending was vital.

The national debt since 2008 has increased sharply, in part due to a lower tax revenue and more unemployment due to the recession, which was caused by the high risks taken by speculators. The main part was due to the bailout of the major banks. Even the Conservatives agreed that if they had been in power then, they would have nationalised the failing banks.

One of the under-reported problems with the Liberal Conservative coalition Budget to decrease the national debt is its inflationary impact, especially the VAT increase to 20 per cent, which will directly increase prices by 1bn a month.

An interest rate rise to control this inflation, added to the proposed decrease in public spending over the next few years, would kill off any recovery and plunge us all in to what is called the mild sounding double dip but will actually be the worst of all recessions.

It's only football

From: John Street, Ilkeston Road, Heanor, Derbyshire.

I HAVE just read Ken Stayes's letter (Yorkshire Post, July 15), in which he seems to be advocating a tourist boycott of Holland in the light of their aggressive play in the World Cup Final.

What planet does he inhabit? By the same token, would he advocate a boycott on visiting England in view of our national team's failure to play in the competition? Or maybe call for some form of divine retribution against Argentina in the light of the infamous Hand of God allegation? Words almost fail.

Yes, they played the game in the wrong spirit, and made no friends, but for heaven's sake, Mr Stayes, it was a game of football, not an act of international contrition. Holland has long been a close ally and friendly nation to us. For goodness sake, keep the "beautiful game" in context.

We could pay a high price for scrapping the census

From: Peter Kelly, Roberttown, Liversedge, West Yorkshire.

THE last time the National Census was not carried was in 1941 because of the Second World War, as Jayne Dowle rightly pointed out (Yorkshire Post, July 19).

As a result of the lack of information, Family Allowance was introduced in 1946, at a weekly rate of five shillings, but only for the second and subsequent children, to encourage people to have large families in order to build up the population, hence the post-war baby boom. This was later replaced by child benefit and is now payable for all children and is not means tested, so everyone is entitled, regardless of income.

As the population is now more than 60 million, is it not time to gradually fade out child benefit and put the 10bn savings to better effect? After all, it should be remembered that those on means tested benefits do not gain from child benefit as it is taken into account when assessing their overall needs. Conversely, if the rumours are true, wealthy parents will no longer be able to use the money for holidays, car deposits or other "luxuries".

My suggestion would be for the Government to abolish the benefit for all children born on or after 12 months after the new bill became law, stop payments when a child is 16, not 19 as is the case now if a child continues in full-time education and freeze the present rates.

I agree entirely with Jayne that the census should not be scrapped, otherwise our children may end up paying an even higher price than we have paid over the past 60 years.

Ragwort duty for landowners

From: EW Nicklas, Northgate, Cottingham, East Yorkshire.

YOU published an article regarding ragwort (Yorkshire Post, July 13). It would seem that since then, the problem has worsened and has now reached epidemic proportions. The verges and wasteland on the

Beverley-York road is evidence of this.

In my youth, a landowner would have been in disgrace if he had allowed this obnoxious weed to seed. Each plant can produce up to 150,000 seeds; on well-managed estates, in parts of North Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, it is not to be seen.

No new laws need to be passed; all that is needed is for owners of the land to be notified.

Could people on community service not help in this instance?

Union tries to bankrupt us

From: Trev Bromby, Sculcoates Lane, Hull.

I RECENTLY wrote about power-crazed union leaders being a threat to the national security of this country (Yorkshire Post, July 7).

It seems now Unite not only wants to break BA, but have spread their poisonous tentacles in a bid to destroy the whole of the British aviation industry.

Just when you thought this loony-led rabble couldn't get any worse, they prove us wrong by calling for nationwide strikes and industrial action in the food industry.

Gordon Brown put this country into bankruptcy through 13 years of incompetence. Unite further want to bankrupt the country with malice and forethought.

Jet trail goes further inland

From: MG Bisby, Kildale, Whitby, North Yorkshire.

YOUR article on the history of the Whitby jet industry (Yorkshire Post, July 7) was most interesting and factually correct, apart from stating that jet deposits were only to be found on a short stretch of the

Whitby coastline.

It is true that some of the best finds have been along this coastline but deposits of jet are to be found as far inland as Borrowby (approximately), near Thirsk.

The mining for jet was very extensive inland at such locations as the Cleveland hills near Ingleby and Carlton and also in the Swainby area as well as in the Rosedale Valley – to mention just a few of the inland

mining locations.