Is there a solution to knife crime? I have some ideas...
The Independent|September 30, 2023
"The first emotion I felt when I read about the stabbing of a schoolgirl in Croydon was sadness – mixed with disappointment and anger. We don’t yet know what happened in this case. But we do know that some young people turn to a life of crime because they think it is a way to make money quickly and will get them out of poverty. It’s desperately sad and frustrating that some of these same young men think they have to carry a knife around with them.
FLOYD STEADMAN
Is there a solution to knife crime? I have some ideas...

A lot of young people are living in incredibly challenging situations. Some are in gangs, and those gangs become their family. They give them support and the promise of an exciting life. They see that as glamorous.

As for what we do about it: these same young people are going to be spending most of their time in school, if they’re going – and that’s where the opportunity lies. But it’s difficult, because in my opinion, the current education system is broken. We’re doing 20th-century exams in 21st-century schools.

We’re not keeping kids interested or helping them feel inspired. We focus so much on academia, when there are plenty of options: you can become a very successful plumber or electrician. But instead, we’re focusing more and more on exams and testing.

A lot of kids aren’t interested in academic lessons or A-levels – so why are we still doing these outdated tests? Why are we still doing GCSEs? We should be including gaming and coding in the curriculum. We should be focusing on sports.

This story is from the September 30, 2023 edition of The Independent.

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This story is from the September 30, 2023 edition of The Independent.

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