National Service !
I was just reading an old colleagues obituary in the local paper. He had completed 30 years service in the local district council and before that had led a very full life.
The paper mentioned that before all that he had completed his National sevice in the RAF between 1948 and 1950, and that set my mind thinking.
Some of us can be very critical at times towards some of our young people who lack committment and direction and laze around jobless all day etc etc.
So how about creating a new form of "national service" where all young people who are not in Further eduacation or a recognised trade of proffession are required to join this new body in order to perform two years of National service, engaged in performing
a variety of tasks and trades all directed at performing a public service. Spare time to be engaged in sport or further improving their standard of education.
Right! Now putting on battle bowler and Flack jacket and decending into bunker!
TF
Comments
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I commend your thinking TF and I would like you to consider the following.
National military service was reasonably successful because recruits were esconsed in secure military establishments and subject to military discipline.
The national civilian service you suggest, would obviously have to be compulsory with some kind of strong sanction for failing to carry out their duties. . This would immediately fall foul of the "Bleeding Heart" brigade and the "tricky dicky" compensation lawyers.
Lets face it, youngsters with a social conscience who would enjoy the experience will not be available, as they would have already worked hard at school and found employment.
Those others, for whom the experience would really be beneficial, in all honesty, would possibly make the whole experiment unworkable and non cost effective.
While I applaud your ideas, They are excellent. I think it's a non starter -- Sorry !!!
K
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Having experienced service life, I enlisted as a regular, right at the end of National Service (1959). Not all National servicemen were totally committed or wholly enthusiastic with their lot, however service discipline kept most on the straight and narrow
and lets face it that discipline did not include or condone violence. A much more effective way of controlling individuals into accepting discipline was to punish the whole platoon, that way his fellow squaddies brought all but the most stupid into accepting
authority, either by sending them to Coventry, or beating seven bells out of them.
On the whole I think it could work, at least give it a try.0 -
Kennine, I do understand and accept your viewpoint, but I have been lucky enough to assist the Prices trust on occasions, finding Team Leaders for them. this enabled me to see the huge benifits some young people obtained from sympathetic leadership.
I appreciate what i was suggesting is on a different scale and as a result much more difficult. However i am coming to the conclusion that soon, doing nothing will not be an option!
TF
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