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This Government has no compassion for children and young people.
Their lack of care is contained in every decision it has made (or more often failed to make).
They have woefully failed to take children's feelings, needs and development into account at every turn.
(a thread)
Their lack of care is contained in every decision it has made (or more often failed to make).
They have woefully failed to take children's feelings, needs and development into account at every turn.
(a thread)
Shutting down schools the day after they return is just the latest example of their disregard.
Do they know how emotionally disruptive this is? How much stability matters to children, especially those who don't have much anyway, at a time when there is so little around?
Do they know how emotionally disruptive this is? How much stability matters to children, especially those who don't have much anyway, at a time when there is so little around?
A compassionate government would have placed the wellbeing of children and young people at the heart of their response to Covid.
They would have busted a gut to ensure every child had a laptop.
They would have ensured that the grading fiasco never happened.
They would have busted a gut to ensure every child had a laptop.
They would have ensured that the grading fiasco never happened.
They would have cancelled exams in good time, with proper alternatives and support for students and teachers.
(They still haven't cancelled them for this year, even though we all know that is inevitable).
(They still haven't cancelled them for this year, even though we all know that is inevitable).
They would have recognised that schools being shut was a massive problem from the very start, and made proper provision to ameliorate the risks it posed.
They would have invested properly in pastoral care, support and therapy for those young people who need it.
They would have invested properly in pastoral care, support and therapy for those young people who need it.
They would have created a caring, supportive, joined-up system of online learning including all those organisations who would have leapt to support it.
They would have recognised that school closure effects kids socially and developmentally, not just in terms of their grades.
They would have recognised that school closure effects kids socially and developmentally, not just in terms of their grades.
They would have ensured that every child was able to eat properly during the holidays without having to be shamed into doing it each time by a fucking footballer.
They would have ensured parents were paid when they had no other choice than to stay home with their kids.
They would have found sensible, appropriate and careful ways to communicate about the virus to young people.
They would have found sensible, appropriate and careful ways to communicate about the virus to young people.
They would have announced a massive uplift in funding for youth organisations, reversing ten years of unforgiveable decline and neglect. They would have re-opened the 700+ youth clubs that they have closed.
They would have drawn on the knowledge of educators, scientists and other experts in children's well-being.
They would have trusted teachers rather than demonising them.
They would have involved children in all their decisions.
They would have trusted teachers rather than demonising them.
They would have involved children in all their decisions.
They would have sacked the Secretary of State who so manifestly failed the first time round and appointed someone who actually knows about education, and cares about children.
They did none of this.
Huge damage has been done to a whole generation - the effects of which will only truly be felt in the years ahead.
The blame lies directly with the Government, who did not and do not care.
Huge damage has been done to a whole generation - the effects of which will only truly be felt in the years ahead.
The blame lies directly with the Government, who did not and do not care.
