If as a society we really want to make a difference by improving society and reducing the burden on the tax payer we need to invest in the young of our society to ensure that they have the best start in life. In order to do this we have to move expenditure from the latter stage of education to the very beginning of a childs life. We must recognise that in order to achieve a more stable society we need to target the most vulnerable to ensure that they as children turn out better than that of their parents.
We need to transform the way we teach children with life skills and the reality of life being taught in school and young people who are at risk of failing being identified and given the support and intervention that will give them the tools to contribute positively to society by paying rather than taking out.
In order to do all of this we have to change our mindset. By investing early we will make improvements but it must be recognised that it will be years for this investment to be paid back to society.
Ronan Browne
I agree wholeheartedly Ronan. Quite a while ago I worked with a young woman who had recently had a child. The baby was in every way well fed, clean and dressed properly but somehow listless. Her eyes didn't look at you, her body was quite limp and she didn't smile even when you eventually managed to attract her attention with baby talk. She hadn't quite reached the stages of development you would have expected in a baby that age. I didn't know what was wrong until it was explained to me that the problem wasn't a health issue, it was because her mother did not stimulate her, didn't touch, smile or talk to her. I knew lack of stimulation effected older kids but I was so astounded that it could have such a profound effect on a child's development at such an early age. It taught me a lesson I have never forgotten.
ReplyDelete