In the past four weeks, an exploration has been made of some of the available Canadian and Nova Scotian evidence-based research into what works in terms of reducing youth crime and violence. Societal factors relating to systemic institutional racism have been acknowledged as being primary causative ingredients in laying the groundwork for such criminality within sections of the black and ethnic minority communities. This included poverty, education, helping services including health, employment and how the criminal justice system works against black and ethnic minority groups. It was also stressed that whilst such factors undoubtedly are part of the backdrop they most certainly are not the cause of such behaviour nor should they be used as a form of rationalisation for it.
As a poor, discarded and homeless child at three months of age, I was entered into the care of the State in Scotland and ended up at 18 months old in the only place I could call home throughout my childhood, Aberlour Orphanage. I remained in the care of the State (residential and foster care) until I was an adult. I mention this because the founder of this historic facility that housed at its peak some 500 children at any one time, Canon Jupp, had a profound philosophy which influenced the day-to-day care and supervision of the children and youth and somehow seeped into our identity formation:
‘Every child has the ability and indeed the right to grow up and flourish in society, notwithstanding the origins of their birth.’
Canon Charles Jupp (1875-1911) Founder and first warden of Aberlour Orphanage
I did not because of my birth origins and poverty resort to crime, violence, and drugs, as I was reared to believe that I was ‘somebody’, not ‘anybody’. The importance of having people around you who believe in you, care for you and want you to succeed cannot be emphasised enough. The rest is up to you. It is your choice: your life. Others can help but the onus is on you. No one is requiring you to be a saint or to never make mistakes. I have made a catalogue of them in my life journey to date and I am certainly not saintly.
I was struck by some of the comments in the article by Lezlie Lowe in the news feature of the December 8th edition of The Coast Halifax, featuring an extensive profile of one of the tragic recent shooting deaths of young men in Halifax, Tyler Richards. One could be forgiven after reading this article in concluding that there is a dearth of hope, imagination, creativity and a real chance of making major positive changes in the present state of affairs. This flies in the face of some of the evidence-based research findings of Schneider (2014) I cited in the past few weeks that demonstrate risk factors identified as linked to criminality can be managed and reduced.
A great deal is made of the unique setting of Nova Scotia, its history, communities, diversity, cultures, and challenges, and it is correct to emphasise context in working out possible solutions to issues arising in specific geographic locations. That however does not mean that we cannot learn from other parts of Canada and beyond where similar issues may have been addressed within their own uniqueness. We do not have a monopoly on being ‘special’, or ‘different’. We do not live in isolation nor should we think so.
The starting point as indicated in some of the evidence-based research examples of what works I have cited in earlier blogs revolves around the creation of a mindset in children and youth which reflects the following:
- Society does not owe you anything
- You need to know about the society you live in
- You have to work to prepare yourself to be a part of that society: there is no advantage in trying to be ‘outside’ it
- You have to offer something that society demands; skills, talent, attitude, education, competence, determination
- You have to be prepared for setbacks and be able to overcome them and try again
- You must be positive and hopeful in spite of the challenges
- In becoming increasingly knowledgeable and competent in your field of choice and gaining acknowledgement in it, there comes a gradual increase in independence and personal power that can allow you to influence the direction of your life and of those who you love.
Such a way of thinking and preparing children and youth appears hard, uncaring, cold and is not new. Our ancestors going back hundreds of years knew this all too well. In my case, I can directly trace my lineage on my father’s side back to the slave plantation, the Rose Hill Plantation, owned by the then-governor of South Carolina, William H. Gist. My relatives lie in unmarked slave graves and still to this day, my living relatives carry the surname of the plantation owner. On my mother’s side, I can trace my ancestors directly back to a similar period in England. Their struggles and major achievements I cannot claim to match but the debt I owe them demands I do my best in the present to be all that I can be within my limitations. I need to do more than list my pedigree. I need to outline what I have achieved and contributed to, through my own effort. Without that sort of commitment to change by our ancestors and the resultant success of that struggle in countless ways, our lives today would be even more onerous.
We are talking here about the survival of our young and their future life journeys to maturity and beyond. That is a collective responsibility and an individual one on the part of the child, youth and young adult. We do not help as older adults in making excuses for what is unacceptable and unproductive behaviour, leading nowhere positive. It has to be recognised for what it is and a concerted effort made to assist our children and youth in possessing the tools to play their role in the society of which they are an essential part. I know this takes place daily in our province but for a few, it does not and the disproportionate impact results in misery, loss of opportunity, grief, and as we have witnessed recently death. None of us are immune from this. We are all affected and concerned and want to contribute. All are welcome. No one is excluded. Private spaces at times for intimate family discussions are necessary however and need to be respected.
Next week I will conclude the series on youth crime and criminality with a further look at what works with examples from the UK which I am personally familiar with.