Desmond, are you referring to children in general, or specifically to autistic children?
I would agree that children in general appear to be less innocent than used to be the case. When I hear about primary school children being educated about certain types of 'selfie' photos that they should not share with other people, I find it incredibly sad and worrying. I mean, it's good that they are being educated about such things, but sad that society and technology have evolved in a way that makes it necessary.
If a child is determined enough, they will often find a way of accessing things or doing things that we want to protect them from, at least until they are old enough and mature enough to understand and take responsibility for their actions. I can only speak for myself, but when I was told for my own good that something was off-limits, it just made me even more determined. This was especially true when I was in my teens and wanted to be doing some of the things that grown-ups did because I considered those things to be a right of passage.
As an adult, I now look back at some of the things I got up to and really wish they hadn't happened, or at least not until I was older.
That sounds like a counsel of despair. There are schools that accommodate autistic pupils, both in the state sector and independent schools. I have just finished my ten-year term as a governor for an inner-city primary school which had a very inclusive ethos. I spent a day looking at ASC provision, visited every class and spoke to the kids, all of whom were very happy. There are schools that support autistic kids ... the problem is finding them.
Two of the teenagers in my road are autistic. One is awaiting the results of his GCSEs and the other is looking at university. They both seem to have turned out OK. Our local secondary schools are pretty good at supporting ASC. We also have several autistic kids attend our church occasionally. They have had a few issues getting access to additional support, but they seem reasonably happy with school in general.
I just don’t wish any offspring of mine to be warped with the delusions of the masses, but I do understand that not-putting children in the ring, will ultimately make them naive in a world that doesn’t suffering naivety. Being good is a hard-won thing so I’ll be prepared to teach my children through winning against conflicting-ideas, even though I would wish they would remain-innocent and continue to idolises me, Cursed is the ground for our sake..
