This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/5354998.stm
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| Archbishop warns of child crisis | Archbishop warns of child crisis |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Children today face too much "pressure to achieve" and have to take too many tests at school, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has said. | Children today face too much "pressure to achieve" and have to take too many tests at school, Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has said. |
| Speaking as the Children's Society began an inquiry into the state of childhood, he said a ban on adverts aimed at children should be considered. | Speaking as the Children's Society began an inquiry into the state of childhood, he said a ban on adverts aimed at children should be considered. |
| He pointed to statistics suggesting one in 10 children had been shown to have measurable mental health problems. | He pointed to statistics suggesting one in 10 children had been shown to have measurable mental health problems. |
| But the Department for Education said children "coped well" with tests. | But the Department for Education said children "coped well" with tests. |
| Returning to work | Returning to work |
| The archbishop said parenting skills should also be promoted, so parents could share their problems rather being dictated to by experts. | The archbishop said parenting skills should also be promoted, so parents could share their problems rather being dictated to by experts. |
| He raised concerns about a number of factors which he felt added pressure to children's lives - including commercial and educational pressures. | |
| "The whole thing about pester power for children, which of course advertising colludes with so often, needs challenging." | |
| He felt there was too much emphasis on mothers returning to work. | He felt there was too much emphasis on mothers returning to work. |
| Dr Williams said while child protection laws were needed to safeguard children, they produced a "bureaucratic" maze that discouraged volunteers. | Dr Williams said while child protection laws were needed to safeguard children, they produced a "bureaucratic" maze that discouraged volunteers. |
| He described the investigation of Cherie Blair after she gave a teenager a playful slap as "completely ridiculous." | He described the investigation of Cherie Blair after she gave a teenager a playful slap as "completely ridiculous." |
| On the matter of tests, a Department for Education spokeswoman said: "National tests are an integral part of effective teaching and learning, helping to identify pupils that need extra support as well as those with talents that need to be stretched. | On the matter of tests, a Department for Education spokeswoman said: "National tests are an integral part of effective teaching and learning, helping to identify pupils that need extra support as well as those with talents that need to be stretched. |
| "Teachers are well accustomed to ensuring that their children know what to expect and can cope well with the tests." | "Teachers are well accustomed to ensuring that their children know what to expect and can cope well with the tests." |
| A Children's Society survey found that 93% of 14 to 16-year-olds questioned said their carers or parents cared about them, but only 63% thought their parents understood them. | A Children's Society survey found that 93% of 14 to 16-year-olds questioned said their carers or parents cared about them, but only 63% thought their parents understood them. |
| The 11,000 questionnaire responses also found that 24% said they had "sometimes" been bullied or "picked on" because of who they were. | The 11,000 questionnaire responses also found that 24% said they had "sometimes" been bullied or "picked on" because of who they were. |
| The charity is concerned about rising levels of child depression in the UK. | The charity is concerned about rising levels of child depression in the UK. |
| It said the inquiry would be the UK's first independent national investigation into all aspects of childhood, amid growing concern over the health and quality of children's lives. | It said the inquiry would be the UK's first independent national investigation into all aspects of childhood, amid growing concern over the health and quality of children's lives. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Children are under more pressure now than they might have been twenty years ago Laura, Yorkshire Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Children are under more pressure now than they might have been twenty years ago Laura, Yorkshire Send us your comments |
| Bob Reitmeier, the chief executive of the charity, said: "Our starting point is essentially that we think childhood and the way in which children experience childhood has changed dramatically even since we were children. | Bob Reitmeier, the chief executive of the charity, said: "Our starting point is essentially that we think childhood and the way in which children experience childhood has changed dramatically even since we were children. |
| "It is time to stop, reflect and say, with all these changes taking place, is it time to review how we look at childhood and its status?" | "It is time to stop, reflect and say, with all these changes taking place, is it time to review how we look at childhood and its status?" |
| However, fertility expert Lord Winston said: "It's all very well to say that childhood depression in greatly on the increase but there's no data to support that, which why an initiative like this would be useful. | However, fertility expert Lord Winston said: "It's all very well to say that childhood depression in greatly on the increase but there's no data to support that, which why an initiative like this would be useful. |
| "But it is important to point out this is the first such study of its kind. | "But it is important to point out this is the first such study of its kind. |
| "The very fact that previous studies have not been done means that we don't have anything to compare the present time with." | "The very fact that previous studies have not been done means that we don't have anything to compare the present time with." |
| Mr Reitemeier said the inquiry would take about a year and a half, and would involve bringing together a panel of experts to look at particular themes in childhood. | Mr Reitemeier said the inquiry would take about a year and a half, and would involve bringing together a panel of experts to look at particular themes in childhood. |
| People will be encouraged to contribute their views on what makes for a good childhood in today's society. | People will be encouraged to contribute their views on what makes for a good childhood in today's society. |
| The archbishop's comments come a week after dozens of teachers joined children's authors and psychologists to write a letter to the Daily Telegraph, in which they highlighted "the escalating incidence of childhood depression". | The archbishop's comments come a week after dozens of teachers joined children's authors and psychologists to write a letter to the Daily Telegraph, in which they highlighted "the escalating incidence of childhood depression". |