Comments on: Author visits and the (self) importance of being offended http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/ Website of MG Harris, author of 'The Joshua Files' children's adventure book series Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:35:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Lukas http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1884 Lukas Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:17:27 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1884 Hey, I don't know a whole lot about CRB checks and what not, but i think, for any child sexual abuse, in any form is a horrible experience, so i think it is only fair that visitors should be checked aswell. But they also have every right to be offeneded, if they are trusted to come visit now why do they have to be checked all of a sudden, it's seems like it's all just being overly precautious, and is a bit unreasonable, perhaps just checking past records would be enough to prove that the visitor is okay? Also, shouldn't a teacher always be present in a room with the children..If they leave them alone then they must trust them with whoever they are with if you get me. Anyway s'all i have to say! Hey,
I don’t know a whole lot about CRB checks and what not, but i think, for any child sexual abuse, in any form is a horrible experience, so i think it is only fair that visitors should be checked aswell. But they also have every right to be offeneded, if they are trusted to come visit now why do they have to be checked all of a sudden, it’s seems like it’s all just being overly precautious, and is a bit unreasonable, perhaps just checking past records would be enough to prove that the visitor is okay? Also, shouldn’t a teacher always be present in a room with the children..If they leave them alone then they must trust them with whoever they are with if you get me.
Anyway s’all i have to say!

]]> By: Marjorie http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1881 Marjorie Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:20:09 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1881 I agree that authors shuld not be treated any differently than other adults going in to schools. I can also empathise with the irriatation at a small number of well-known authors being presented in the press (or even presenting themselves) as speaking for all authors. However, I'm not sure I agree with all of the rest of your post. (I also disagree with what you say about age-banding but that's a different post) In particular, you say: "Simply put it says that we acknowledge that we live in a world where kids are abused and we have to do everything in our power to prevent such abuse." I think it really says something closer to 'We are aware that there is concern about potential for abuse and we want to be seen to be doing something'. I don't think that seeking to protect childnre from potential abusers is a bad thing: I think it is a good thing which 99.9% of the population would agree with. I also think that this partcular proposal will do little if anything to protect children. * I think it has the risk of giving schools/parents over confidence as it will be percived as someone having been checked and guaranteed to be a safe personto be with children, when in fact all it proves is that the person as not previously been convicted of any relevant offence. * I think it runs the risk of a child not being believed, if he or she makes a disclosure about the benviour of an adult who has been chacked and has a clear check * I think it ignores the fact that the greatest risk of abuse posed to children is within their own family. I think that childnre would be much better protected if work were done, routinely, with *all* children at intevals throughout their childhood to better educate them about what is and is not acceptable behaviour and about strategies they can use to protect themselves. This type of 'keepsafe' work is done with childnre known to be in potentially risky situations and involves making sure that the child knows that some secrets are bad and should not be kept, that some kinds of touching are bad and that it is OK to say no to adults. This would genuinley be doing all we can to protect children, but I very much doubt it will feature on any government plans becasue it would involve an investment of time and moneym, and would no doubt run into opposition from the same parents who do not want their childner to receive sex education. Instead we will be left with schemes such as the ISA which appears to provide little more than window dressing and a false sense that something is being done to protect children. I also think that we need to keep a sense of balance. Abuse of children (or anyone else) is appalling. But so is the assumption that *every* adult is a potential abuser. I am also concerned that shcemes of this kind represent yet another nibbling away at our basis Human Rights (Right to Private and Family Life, Right not to be convicted without a fair trial etc) I agree that authors shuld not be treated any differently than other adults going in to schools. I can also empathise with the irriatation at a small number of well-known authors being presented in the press (or even presenting themselves) as speaking for all authors.

However, I’m not sure I agree with all of the rest of your post. (I also disagree with what you say about age-banding but that’s a different post)

In particular, you say:
“Simply put it says that we acknowledge that we live in a world where kids are abused and we have to do everything in our power to prevent such abuse.”

I think it really says something closer to ‘We are aware that there is concern about potential for abuse and we want to be seen to be doing something’.

I don’t think that seeking to protect childnre from potential abusers is a bad thing: I think it is a good thing which 99.9% of the population would agree with. I also think that this partcular proposal will do little if anything to protect children.
* I think it has the risk of giving schools/parents over confidence as it will be percived as someone having been checked and guaranteed to be a safe personto be with children, when in fact all it proves is that the person as not previously been convicted of any relevant offence.
* I think it runs the risk of a child not being believed, if he or she makes a disclosure about the benviour of an adult who has been chacked and has a clear check
* I think it ignores the fact that the greatest risk of abuse posed to children is within their own family.

I think that childnre would be much better protected if work were done, routinely, with *all* children at intevals throughout their childhood to better educate them about what is and is not acceptable behaviour and about strategies they can use to protect themselves. This type of ‘keepsafe’ work is done with childnre known to be in potentially risky situations and involves making sure that the child knows that some secrets are bad and should not be kept, that some kinds of touching are bad and that it is OK to say no to adults. This would genuinley be doing all we can to protect children, but I very much doubt it will feature on any government plans becasue it would involve an investment of time and moneym, and would no doubt run into opposition from the same parents who do not want their childner to receive sex education.

Instead we will be left with schemes such as the ISA which appears to provide little more than window dressing and a false sense that something is being done to protect children.

I also think that we need to keep a sense of balance. Abuse of children (or anyone else) is appalling. But so is the assumption that *every* adult is a potential abuser. I am also concerned that shcemes of this kind represent yet another nibbling away at our basis Human Rights (Right to Private and Family Life, Right not to be convicted without a fair trial etc)

]]> By: Steve http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1879 Steve Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:04:58 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1879 I'm living on an extremely tight budget and can't easily afford to get registered. I’m living on an extremely tight budget and can’t easily afford to get registered.

]]> By: MG http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1878 MG Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:58:07 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1878 It sucks that you have to pay, it sucks that there are people who have to do this tedious database job for a living, it sucks that we live in a society where you can't trust adults. In the 'good old days' of my youth, inappropriate relationships between teachers and pupils were not unusual AT ALL. A teacher I knew got 12 months for statutory rape of a 15-year old classmate fo my sisters. A certain youth orchestra (which I shan't name) was notorious for its summer camps and tours where 'getting off with each other' included adults and students. If you watch 'The History Boys' (set in 1983, when i was a 6th former), you'll see a fairly accurate portrayal of the more relaxed expression of sexuality that existed then between teachers and students. We may have laughed and joked but it was a climate of acceptance that allowed some serious abuse to go on in the midst of all the casual exploration of sexuality. Things have changed, thank goodness, but only because of fairly draconian legislation. People who think we don't need this must have forgotten the 1980s, or lived somewhere else. It sucks that you have to pay, it sucks that there are people who have to do this tedious database job for a living, it sucks that we live in a society where you can’t trust adults.
In the ‘good old days’ of my youth, inappropriate relationships between teachers and pupils were not unusual AT ALL. A teacher I knew got 12 months for statutory rape of a 15-year old classmate fo my sisters. A certain youth orchestra (which I shan’t name) was notorious for its summer camps and tours where ‘getting off with each other’ included adults and students.
If you watch ‘The History Boys’ (set in 1983, when i was a 6th former), you’ll see a fairly accurate portrayal of the more relaxed expression of sexuality that existed then between teachers and students.
We may have laughed and joked but it was a climate of acceptance that allowed some serious abuse to go on in the midst of all the casual exploration of sexuality.
Things have changed, thank goodness, but only because of fairly draconian legislation. People who think we don’t need this must have forgotten the 1980s, or lived somewhere else.

]]> By: dave bartram http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1876 dave bartram Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:58:53 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1876 The only thing I disagree with (as a teacher I am CRB checked - and quite right too) is the charge. To teach in schools in this country its the same - you have to PAY to join the GTC just to be allowed to practice your profession. People should be checked - celebrity (as an author or otherwise) doesn't mean you are respectable and safe around children - there are a few examples I would mention but I don't want to be sued. The only thing I disagree with (as a teacher I am CRB checked - and quite right too) is the charge. To teach in schools in this country its the same - you have to PAY to join the GTC just to be allowed to practice your profession. People should be checked - celebrity (as an author or otherwise) doesn’t mean you are respectable and safe around children - there are a few examples I would mention but I don’t want to be sued.

]]> By: MG http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1875 MG Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:16:36 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1875 Thanks Keren, Joe and Geraldine, great to have your comments. Thanks Keren, Joe and Geraldine, great to have your comments.

]]> By: Geraldine Brennan http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1874 Geraldine Brennan Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:07:54 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1874 Great blog btw! Great blog btw!

]]> By: Geraldine Brennan http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1873 Geraldine Brennan Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:07:34 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1873 If you go into schools as a volunteer or visiting speaker to help children with reading, talk about your charity, run a gardening club or engage in any imaginable worthy activity you have to be registered, so why are visiting authors any different? Any schools who didn't apply this rule for everybody would be pilloried. Of course it's sad that this provision has to be there but we all know why. If you go into schools as a volunteer or visiting speaker to help children with reading, talk about your charity, run a gardening club or engage in any imaginable worthy activity you have to be registered, so why are visiting authors any different? Any schools who didn’t apply this rule for everybody would be pilloried. Of course it’s sad that this provision has to be there but we all know why.

]]> By: Joe http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1872 Joe Fri, 17 Jul 2009 09:01:35 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1872 Nice post. I'm beginning to think that almost all authors apart from the 'grey haired mafia' agree on this one. Nice post.

I’m beginning to think that almost all authors apart from the ‘grey haired mafia’ agree on this one.

]]> By: Keren David http://www.mgharris.net/2009/07/17/author-visits-and-the-self-importance-of-being-offended/#comment-1871 Keren David Fri, 17 Jul 2009 07:04:43 +0000 http://www.mgharris.net/?p=841#comment-1871 I agree - and was amazed to see a follow-up story from the Sundays blown up all over the Independent's front page. Would just also point out that sexual abuse of children by a children's author is not unprecendented - remember William Mayne. I don't think he was doing school visits, but you could imagine a school visit leading to 'grooming'. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/may/27/childprotection.uk I agree - and was amazed to see a follow-up story from the Sundays blown up all over the Independent’s front page.

Would just also point out that sexual abuse of children by a children’s author is not unprecendented - remember William Mayne. I don’t think he was doing school visits, but you could imagine a school visit leading to ‘grooming’.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004/may/27/childprotection.uk

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