>>> On Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:50:53 +0100, an orbital mind-control laser
>>> caused Nigel Stapley <u...@judgemental.plus.com> to write:
>>> (snip)
>>>>A few years ago, I bought half a dozen eggs from a well-known
>>>>supermarket.
>>>>On opening the carton, I saw this on the inside (on the *inside*, mark
>>>>you):
>>>>"Warning! Contains egg"
>>>>I suppose this was to disabuse anyone who thought they had bought >>>>kevlar, marzipan, or a minor suburb of Budapest.
>>> I think my favorite product warning label was the instructions on a
>>> package of frozen fish sticks, where after telling you to cook them
>>> for 30 minutes at 400F, they warn you "Caution, fish will be hot."
>>> -Chris Zakes
>>> Texas
>>I love the health warning on my tobacco pouches "Smoking is highly >>addictive, don't start!"
>>It's on the *back* of the pouch so you have to buy the stuff before you >>can read the health warning!
>>I bet you can count on the fingers of a blind carpenters hand the number >>of people saying "Oh I've just spent £4 on baccy and papers but it's >>addictive so I shall throw the lot in the nearest bin"
>>gary
>Well, of course. The government *needs* the tax money from those
>tobacco products, so they're not going to simply ban it, but they make
>themselves (and the anti-tobacco folks) feel better by mandating
>warning labels.
Kind of why Prohibition was ended. Taxes on alcohol were serious profit
centers for both state and federal governments.
>On the other hand, how big a rock would you have to live under to
>*not* know that tobacco is both addictive and carcinogenic, even
>without a warning label?
> The dead girl was 15, could not swim but was > described as "confident" in the water, which
> is a bit dim.
> An 18 year old male relative had wandered off
> to feed his face.
> Kajil Devi's father apparently doesn't speak
> English. I don't know if the others do.
> Evidently no one was wearing a life jacket.
> This death is horrific and stupid and, as I
> judge from the reported evidence, nobody's > fault but theirs, including the girl's and > the two other children's.
I don't consider the death of a child, particularly a stupid and avoidable one such as this, to be anything other than horrific.
But, and it's a big but, it is no good saying that "Someone else should have done something". It was your kid you stupid bastards!
My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies stable.
She's been taught to swim, as much as a 3.5 year old can, and knows enough to lay on her back and float. She knows about guns[1] and is insistent that Granny and Uncle Gary teach her to shoot (her mother refuses to be involved). I'll probably have to when she's big enough to hold a light air rifle with low recoil (got an old Meteor in the loft I think). But she's had firearms safety drummed into her.[2]
What she has is a basic set of skills for survival. She knows how not to die. She also likes the tales of Beatrix Potter.
In short she may not grow up to be a genius but she won't drown in a Water Park because the people who brought her up didn't bother teaching her basics!
She'll probably find a far more inventive way of topping herself!
gary
[1]You do, living in the country.
[2]All my family have the same and you don't get to touch a weapon until you know, and follow, the safety rules.
-- "When California slides into the ocean, like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing
Until I pay my bill"
> "He kept kicking me and stamping on my face" IIRC. Didn't look like
> anyone had stamped on her face, ever!
It happened two years before that. She would have recovered by now, at least as far as her appearance goes. But at the time, walking may not have been an option for her, depending on which bits of her were damaged and how badly.
>> <snip>
>>> Frankly, and please don't anyone take this the wrong way, if she is
>>> really that stupid we're better off without her in the gene pool.
>>> Even in the shallow end!
>> It's not that simple. She may or may not be simple herself
> So simple that she decided to take the case to her MP?
Good thing she did. The more light that's shone on these cases the better.
Perhaps the police will try to be more sensitive in such cases now, with their special new training. Really not a good idea to ask her if she wants to press charges while he's right there next to her, especially since when she did he spent one night in the cells and the next day he was back looking for her. If she had found out on her own without help from the police or anyone else how to contact a refuge, they would have turned her away because they were already overloaded.
> <snippetry>
>> Even if it is, that doesn't mean
>> that other desperate women aren't really in this situation and really
>> finding it impossible to leave.
> I never said that, I just think she *SPECIFICALLY* is an attention
> seeking idiot.
She was sixteen. Some people are resourceful enough to get themselves out of a situation like that, but most people are not. And someone in that situation is not thinking clearly and logically, even if they would normally.
Lesley.
-- This address is real, but to reach me use leswes att shaw dott ca
>> The dead girl was 15, could not swim but was >> described as "confident" in the water, which
>> is a bit dim.
>> An 18 year old male relative had wandered off
>> to feed his face.
>> Kajil Devi's father apparently doesn't speak
>> English. I don't know if the others do.
>> Evidently no one was wearing a life jacket.
>> This death is horrific and stupid and, as I
>> judge from the reported evidence, nobody's >> fault but theirs, including the girl's and >> the two other children's.
>I don't consider the death of a child, particularly a stupid and >avoidable one such as this, to be anything other than horrific.
>But, and it's a big but, it is no good saying that "Someone else should >have done something". It was your kid you stupid bastards!
>My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off >sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or >they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies >stable.
On Friday, April 27, 2012 3:09:18 AM UTC+1, Chris Zakes wrote:
> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:24:29 -0500, an orbital mind-control laser
> caused GaryN <webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> to write:
> >I don't consider the death of a child, particularly a stupid and > >avoidable one such as this, to be anything other than horrific.
> >But, and it's a big but, it is no good saying that "Someone else should > >have done something". It was your kid you stupid bastards!
> >My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off > >sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or > >they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies > >stable.
To link back to the original point, sort of, I recently
read (in fact while Googling for the Cotswold case) that "more than 3,000 Thai youths drown each year in their rice fields". And likewise in other countries
that grow rice.
>>> The dead girl was 15, could not swim but was >>> described as "confident" in the water, which
>>> is a bit dim.
>>> An 18 year old male relative had wandered off
>>> to feed his face.
>>> Kajil Devi's father apparently doesn't speak
>>> English. I don't know if the others do.
>>> Evidently no one was wearing a life jacket.
>>> This death is horrific and stupid and, as I
>>> judge from the reported evidence, nobody's >>> fault but theirs, including the girl's and >>> the two other children's.
>>I don't consider the death of a child, particularly a stupid and >>avoidable one such as this, to be anything other than horrific.
>>But, and it's a big but, it is no good saying that "Someone else
>>should have done something". It was your kid you stupid bastards!
>>My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off >>sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or >>they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies
>>stable.
Another example of stupid, largely pointless, legislation. I was working on farms before I left Primary school. I'd helped build 2 stables before I was 11 and was driving tractors on the road at 16 (As soon as I could get a licence).
All of it by my own choice.
Had the usual minor accidents/injuries but mostly I learned how to be careful if doing slightly, or very, hazardous work.
Forcing kids to do something is different, and wrong IMO, but if they choose to help what gives the government the right to say they can't?
It's called "Growing Up" and my personal view is that if they learn to understand the dangers like I did it's far better than coddling them as the SS demand these days.
A certain amount of H&S is a good thing, but taught by people who know what they are on about. Not some bureaucrat who's never handled anything more dangerous than a pencil sharpener and probably *would* be stupid enough to poke a stick into a rotare without disengaging the PTO first!
gary
-- "When California slides into the ocean, like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing
Until I pay my bill"
> The Christmas cake my OD makes probably contains enough incendiary > materials to contravene International weapons limitation treaties [1] > and the marzipan and icing probably exceed the requirement for military > flak rags!
> I'm sure she puts a kevlar layer between the 2! Bloody sure it's the > only Christmas cake that needs a chainsaw to cut!
> The actual preparation of said cake is shrouded in secrecy but it starts > at least 2 months before Christmas and involves large amounts of Brandy, > Whisky and Port being infused. Which is only right and proper.
> Either myself or my sister may get the recipe when she pops her clogs > but it'll be a Nanny Ogg style job.
-- I have been a happy man ever since January 1, 1990, when I no longer had an email address. I'd used email since about 1975, and it seems to me that 15 years of email is plenty for one lifetime. Donald Knuth
>>>> The dead girl was 15, could not swim but was >>>> described as "confident" in the water, which
>>>> is a bit dim.
>>>> An 18 year old male relative had wandered off
>>>> to feed his face.
>>>> Kajil Devi's father apparently doesn't speak
>>>> English. I don't know if the others do.
>>>> Evidently no one was wearing a life jacket.
>>>> This death is horrific and stupid and, as I
>>>> judge from the reported evidence, nobody's >>>> fault but theirs, including the girl's and >>>> the two other children's.
>>>I don't consider the death of a child, particularly a stupid and >>>avoidable one such as this, to be anything other than horrific.
>>>But, and it's a big but, it is no good saying that "Someone else
>>>should have done something". It was your kid you stupid bastards!
>>>My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off >>>sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or >>>they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies
>>>stable.
>Another example of stupid, largely pointless, legislation. I was working >on farms before I left Primary school. I'd helped build 2 stables before I >was 11 and was driving tractors on the road at 16 (As soon as I could get a >licence).
>All of it by my own choice.
>Had the usual minor accidents/injuries but mostly I learned how to be >careful if doing slightly, or very, hazardous work.
>Forcing kids to do something is different, and wrong IMO, but if they >choose to help what gives the government the right to say they can't?
>It's called "Growing Up" and my personal view is that if they learn to >understand the dangers like I did it's far better than coddling them as the >SS demand these days.
>A certain amount of H&S is a good thing, but taught by people who know what >they are on about. Not some bureaucrat who's never handled anything more >dangerous than a pencil sharpener and probably *would* be stupid enough to >poke a stick into a rotare without disengaging the PTO first!
>gary
In one of the articles I read, the "dangerous equipment" that kids
wouldn't be allowed to operate included flashlights and wheelbarrows.
> In one of the articles I read, the "dangerous equipment" that kids
> wouldn't be allowed to operate included flashlights and wheelbarrows.
> -Chris Zakes
> Texas
Probably includes nail clippers, kitchen knives and the shower (if not using a guvmint licensed shower mat in a guvmint licensed shower cubicle)?.
Oh, hang on a mo, that was "Psycho" wasn't it?
gary looks around and can spot at least 8 potentially lethal items within arms reach[1]. All fully available to any visiting child and nothing to do with farming.
I know I've posted this link before (bad language warning) but some things are worth repeating
Nothing wrong with teaching kids not to mess with stuff they don't understand. The SO, and also me, got sued by a supposed friend of hers because her (the friends) 7 year old kid managed to pull a grandfather clock over on herself at the SO's place.
"You should have made sure she couldn't do that".
"It's your fucking kid. You should have made sure she didn't"
The SO is usually very placid and even tempered but there are limits.
Thankfully we won but the other woman is no longer a friend!
Admittedly that may be due to me telling her to "Fuck off now and take your brat vandals with you" Whilst opening the door. Subtlety is not my strong point!
The clock is over 100 years old and matched with a grandmother clock from the same maker. Which the SO also owns (family stuff from hers).
Wasn't bloody cheap getting that fixed.
Still had the allotment at the time and I could have sold her vehicle to a chop shop. I wasn't tempted much orrificer...
gary
[1] You try beating someone repeatedly on the head with a 1993 Whitakers Almanac!
-- "When California slides into the ocean, like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing
Until I pay my bill"
> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:24:29 -0500, an orbital mind-control laser
> caused GaryN<webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> to write:
<snip>
>> My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off
>> sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or
>> they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies
>> stable.
"Update, April 26, 7:55 p.m.: Citing public outrage, the Department of Labor has withdrawn the controversial rulemaking proposal described in this article."
Sometimes common sense does prevail.
Lesley.
-- This address is real, but to reach me use leswes att shaw dott ca
> On Friday, April 27, 2012 3:09:18 AM UTC+1, Chris Zakes wrote:
>> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:24:29 -0500, an orbital mind-control laser
>> caused GaryN<webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> to write:
>>> I don't consider the death of a child, particularly a stupid and
>>> avoidable one such as this, to be anything other than horrific.
>>> But, and it's a big but, it is no good saying that "Someone else should
>>> have done something". It was your kid you stupid bastards!
>>> My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off
>>> sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or
>>> they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies
>>> stable.
> To link back to the original point, sort of, I recently
> read (in fact while Googling for the Cotswold case)
> that "more than 3,000 Thai youths drown each year
> in their rice fields". And likewise in other countries
> that grow rice.
Is that while they're working in the rice paddies, or just wandering about in them?
Lesley.
-- This address is real, but to reach me use leswes att shaw dott ca
On Friday, April 27, 2012 4:34:40 PM UTC+1, Lesley Weston wrote:
> On 04-27-12 3:03 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> > On Friday, April 27, 2012 3:09:18 AM UTC+1, Chris Zakes wrote:
> >> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:24:29 -0500, an orbital mind-control laser
> >> caused GaryN<webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> to write:
> >>> I don't consider the death of a child, particularly a stupid and
> >>> avoidable one such as this, to be anything other than horrific.
> >>> But, and it's a big but, it is no good saying that "Someone else should
> >>> have done something". It was your kid you stupid bastards!
> >>> My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off
> >>> sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or
> >>> they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies
> >>> stable.
> > To link back to the original point, sort of, I recently
> > read (in fact while Googling for the Cotswold case)
> > that "more than 3,000 Thai youths drown each year
> > in their rice fields". And likewise in other countries
> > that grow rice.
> Is that while they're working in the rice paddies, > or just wandering about in them?
From a quick look, "youths" seems to include little
children too young to work in any way that we'd really count, but I don't know how work is conducted there. Or how big Thailand is, really.
Still - that's getting on for ten a day.
> Admittedly that may be due to me telling her to "Fuck off now and take > your brat vandals with you" Whilst opening the door. Subtlety is not > my strong point!
<snip>
Oh, just as a note. The combat boot was not applied to expedite egress on this occasion, tempting though it was!
If they ever make up and the little shits come near my clock they go out of the window without me opening it first! 'cos my wall clock was built by German PoWs in the camp my Grandfather was in charge of in 1945/6.
Made for him from what they could beg. borrow or, probably, steal.
Irreplaceable and impossible to value[1]. I also have a matched pair of Grandfather and Grandmother clocks - handed down.
Respect for other peoples property is part of being civilised. If you or your kids don't respect my property *IN MY HOUSE* I see no reason to respect your persons whilst throwing you out.
And I'll charge you for the window that you just broke on exit!
gary
[1]I tried, once. Nobody can guess at value, it's either nothing or beyond price.
-- "When California slides into the ocean, like the mystics and statistics say it will
I predict this motel will be standing
Until I pay my bill"
>On 04-26-12 7:09 PM, Chris Zakes wrote:
>> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:24:29 -0500, an orbital mind-control laser
>> caused GaryN<webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> to write:
><snip>
>>> My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off
>>> sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or
>>> they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies
>>> stable.
>"Update, April 26, 7:55 p.m.: Citing public outrage, the Department of >Labor has withdrawn the controversial rulemaking proposal described in >this article."
>Sometimes common sense does prevail.
>Lesley.
No, if the bureaucrats involved really had common sense, they wouldn't
have proposed such rules in the first place. And if there hadn't been
an outcry, the rules would have been passed.
I suspect the bureaucrats responsible are all city kids, who wouldn't
know what farm work was if it bit them. They probably think all food
comes out of a magic box in the back room of the local grocery store.
> On Friday, April 27, 2012 4:34:40 PM UTC+1, Lesley Weston wrote:
>> On 04-27-12 3:03 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>>> On Friday, April 27, 2012 3:09:18 AM UTC+1, Chris Zakes wrote:
>>>> On Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:24:29 -0500, an orbital mind-control laser
>>>> caused GaryN<webmas...@oxtoyrun.org.uk> to write:
>>>>> I don't consider the death of a child, particularly a stupid and
>>>>> avoidable one such as this, to be anything other than horrific.
>>>>> But, and it's a big but, it is no good saying that "Someone else should
>>>>> have done something". It was your kid you stupid bastards!
>>>>> My niece has her own pony and has been taught to ride, she falls off
>>>>> sometimes but doesn't complain. She (FFS don't tell SS about this or
>>>>> they'll have us for child slavery) insists on mucking out *her* ponies
>>>>> stable.
>>> To link back to the original point, sort of, I recently
>>> read (in fact while Googling for the Cotswold case)
>>> that "more than 3,000 Thai youths drown each year
>>> in their rice fields". And likewise in other countries
>>> that grow rice.
>> Is that while they're working in the rice paddies,
>> or just wandering about in them?
> From a quick look, "youths" seems to include little
> children too young to work in any way that we'd
> really count, but I don't know how work is conducted there. Or how big Thailand is, really.
> Still - that's getting on for ten a day.
Oh it's a Bad Thing for sure, even one would be, let alone 3,000. I just wondered if the kids drowned because their parents were too busy tending next year's food when the alternative is starvation to mind them properly (it takes your full attention at all times), or because the kids were doing the work themselves, or because older kids were larking about when nobody was working there. They're just as dead whatever the explanation, but some of the causes can be fixed.
Lesley.
-- This address is real, but to reach me use leswes att shaw dott ca
On Saturday, April 28, 2012 3:48:15 PM UTC+1, Lesley Weston wrote:
> On 04-27-12 11:33 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
> > From a quick look, "youths" seems to include little
> > children too young to work in any way that we'd
> > really count, but I don't know how work is conducted
there. Or how big Thailand is, really.
> > Still - that's getting on for ten a day.
> Oh it's a Bad Thing for sure, even one would be, let alone 3,000. I just > wondered if the kids drowned because their parents were too busy tending > next year's food when the alternative is starvation to mind them > properly (it takes your full attention at all times), or because the > kids were doing the work themselves, or because older kids were larking > about when nobody was working there. They're just as dead whatever the > explanation, but some of the causes can be fixed.
Well, it seems to have come up in the context of an
American(?) girl going there as a volunteer to give
swimming lessons. Life-belts might help, or not.
In pictures the water doesn't look particularly deep -
but it doesn't take much at at all, with a small child.
> On Saturday, April 28, 2012 3:48:15 PM UTC+1, Lesley Weston wrote:
>> On 04-27-12 11:33 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>>> From a quick look, "youths" seems to include little
>>> children too young to work in any way that we'd
>>> really count, but I don't know how work is conducted
> there. Or how big Thailand is, really.
>>> Still - that's getting on for ten a day.
>> Oh it's a Bad Thing for sure, even one would be, let alone 3,000. I just
>> wondered if the kids drowned because their parents were too busy tending
>> next year's food when the alternative is starvation to mind them
>> properly (it takes your full attention at all times), or because the
>> kids were doing the work themselves, or because older kids were larking
>> about when nobody was working there. They're just as dead whatever the
>> explanation, but some of the causes can be fixed.
> Well, it seems to have come up in the context of an
> American(?) girl going there as a volunteer to give
> swimming lessons. Life-belts might help, or not.
> In pictures the water doesn't look particularly deep -
> but it doesn't take much at at all, with a small child.
Would swimming lessons help? The water is only a few inches deep, which is quite enough to drown a toddler or someone older lying face-down in it, but is not much use for swimming. Still, more power to her for trying to help.
I was thinking more about providing day-care somewhere safe while the parents are working, and preventing children working there (if they do) until they're old enough or at least big enough. Teenagers messing about can't be stopped.
Lesley.
-- This address is real, but to reach me use leswes att shaw dott ca
> On 04-28-12 8:19 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>> On Saturday, April 28, 2012 3:48:15 PM UTC+1, Lesley Weston wrote:
>>> On 04-27-12 11:33 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>>>> From a quick look, "youths" seems to include little
>>>> children too young to work in any way that we'd
>>>> really count, but I don't know how work is conducted
>> there. Or how big Thailand is, really.
>>>> Still - that's getting on for ten a day.
>>> Oh it's a Bad Thing for sure, even one would be, let alone 3,000. I just
>>> wondered if the kids drowned because their parents were too busy tending
>>> next year's food when the alternative is starvation to mind them
>>> properly (it takes your full attention at all times), or because the
>>> kids were doing the work themselves, or because older kids were larking
>>> about when nobody was working there. They're just as dead whatever the
>>> explanation, but some of the causes can be fixed.
>> Well, it seems to have come up in the context of an
>> American(?) girl going there as a volunteer to give
>> swimming lessons. Life-belts might help, or not.
>> In pictures the water doesn't look particularly deep -
>> but it doesn't take much at at all, with a small child.
> Would swimming lessons help? The water is only a few inches deep, which > is quite enough to drown a toddler or someone older lying face-down in > it, but is not much use for swimming. Still, more power to her for > trying to help.
> I was thinking more about providing day-care somewhere safe while the > parents are working, and preventing children working there (if they do) > until they're old enough or at least big enough. Teenagers messing about > can't be stopped.
> Lesley.
I know it's a radical suggestion but perhaps establishing a public
education system with compulsory attendance, as well as day-care?
-- Out beyond ideas of right doing and wrong doing
THERE IS A FIELD
I'll meet you there
Rumi
>> In one of the articles I read, the "dangerous equipment" that kids
>> wouldn't be allowed to operate included flashlights and wheelbarrows.
>> -Chris Zakes
>> Texas
>Probably includes nail clippers, kitchen knives and the shower (if not >using a guvmint licensed shower mat in a guvmint licensed shower >cubicle)?.
>Oh, hang on a mo, that was "Psycho" wasn't it?
>gary looks around and can spot at least 8 potentially lethal items >within arms reach[1]. All fully available to any visiting child and >nothing to do with farming.
Only eight? Either you're in a really bare place (which seems
unlikely) or you're not using your imagination enough. I've got
several dozen potentially lethal items in easy reach, up to and
including the computer desk.
> On 2012-04-29, Lesley Weston<brightly_coloured_b...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 04-28-12 8:19 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>>> On Saturday, April 28, 2012 3:48:15 PM UTC+1, Lesley Weston wrote:
>>>> On 04-27-12 11:33 AM, Robert Carnegie wrote:
>>>>> From a quick look, "youths" seems to include little
>>>>> children too young to work in any way that we'd
>>>>> really count, but I don't know how work is conducted
>>> there. Or how big Thailand is, really.
>>>>> Still - that's getting on for ten a day.
>>>> Oh it's a Bad Thing for sure, even one would be, let alone 3,000. I just
>>>> wondered if the kids drowned because their parents were too busy tending
>>>> next year's food when the alternative is starvation to mind them
>>>> properly (it takes your full attention at all times), or because the
>>>> kids were doing the work themselves, or because older kids were larking
>>>> about when nobody was working there. They're just as dead whatever the
>>>> explanation, but some of the causes can be fixed.
>>> Well, it seems to have come up in the context of an
>>> American(?) girl going there as a volunteer to give
>>> swimming lessons. Life-belts might help, or not.
>>> In pictures the water doesn't look particularly deep -
>>> but it doesn't take much at at all, with a small child.
>> Would swimming lessons help? The water is only a few inches deep, which
>> is quite enough to drown a toddler or someone older lying face-down in
>> it, but is not much use for swimming. Still, more power to her for
>> trying to help.
>> I was thinking more about providing day-care somewhere safe while the
>> parents are working, and preventing children working there (if they do)
>> until they're old enough or at least big enough. Teenagers messing about
>> can't be stopped.
>> Lesley.
> I know it's a radical suggestion but perhaps establishing a public
> education system with compulsory attendance, as well as day-care?
In theory that already exists, at least in China. Something like the system developed by the English Quaker industrialists in the nineteenth century might work better in isolated communities of subsistence farmers. In that one, older children went to school for part of the day and worked a few hours as well to contribute to the family's upkeep and keep the whole family alive. That way the crops would still get planted, tended and harvested, so the village would still get to eat, but the kids would be offered a way out as well. You'd still need daycare for the younger kids though.
Lesley.
-- This address is real, but to reach me use leswes att shaw dott ca
