Teenagers in the UK
Many things have changed over the past decades. Same can be said about the life of modern teenagers. Today teens are more independent, have other interests, and are definitely lazier than before.
Computer is the root of most changes in the society. Modern teenagers spend almost all their free time online, playing computer games, chatting with friends, surfing social networks, instead of going out and doing some outdoor activities. If you ask a teenager what the life was like twenty or thirty years ago, he won’t answer, because he doesn’t know.
Modern children simply can’t imagine their life without cell phones, tablets and MP3 players. These gadgets have gradually replaced the whole world of childish games and live communication.
Previous generations of teenagers could still be seen in the streets jumping, running around and playing active games. Today, teenagers are mostly seen online. From the one hand, it’s certainly not good. From the other hand, this can be understood. How can children avoid electronic toys if they are everywhere?
Other than that, the life of teenagers is not easy. They have a number of problems, which they don’t want to discuss with adults. Chatting with friends, at least they can share with them. Being online, they can also find answers for many urgent questions or problems.
Modern teenagers are luckier than other generations for having the freedom of choice and life full of possibilities. It’s a “computer-based” generation. Even their homework is done with the help of computers and the Internet.
The life of English youth is not much different from that of young men and women from neighbouring European countries. However, it is worth noting the fact that the British very early begin to teach their children to work, because children in England grow up much earlier peers from abroad. For example, since the age of 13, the British are allowed to work part — time-after school. Most of the teenagers at this age are actively looking for part-time work to always have pocket money for personal expenses. 15 the child acquires the legal status of the young man, and in society it is accepted to refer only to "you". The British believe that this way of education instills in children a sense of self — esteem, and at the same time-responsibility for their actions.
School education is compulsory for every child and lasts from 5 to 16 years. After graduation, the state provides complete freedom of choice for a teenager. Now he has the right to decide whether to study further or not.
Any education in England is paid. Of course, for children from low-income families there are special scholarships and benefits, but in most cases, young people earn extra money after lectures to pay for their education. College decided to choose not only a set of specialties, but also by the criterion of remoteness from the parental home. Thus, young people are trying to leave early from custody and start an independent life. Each College has a dormitory for students, where you can rent a separate room for one person.
The educational process in English Universities is never limited to lectures and exams. Each College has its own hobby groups, sports, social and charitable organizations in which students take an active part. There is also a very common practice of exchange with foreign institutions, which is attended only by successful students.
During the last 30 years there were a lot of different trends in youth movements. All of them were characterized by their own philosophy, way of life, style of dressing. Each tendency was born by the influence of economic and political changes in the society. Those trends are known as the "hippies" the "punks" the "rockers".
But certainly there are different traditional youth organizations in Great Britain. Among them — the Scout Association, the Girl Guides Association, the National Union of Students, the Youth Club. The latter offers, for example, a wide range of sporting and social activities.
The National Union of Students was founded in 1922. It operates through local branches in colleges and universities. It promotes the educational, social and general interests of students.
But certainly the most numerous is the Scout Association, founded in 1908 for boys and in 1910 for girls by Lord Baden-Powel. The Scout movement is to encourage a sense of adventure and of responsibility for others among young people. The programme of training is planned to develop intelligence and practical skills, to promote health and a sense of service.
Scout training is complementary to the ordinary education. Scouts train in mapping, signalling, first aid and all the skills that arise from camping and similar outdoor activities.
British scouts take part in international scout meetings, which are held approximately every four years.
The membership in this or that youth organization is not compulsory in Great Britain but everyone can find the activity he likes most.
Development of British youth
Young people from all walks of life are united according to their interests by the established youth organizations in Great Britain. These organizations develop because of the contribution of both full-time and part-time youth workers and a great number of volunteers.
Outdoor pursuits involve everything from pony trekking to rock-climbing or canoeing and help young people go out from the confines of their homes or their environment. Such pursuits nourish a spirit of self-reliance and help to realize the importance of teamwork. All the major youth organizations hold outdoor pursuits either by organizing special residential courses or by sending their members to take part in established courses or seminars in other cities and countries.
Local authorities and a number of multipurpose youth organizations provide the place for such activities as canoeing, sailing, rock-climbing, map reading, orienteering and cooking for survival; all of them encourage initiative and self-discipline.
Among providers of outdoor places are the Sports Council, the Outward-Bound Trust, the Ocean Youth Club, the Sail Training Association, 'and the Nautical Training Corps.
The Outward-Bound Trust is the longest established and most experienced organization in Britain based on outdoor pursuits, personal development, and training. It has five centres in the English Lake District, Wales, and Scotland. It operates in 38 other countries of the world. It has centres in Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. This organization is based on two simple principles: firstly, that everyone is capable of achieving more than he might imagine, and, secondly, that too few people have a real appreciation of what can be achieved by team-work and mutual support.
Young people participate in "expedition courses" lasting for 8,12, or 20 days and involving adventurous journeys by land or sea. There are also "specialist courses" for young people aged 17 and over to become involved in work with such groups as the homeless, the elderly, and the disabled.
Rights of English youth
English laws on the protection of the rights of children and adolescents are known all over the world. Up to 16 years of age, social services actively monitor that parents or guardians comply with all the rules of treatment of children prescribed by law, but after this age children become almost full adults. From the age of 16, English teenagers acquire the right to marry, with the written consent of their parents, to live separately from the family, to drive a car. Since 18 years, the British are officially allowed to marry on their own, buy alcoholic beverages and rent a house without parental guarantee.
Entertainment and recreation
Traditional English pubs and bars, as well as night clubs and private parties, are popular among young people. The noisiest of them are always held on the eve of any national holidays. And on vacation or on vacation, young residents of Albion Like to go to Sunny Spain or Mexico.