What is good for the goose.........

Policies in children's programs are developed with every intention of fulfilling our obligation to meet the child's best interests. Usually policy goes further than that. It is drafted with the idea that the culture of the program will reflect a new society, an ideal society ... a new ideal world. It has to do with the concept "Think globally... act locally" We include in policy, such principles as, democracy, restorative justice, co-operation, non-competitiveness, negotiation, non-violence........

It has to be kept with absolute consistency.

The Treatment Centre (Children's Home) owned a 2acre campsite at the sea. It was used at most twice a year. So, inbetween times a local organisation took care of it to raise funds. They developed the site into a place where "Paintball" could be played. It is a war game in which individuals or teams use guns to shoot each other with paint-filled pellets, each representing a fatal wound. The team which reaches the opposing den.. wins.  In the times that the campsite was used by the children, the Paintball game was closed to the public. On one such camp, the local organisation offered the the children a game of paintball free of charge. I agreed thinking it will be fun and would help to fill the camp programme.

It was a child care worker who came to me.

" Do we allow weapons in the hands of the children?"
"No"
Are we a gunfree programme back at the Centre?"
"Yes"
" Why are you going to allow the children to play 'Paintball"?. It is a game of violence and weapons" she said.

The game was cancelled.

Masud Hoghughi had a saying... an organisational rule if you like... " What is good for the goose, is good for the gander." What is held as good for the children has to be held as good for the staff. He said that what is demanded of the children must equally be demanded of ourselves.

We were planning an end of year function. Staff and the members of the Board of Management. It was a token of thanks to the staff and a social get-together. The plan was, one evening, to use a large hall-like venue at one of the group homes. Most of the children would have been on holiday.

It was the same child care worker who approached me.
"Do we allow the children alcohol ?'
"No"
"Is the Board planning to have alcohol at the gathering in the group home hall ?"
"Yes"
Then why are we having a staff and Board gathering here with alcohol - what message does that give the children?"

The Board would not buy into an alcohol- free end of  year function. The venue was moved off -campus.