JK Rowling in surprise prison visit
Harry Potter author JK Rowling gave prisoners in Edinburgh learning to read a "real boost" when she visited them in jail.
The millionaire author presented awards to inmates at the city's Saughton Prison earlier this month.
Rowling, whose writing has brought her millions of fans worldwide, was invited to carry out the honours by the Shannon Trust.
The London-based charity helps prisoners across the UK learn to read.
David Ahern of the Trust said: "We were delighted that JK Rowling was able to visit. She gave the prisoners a real boost.
"Some were just starting out on the scheme and this gave them a real incentive to continue learning.
"Prison can be a lonely place for learners so knowing there are international figures like JK Rowling supporting them makes a huge difference to them."
According to the charity, 65% of all prisoners have a reading age of 11 years or under.
This stops them from finding employment on release, making them three times more likely to reoffend than those who go on to get a job.
The Toe by Toe reading programme sees prisoners teach other inmates to read with the support of mentors.
Rowling said following her visit on March 4: "I am pleased to be able to support the Shannon Trust's work, and it was a very positive experience to go and see the Toe by Toe scheme in action and meet some of the mentors and mentees.
"Learning to read represents a significant turning point in anyone's life, and may be the one thing that makes a difference to help people in prison turn their lives around."
Rowling, 42, is one of the richest women in the world, with a fortune estimated by US magazine Forbes at £504 million.
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Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 12:25pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[bold]Erm, oany chance yi kin magic me oot o' this jail, ta, thanks?[/bold]
Erm, oany chance yi kin magic me oot o' this jail, ta, thanks?
Posted by: tris, scotland on 12:36pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Well done JK Rowlings.
The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED
Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons.
It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor.
Well done JK Rowlings.
The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED
Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons.
It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor.
Posted by: Bob Agg, Ascrow Tumm on 1:03pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]tris[/bold] wrote:
Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor. [/quote] Brilliant Tris - blame the schools. How naive can one person get.
The parenst have to ensure the kids actually go to school in the first place to learn to read. QED
Then when they do occassionally turn up,hold the rest of the class back so they can catch up? get real
Another liberal dogooder who believes the only victims in society are the ones in prison.
tris wrote:
Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor.
Brilliant Tris - blame the schools. How naive can one person get.
The parenst have to ensure the kids actually go to school in the first place to learn to read. QED
Then when they do occassionally turn up,hold the rest of the class back so they can catch up? get real
Another liberal dogooder who believes the only victims in society are the ones in prison.
Posted by: tris, scotland on 1:26pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I don't disagree that parents should take responsibility. But schools are driven by targets which neglect the less able. If you're not gonna contribute to the league tables you are forgotten.
It wouldn't be so bad if half the people they get into university didn't end up working in Tesco and call centres with their media studies degrees. (And in the mean time you can't get a plumber for love nor money.)
And no, I don't believe the only victims are in prison. Plenty more vicitims all around me in a town like Dundee. Many of them old and sick, and cold and lonely and sometimes hungry, and in pain.... Loads of people that our society has let down very very badly and who have never gone to prison.
Bob Agg, I'm not sure why you can't put your point of view without resorting to personal insults to me.
You have your point of view, and I mine. We're both entitled to them and to express them, and that's what a forum is for.
I don't disagree that parents should take responsibility. But schools are driven by targets which neglect the less able. If you're not gonna contribute to the league tables you are forgotten.
It wouldn't be so bad if half the people they get into university didn't end up working in Tesco and call centres with their media studies degrees. (And in the mean time you can't get a plumber for love nor money.)
And no, I don't believe the only victims are in prison. Plenty more vicitims all around me in a town like Dundee. Many of them old and sick, and cold and lonely and sometimes hungry, and in pain.... Loads of people that our society has let down very very badly and who have never gone to prison.
Bob Agg, I'm not sure why you can't put your point of view without resorting to personal insults to me.
You have your point of view, and I mine. We're both entitled to them and to express them, and that's what a forum is for.
Posted by: JBlackley, Florida on 2:06pm Fri 28 Mar 08
My applause goes to the Shannon Trust. While there's a lot to argue about regarding the causes of adult illiteracy (and those causes are complex), this group ignores the arguments and quietly goes about the business of addressing the problem.
To use authors like J.K. Rowliing as motivators is a coup and, who knows, this one visit might just result in one of the inmates someday producing a memorable piece of literature. One more person's life turned around, thousands of peoples' lives enriched as a result.
Now that would be a story I'd enjoy reading.
My applause goes to the Shannon Trust. While there's a lot to argue about regarding the causes of adult illiteracy (and those causes are complex), this group ignores the arguments and quietly goes about the business of addressing the problem.
To use authors like J.K. Rowliing as motivators is a coup and, who knows, this one visit might just result in one of the inmates someday producing a memorable piece of literature. One more person's life turned around, thousands of peoples' lives enriched as a result.
Now that would be a story I'd enjoy reading.
Posted by: Charles Lawson, Rhode Island,USA on 3:10pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Los Angeles :- Brilliant comment - Pure dead magic so it is son !
Good on you, JKR !
Los Angeles :- Brilliant comment - Pure dead magic so it is son !
Good on you, JKR !
Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 4:01pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Blackely of Flouride[quote]One more person's life turned around, thousands of peoples' lives enriched as a result.[/quote] But not, according to your past antipathy to Scotland as a nation state, by governing their own country?
[bold]It'sokay for individuals to develop to the full potential, but not an entire nation?[/bold]
Perhaps we should elevate JK Rowlinginit to First Minister.
After all, she is so obscenely wealthy she will stymie inane comments made about independence bankrupting Scotland.
Blackely of Flouride
One more person's life turned around, thousands of peoples' lives enriched as a result.
But not, according to your past antipathy to Scotland as a nation state, by governing their own country?
It'sokay for individuals to develop to the full potential, but not an entire nation?
Perhaps we should elevate JK Rowlinginit to First Minister.
After all, she is so obscenely wealthy she will stymie inane comments made about independence bankrupting Scotland.
Posted by: JBlackley, Florida on 5:09pm Fri 28 Mar 08
los angeles, thank you for your response to my comment.
Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding the relevance in your response - riddled, as it is, with rant and assumption and false accusation.
However, I can express my sympathy for whatever condition it is that caused your last comment. Whatever it is, I hope you make a full recovery soon.
los angeles, thank you for your response to my comment.
Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding the relevance in your response - riddled, as it is, with rant and assumption and false accusation.
However, I can express my sympathy for whatever condition it is that caused your last comment. Whatever it is, I hope you make a full recovery soon.
Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 5:20pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote]Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding the relevance in your response - riddled, as it is, with rant and assumption and false accusation.[/quote] I assure you, you'll know the difference between my rants and my questions, and my statement typed in bold has a question mark at the end of it.
Are you for Scotland regaining its nationhood?
If not, what do your sentiments about individual expression and development mean? Or are you being cynical?
Unfortunately, I'm having trouble finding the relevance in your response - riddled, as it is, with rant and assumption and false accusation.
I assure you, you'll know the difference between my rants and my questions, and my statement typed in bold has a question mark at the end of it.
Are you for Scotland regaining its nationhood?
If not, what do your sentiments about individual expression and development mean? Or are you being cynical?
Posted by: martin, edinburgh on 6:08pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]tris[/bold] wrote:
Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor. [/quote] It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things
As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it
tris wrote:
Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor.
It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things
As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it
Posted by: JBlackley, Florida on 6:39pm Fri 28 Mar 08
los angeles, thank you for your response to my comment and my gratitude for the attention you're focusing on my comments today.
My apologies for missing the question in your first (though, I must say, less-than-coherent) response to my original comment. I can only offer that a statement with a question mark at the end of it sometimes confuses me. Having said that, your 'question' still eludes me as I have no idea why you ask it. Nevertheless, I will try to answer - as well as answer the (clearer) question you asked in your second response.
Yes, it is okay for an individual to realise their full potential - just as it is not only 'okay' but desirable that a nation realise its full potential. As to "Are you for Scotland regaining it's nationhood?" I'll take out the sentimentality and read that as 'am I for Scotland becoming independent of the United Kingdom?" No, I am not.
los angeles, thank you for your response to my comment and my gratitude for the attention you're focusing on my comments today.
My apologies for missing the question in your first (though, I must say, less-than-coherent) response to my original comment. I can only offer that a statement with a question mark at the end of it sometimes confuses me. Having said that, your 'question' still eludes me as I have no idea why you ask it. Nevertheless, I will try to answer - as well as answer the (clearer) question you asked in your second response.
Yes, it is okay for an individual to realise their full potential - just as it is not only 'okay' but desirable that a nation realise its full potential. As to "Are you for Scotland regaining it's nationhood?" I'll take out the sentimentality and read that as 'am I for Scotland becoming independent of the United Kingdom?" No, I am not.
Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 7:47pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote]'am I for Scotland becoming independent of the United Kingdom?" No, I am not.[/quote] And therein lies the canyon of a discrepancy between those two held beliefs: one the one hand you believe in an individual's right to have opportunity to develop to his or her full potential. But not a nation.
What else is a nation if not a group of individuals? They are not cyphers.
Scotland cannot develop to its full potential while it is beholden to the culture, traditions, mores, values, ethics, financial constraints, constitution, and policies of another country, no matter how benign that other country appears to be.
'am I for Scotland becoming independent of the United Kingdom?" No, I am not.
And therein lies the canyon of a discrepancy between those two held beliefs: one the one hand you believe in an individual's right to have opportunity to develop to his or her full potential. But not a nation.
What else is a nation if not a group of individuals? They are not cyphers.
Scotland cannot develop to its full potential while it is beholden to the culture, traditions, mores, values, ethics, financial constraints, constitution, and policies of another country, no matter how benign that other country appears to be.
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 7:48pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]martin[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]tris[/bold] wrote: Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor. [/quote] It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it[/quote] Yes you can. ----------->
martin wrote:
tris wrote: Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor.
It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it
Yes you can. ----------->
Posted by: JBlackley, Florida on 8:43pm Fri 28 Mar 08
los angeles, thank you for your response to my comment and for the amount of time you're devoting to our discussion today.
Sadly, I cannot thank you for putting words in my mouth. At no time and in no forum did I dispute a nation's - any nation's - right to realise its full potential.
I can understand why you would imply that - given the nationalist cant that appears in your responses - but I won't agree that the only means for Scotland to realise its full potential is to be independent from the United Kingdom. Indeed, I believe that becoming independent would lessen Scotland's capacity for realising its full potential.
While I understand that you hold the nationalist view, do please refrain from attributing to me thoughts that I don't hold and have never expressed.
los angeles, thank you for your response to my comment and for the amount of time you're devoting to our discussion today.
Sadly, I cannot thank you for putting words in my mouth. At no time and in no forum did I dispute a nation's - any nation's - right to realise its full potential.
I can understand why you would imply that - given the nationalist cant that appears in your responses - but I won't agree that the only means for Scotland to realise its full potential is to be independent from the United Kingdom. Indeed, I believe that becoming independent would lessen Scotland's capacity for realising its full potential.
While I understand that you hold the nationalist view, do please refrain from attributing to me thoughts that I don't hold and have never expressed.
Posted by: martin, edinburgh on 9:09pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Observer[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]martin[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]tris[/bold] wrote: Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor. [/quote] It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it[/quote] Yes you can. ----------->[/quote] no you cant
someone who commits crime is less likely to need to read, nicking stuff doesn't need a signature, so they are less likely to learn
similarly, criminals arejust as likely to end up poor because they commit crime, as opposed to commit crime because they are poor. Commit crime, get caught and your chances of getting a job are diminished. You have contributed to your own poverty, not reacted against it in the first place. If poverty caused crime we would have no middle-class criminals, the disparity between wealth and crime is as well argued by saying crime makes you poor, so you will find more criminals amongst the poor.
Observer wrote:
martin wrote: tris wrote: Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor.
It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it
Yes you can. ----------->
no you cant
someone who commits crime is less likely to need to read, nicking stuff doesn't need a signature, so they are less likely to learn
similarly, criminals arejust as likely to end up poor because they commit crime, as opposed to commit crime because they are poor. Commit crime, get caught and your chances of getting a job are diminished. You have contributed to your own poverty, not reacted against it in the first place. If poverty caused crime we would have no middle-class criminals, the disparity between wealth and crime is as well argued by saying crime makes you poor, so you will find more criminals amongst the poor.
Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 9:24pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Blackley Flouride quote]Indeed, I believe that becoming independent would lessen Scotland's capacity for realising its full potential.[/quote] I understand.
If you were personal trainer of a top athlete and it was his big Olympic race, instead of having him slim down and keep his muscles in trim, you would have him fatten up, and tie one leg behind his back.
An interesting if unorthodox approach.
Blackley Flouride quote]Indeed, I believe that becoming independent would lessen Scotland's capacity for realising its full potential. I understand.
If you were personal trainer of a top athlete and it was his big Olympic race, instead of having him slim down and keep his muscles in trim, you would have him fatten up, and tie one leg behind his back.
An interesting if unorthodox approach.
Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 9:27pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Blackley Flouride[quote]Indeed, I believe that becoming independent would lessen Scotland's capacity for realising its full potential.[/quote] I understand
If you were coach of a top athlete, and it was his big race at the Olympics, instead of having him slim down and stay trim, you would have him fatten up, and tie one leg behind his back.
And interesting if unorthodox approach.
Blackley Flouride
Indeed, I believe that becoming independent would lessen Scotland's capacity for realising its full potential.
I understand
If you were coach of a top athlete, and it was his big race at the Olympics, instead of having him slim down and stay trim, you would have him fatten up, and tie one leg behind his back.
And interesting if unorthodox approach.
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 9:30pm Fri 28 Mar 08
It worked for Jackie Baillie
It worked for Jackie Baillie
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 9:31pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]martin[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Observer[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]martin[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]tris[/bold] wrote: Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor. [/quote] It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it[/quote] Yes you can. ----------->[/quote] no you cant someone who commits crime is less likely to need to read, nicking stuff doesn't need a signature, so they are less likely to learn similarly, criminals arejust as likely to end up poor because they commit crime, as opposed to commit crime because they are poor. Commit crime, get caught and your chances of getting a job are diminished. You have contributed to your own poverty, not reacted against it in the first place. If poverty caused crime we would have no middle-class criminals, the disparity between wealth and crime is as well argued by saying crime makes you poor, so you will find more criminals amongst the poor.[/quote] You can't be that dumb.
martin wrote:
Observer wrote: martin wrote: tris wrote: Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor.
It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it
Yes you can. ----------->
no you cant someone who commits crime is less likely to need to read, nicking stuff doesn't need a signature, so they are less likely to learn similarly, criminals arejust as likely to end up poor because they commit crime, as opposed to commit crime because they are poor. Commit crime, get caught and your chances of getting a job are diminished. You have contributed to your own poverty, not reacted against it in the first place. If poverty caused crime we would have no middle-class criminals, the disparity between wealth and crime is as well argued by saying crime makes you poor, so you will find more criminals amongst the poor.
You can't be that dumb.
Posted by: Anne, lowlands on 10:13pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I find it a pity that in the article her millions are being mentioned just in the end, maybe because I haven't read any of her literature or seen any of the HP films. Did I miss something?
It's good to visit prisoners, really, if you're handed the opportunity to give them a boost.
I hope Kenny and Karen are doing fine.;-)
I find it a pity that in the article her millions are being mentioned just in the end, maybe because I haven't read any of her literature or seen any of the HP films. Did I miss something?
It's good to visit prisoners, really, if you're handed the opportunity to give them a boost.
I hope Kenny and Karen are doing fine.;-)
Posted by: Anne, willow weep for me, the song on 10:44pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Just visited the Scottish Prison Service website and leave the address here.> SPS website<. Very interesting. All the languages provided. Was Rowlings invited because the word 'sauch' for Scottish 'Sauchton' for Saughton, means '[bold]willow[/bold] ? Any connections here?
Just visited the Scottish Prison Service website and leave the address here.> SPS website<. Very interesting. All the languages provided. Was Rowlings invited because the word 'sauch' for Scottish 'Sauchton' for Saughton, means '
willow ? Any connections here?
Posted by: Observer, Glasgow on 10:49pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I think she was invited because the organisers know that she is not a narrow minded idiot and she will understand the importance of literacy in prisoners meaning whether they will re offend or not may depend upon it.
I think she was invited because the organisers know that she is not a narrow minded idiot and she will understand the importance of literacy in prisoners meaning whether they will re offend or not may depend upon it.
Posted by: martin, edinburgh on 10:52pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Observer[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]martin[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Observer[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]martin[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]tris[/bold] wrote: Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor. [/quote] It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it[/quote] Yes you can. -----------&amp;gt;[/quote] no you cant someone who commits crime is less likely to need to read, nicking stuff doesn't need a signature, so they are less likely to learn similarly, criminals arejust as likely to end up poor because they commit crime, as opposed to commit crime because they are poor. Commit crime, get caught and your chances of getting a job are diminished. You have contributed to your own poverty, not reacted against it in the first place. If poverty caused crime we would have no middle-class criminals, the disparity between wealth and crime is as well argued by saying crime makes you poor, so you will find more criminals amongst the poor.[/quote] You can't be that dumb.[/quote] nope, simply thinking outside the box. I understand such radical new ideologies as put forward by great thinkers such as myself take time to knit with the masses, or is it that accepting such thought would compromise your own blame-it-on-society-
not-yourself-son viewpoints when dealing with such miscreants? If it's the second case and you are entrenched in that viewpoint there is nothing I can do for you, the most soaring eagle cannot lift a quicksanded cow as they say in dalbeattie.
crime equals poverty, but poverty doesn't equal crime
perhaps if a few more were told this it would turn them to a different path
Observer wrote:
martin wrote: Observer wrote: martin wrote: tris wrote: Well done JK Rowlings. The facts speak for themselves 60% of prisoners have reading ages of 11 years or under. There's no place in our society for people with that level of skill. So they are excluded for society, and they turn to crime. QED Perhaps if schools worried less about league tables for entry into university, and more about making sure that people could read, we wouldn't be forced to consider building even more prisons. It's not the only reason for committing crime (I'm sure Derek Conway's reading age is way above 11) but it's a huge contributory factor.
It's just as likely the lovable rogues didn't bother learning to read at school as they were having a more fun time nicking things As with poverty and crime, you can correlate poor education and crime, but you can't put an arrow of causality on it
Yes you can. -----------&amp;gt;
no you cant someone who commits crime is less likely to need to read, nicking stuff doesn't need a signature, so they are less likely to learn similarly, criminals arejust as likely to end up poor because they commit crime, as opposed to commit crime because they are poor. Commit crime, get caught and your chances of getting a job are diminished. You have contributed to your own poverty, not reacted against it in the first place. If poverty caused crime we would have no middle-class criminals, the disparity between wealth and crime is as well argued by saying crime makes you poor, so you will find more criminals amongst the poor.
You can't be that dumb.
nope, simply thinking outside the box. I understand such radical new ideologies as put forward by great thinkers such as myself take time to knit with the masses, or is it that accepting such thought would compromise your own blame-it-on-society-
not-yourself-son viewpoints when dealing with such miscreants? If it's the second case and you are entrenched in that viewpoint there is nothing I can do for you, the most soaring eagle cannot lift a quicksanded cow as they say in dalbeattie.
crime equals poverty, but poverty doesn't equal crime
perhaps if a few more were told this it would turn them to a different path
Posted by: bob mckay, glasgow on 11:31pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Hey Jakey, if prisons were more like your azkaban there would be less criminals! Our prisons arent full of dementors but the demented. Average IQ borders on learningdisabled. Its not poverty of material goods but poverty of intellect and good mental health. Peace and love, as ever would solve the problem.
Hey Jakey, if prisons were more like your azkaban there would be less criminals! Our prisons arent full of dementors but the demented. Average IQ borders on learningdisabled. Its not poverty of material goods but poverty of intellect and good mental health. Peace and love, as ever would solve the problem.
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