David Cameron has noticed that health and safety regulations stop schools taking children out on field trips, outdoor activities or just collect autumn leaves down the local park. (1)____ And the Department for Children, Schools and Families is to issue guidelines about extra-curricular activities, with aiming to get pupils out of classrooms and back into the real world.(2)____
I suppose school- organized, adult-supervised activities are better than nothing. And they're really not good enough.(3)____ (4)____ Indeed, excess health and safety measures at school are just the tip of the risk aversion iceberg leaving increasing numbers of young people without the emotional resilience, social competence and personal confidence to thrive in our society. The Institute for Public Research couple of years ago, found British youngsters at or near the top of the European charts for almost every type of teenage misconduct.(5)____ Nothing is mightily wrong with childhood in Britain, and after thirty years working with children and teachers (the last eight years which were spent researching 'toxic childhood'), I reckon my risk aversion-not just in schools but in every area of life-is a major part of the problem.(6)____ (7)____ (8)____
A combination of parental anxiety, community intolerance and all-pervasive risk aversion now threaten the mental and physical health of the next generation.(9)____ This is becoming a matter of urgency that we reclaim public space for our children and reclaim skills that came naturally to our ancestors.(10)____