Young seek old values

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 8

Young seek old values

London correspondent The young in Britain have apparently turned their backs on the permissive society, and are longing for a return to the values of Victorian times. They are disturbed at the high divorce rate and do not want to make the same mistakes as earlier generations, according to a huge survey undertaken in Britain. The survey covered 15,000 youngsters born in the same week in April, 1970. Professor Neville Butler, a director of the International Centre for Child Studies in Bristol, masterminded the survey, and has been following the progress of the boys

and girls since infancy. The teenagers talked freely and wrote about their hopes and aspirations. “They are very articulate, and tend to know what they want. They are also a very caring generation, if a Right-wing one,” said Professor Butler. While the youngsters wanted capital punishment restored for murder and football hooligans flogged, they also spoke out strongly against racism. The survey also found that more teenagers would like to eat a healthy diet with bran for breakfast, if only someone would devise a tastier bran.