Sir, If half of all adults believe that young people are out of control (report, Nov 17), is there not a possibility that they are right?

Teenagers have not changed much over the past 20 years, and testing the boundaries of what is and is not acceptable behaviour is an integral part of growing up. However, in the past they would have been subjected to the kind of discipline that keeps them, largely, on the right side of the law. The attitudes prevalent in society today, where everything is child- centred rather than based on the concept of elders and betters, demands that children are encouraged to become involved, far too soon, in adult matters and are thereby denied the innocence of childhood which they deserve to experience.

Instead of making videos that are every bit as divisive as the stereotypes they seek to counter, perhaps Barnardo’s might be more gainfully employed in engaging with young people who seem to be all too aware of their “rights”, while having little understanding of the responsibilities that are part of having such rights. There is work to be done to empower parents and teachers, once more, to effect proper discipline, and the cloying political correctness that prevents this must be challenged.

Jon Payne

Birmingham