The Adventure of the Bouncy Ball

In my last blog post, I wrote about trauma and a few days later I thought about one of the most traumatic moments of my childhood. I should point out that this tale isn't meant to be taken as a genuine trauma before I start recounting it. 

So let's travel back to the late 90s. I was maybe six or seven and was enjoying primary school and my prized possession was a bouncy ball- I've always been easy to please. As bouncy balls go, this was top of the range. The top half was clear and the bottom half was a translucent blue which represented the sea because embedded in the centre of this bouncy ball was a plastic dolphin. For a short period, this ball accompanied me everywhere. 

One day I had a day off school, presumably an INSET day, and so I had to accompany my Dad to pick up my younger brother from nursery. My Dad, very much in character, was talking for what felt like some time to another parent so as we waited my brother and I played on the long disabled ramp which led to the church hall's door. Obviously, the only thing we had to amuse ourselves was the aforementioned bouncy ball. We rolled it around for a bit and this was very satisfying on the long ramp. I concluded that the ultimate step up would be to roll it from the very top of the ramp. This is where things went horribly wrong. 

I positioned myself at the top of the ramp, ball poised for what would prove to be its final adventure. I let go of the ball and thanks to the ramp being both long and smooth, the ball rolled with some speed towards the fence that separated the building from the road. The main property of a bouncy ball is, of course, its bounciness so my ball hit the fence, bounced off and preceded to roll straight out of the car park and onto the busy road outside. I could only watch in horror as the ball rolled straight under the path of a car tyre and was obliterated. I was left with two halves of useless rubber and a small plastic dolphin which, like the real thing, was not suited to being out of it's natural environment. 

The fact I can remember this event in such detail demonstrates how traumatic the event was for me. But though the memory isn't exactly a happy one, it also demonstrates that my childhood was actually excellent and that I'm extremely fortunate that the destruction of a cheap toy is pretty much the worst memory I can conjure. 

I've now worked in education in one way or another for over ten years and I've seen so many examples of children who aren't that lucky. This week the UK government voted against providing meal vouchers over half term for children who are entitled to free school meals during term time. It's a head-scratchingly ludicrous decision. I always try to understand both sides of a political debate but the arguments against doing this just don't add up. 

The government say that the benefits system should pay for meals. But anyone struggling to get by will tell you that when you're trying to afford food, clothes, heating and other bills, the pittance the government gives you will not touch the sides. People say that you shouldn't have children if you can't afford to. First of all, I question how you're supposed to work out exactly how much a child will cost you and there's also the fact that circumstances can change very quickly, especially during a pandemic where so many people have lost their jobs. It also strikes me that it would probably be more economical in the long run if the government paid for children to eat. It shouldn't be an economical decision anyway but those that view it as one should consider that it might actually save money. Surely it's likely to reduce these children's future medical needs? If they can eat properly they are likely to do a little better at school and maybe get a higher paid job than they might otherwise, meaning more tax for the government and the potential that the next generation won't need the same level of financial help. 

The decision is inhumane and it's hard not to feel a level of despair that the government has actually voted to allow children to go hungry. But in amongst this, I've still seen hope. Many local councils, of various political alignments, have stepped in to do what the government won't. Even more inspiring is the many local businesses, many of whom have had a hugely tough year, who are doing the same and are providing meals to those that need them. Whenever terrible things are happening, you'll always find the good people who go out of their way to make things better. 

I can look back at that young boy clutching two lumps of rubber with tears flowing down his face and despite his heartbreak I consider him lucky. The worst thing he had to face was a broken bouncy ball and he never had the feeling of not knowing when or what he was going to eat next like thousands of children do in this country and indeed across the world. I'm going to keep pushing the government to start doing the right thing in whatever way I can, be that through petitions, votes or any other opportunity that might arise and I know that sooner or later we will have a government that chooses to feed those who are most in need.