One in every 11 children in Britain is unhappy, according to a report published by the Children’s Society.
The detailed, 60 page report claims that family structures are not important, but rather the quality of relationships within families. The report does not mention the word ‘marriage’ once, leading to criticism that the charity, which has close ties to the Church, is now reluctant to uphold marriage as the best environment for raising children.
The report is based on a study of 6,000 children aged 8 to 15 and aims to provide a picture of modern childhood as well as suggest ways in which children’s prospects can be improved. Stability and calm in the household are highlighted as the foundational elements for a child’s happiness.
Yet, despite this observation, the report implies that marriage is not of fundamental importance to a child’s welfare, thus breaking with its previous reports. A report published by the Children’s Society three years ago said that children flourish when they live with two parents who are committed to one another for the long term and that co-habiting couples are more likely to break up and therefore damage children.
Criticism
The report has been criticised by family campaigners. Norman Wells of the Family Education Trust said: “It is disturbing that a report published by a charity dedicated to encouraging policies that promote the welfare of children should have nothing to say about the positive and protective value of marriage.
“There is a mountain of evidence that demonstrates that children living with their own married parents tend to have fewer emotional and behavioural problems, enjoy better health, do better academically, and have lower levels of stress, depression and anxiety”.
Disappointment
Andrea Minichiello Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern, commented:
“It is a great disappointment that the Children’s Society, as a Christian charity, fails to uphold marriage in its report as being the most beneficial environment for children. There is a wealth of research to show that the stability which the report recommends is most likely to be found in households with married parents.
“It appears that political correctness is, as ever, the enemy of truth. Unless we start being less afraid of what we can or can’t say, then we will never be able to speak with authority on the problems that society faces.
“If we are too afraid to speak up for marriage, then what about the rest of the gospel?”
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