Shallow celebrity is wrong role model

GONE are the days when children grew up wanting to be train drivers, firemen or astronauts.

A review has found they are more likely to aspire to be reality TV stars, fooballer’s wives and glamour models who get rich quick with little or no talent.

Now primary schools could be given guidance on how to interest children in “real jobs” in an effort to combat the effects of celebrity culture.

Karen Doherty asked town centre shoppers what they thinnk

THE finger of blame for creating a something-for-nothing society is pointed firmly at the shallow world of celebrity.

Lynda Kay (52), from Springhead, is in no doubt and said: “I think they just want the fame and the money and they are not prepared to work for it. There is just too much of it on television.

“A lot of them feel worthless and they want everything because they can see other people with everything.”

Jacqui Banham (63), from Lees, agreed and said: “They are not taught respect, they are taught they are princes and princesses and they can have whatever they want. It’s a material world.

“They do not get the knocks of life and I think they miss out on that. We were brought up at the end of the war and we knew rationing, we knew hardship, we knew right from wrong and that life doesn’t owe you anything, you have to earn it and work for it.”

Husband Keith agreed and added: “I wanted to be an engineer when I was young and I was. There wasn’t the celebrity culture. We had the Beatles but they were that far away from our lives we could never get there.”

Mother of two Leanne Read, from Fitton Hill, believes there is too much reality TV, and the 21-year-old added: “It is on every channel and people think it’s an easy way to fame and fortune.

“They should work, do something with their lives. If they want to make money they should go to college. I wanted to be lots of different things, an accountant and a psychologist, and I studied forensics at college.”

Pauline Wallis (70), from Springhead, thinks celebrities are bad role models, glamorising the likes of heavy boozing, drugs and size zero.

“The parents are mostly to blame to be honest, there is not enough discipline. There should be guidance to show children right from wrong,” she added.

Teenagers Danny Weston and Aimee Howe, both 16, are studying web design at Oldham College and Danny agreed that girls aspired to size zero because of celebrity culture.

Aimee added: “I wouldn’t want to be famous but I would like all the money! If you are famous you have to put up with the paparazzi.”

Paul McAndrew (55), from Royton, would be quite happy to eat a few bugs for £10,000 — aping contestants on “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here”.

But he had sympathy for people who are dazzled by the lure of celebrity and said: “I do not think it is their fault to be honest, there is no industry.

“When I went to work at 15 it was like I had another parent there who dragged you through.”