Got a nine-year-old? Know any? Then watch out. They’re not to be messed with.
They have reach, power and influence beyond what you’d ever imagine.
Check these two out.
1. Nine-year-old Martha Payne from Argyll in western Scotland. Her school dinners aren’t great. Not very tasty, not very healthy, not very much. So she started taking photos like this…
Appetising? No?
and posting them on her blog www.NeverSeconds.blogspot.com . Just one totey wee little blog that no one will ever notice.
Oh really? After almost no time at all, the local council (which runs the school catering) and the Scottish government are having to defend themselves to every media organisation. And defend themselves with a rictus grin. Because it doesn’t do to be cross or dismissive with a nine-year-old girl who just wanted to do an interesting writing project. (At least, not in public.)
Somewhere in Argyll there’s a teacher who gave permission for Martha to bring her camera into Lochgilphead primary school who’s either hugging him/herself with glee, or else worried about future employment prospects. Whoever you are, I salute you!
I can also confirm that Martha can speak up for herself very well – as well as writing a killer blog. She has an endearing giggle too.
2. Nine-year-old Caine from East Los Angeles. I like and admire children who have an idea and then actually start trying to make it reality. It’s so refreshing. Caine is like that.
While spending the summer at his dad’s used car parts shop, he built his own amusement arcade from cardboard boxes. It’s ingenious and full of excellent features and twists. (I particularly like the calculator-based multi-pass authentification system.) You should watch the short film. It’s inspiring and very very cute. You might even shed a happy tear.
That’s the other thing about nine-year-olds. You won’t notice them taking over the world because they’re so damn cute.
Blackwatertown 
Martha and Caine are brave and daring kids; these two are going places.
Blessings – Maxi
Martha currently aspiring to being a journalist – soyou may be hearing from her again.
Caine is Able, and not to be beaten at school either.
Payneful.
Martha’s mum is actually a doctor – but she doesn’t use her married name.
I love their faces; i had read, regarding, girls and women, that if women are stuck in life, think back to when one was9 and look at all the qualities, but particularly what were you doing at that age. It’s a productive age for sure;
Interesting and potentially useful if it helps one to rediscover lost vim.
Thank our maker that children have a voice and the days of being seen and not heard, are well over.
Although there are moments when… pass the paracetemol.
Thank goodness these young people are part of this planet’s future — they’re going places — great places!
Hope so.
With kids like this you need not worry about the future, right?
As long as parents don’t put up barriers.
Only one of Charles Dickens children became really successful; it seemed that his brilliance might be forgotten- this little lad has the same flare and genius, could he somehow be a distant relative? Could our Government offer him further education in this country? He would be able to devote maybe a few hours a week to showing our Dave and George what to do to improve the economy
Even better – maybe I can find someone to create a cardboard arcade where I live. Do you think I could charge rent?
I can vouch for some other 9 year olds that I interact with and I agree, I don’t mess with them.
I truly believe they should be running the world or at least be primary advisors.
XO
WWW
Slightly Reminds Me Of These Photos !
Oh – that’s harsh.
But i see what you mean.
Three cheers for Martha Payne, exposing the pitiful state of school dinners so graphically. Apparently teachers all over the country are complaining about diminishing portions, the result of outside contractors trying to cut costs and make a fatter profit. So the kids are brain-starved and unable to concentrate properly. No wonder they’re under-achieving.
Though she doesn’t seem like one herself – an under-achiever, that is.
But in the main I agree. My local primary school has dumped the contractor because it simply wasn’t up to scratch – food kept running out, etc.