Louts and Legends

<p>For five years Jim Walker followed the stories of four groups of young men from their last years at an inner-city high school to their early twenties. <i>Louts and Legends</i> is a rich portrayal of their ways of life their responses to school and teachers and their experience of job-seeking employment unemployment further education and training.<br><br>Louts and Legends presents a unique perspective on Australian culture showing the problems achievements and social context of four distinct cultural styles: the macho 'Aussie' culture of the footballers; the competitive challenge of the Greeks; the 'nice guy' friendliness of the handballers; the artistic aspirations of the stigmatised three friends.<br><br>The interview and participant observation data gathered over a long period contains fresh insights on youth culture as well as moving individual stories. The findings in this book pose a challenge to educational and social policy but they also offer realistic suggestions for teachers youth workers parents and for other young people.</p>