ABSTRACT
This chapter is concerns the opinions, perceptions and experience of a few young people in transiton - expressed in their own words taken verbatim from tape-recorded interviews. It takes as its basic premise that all too often policy makers and planners of transition courses make the assumption that prospective trainees are neutral and maleable and even unaware of their situation. The interviews reported have been selected from research conducted with unemployed school-leavers over a three-year period. This has been a significant triennium for the country in general and youth in particular. In a sense the emphasis currently placed on work experience compounds the lie. The threat of unemployment looses its effect if it becomes perceived as the norm, this is particularly the case for school-leavers. The riots can be seen to have expressed alienation and relieved boredom - a legitimate response to frustrations arising from lack of work and money.
