Friday, June 23, 2006
Liberal Democrats Foc Us (Post 1)
I have the misfortune to live in a Lib Dem ward with a Lib Dem council. Every so often they produce an inane propaganda leaflet called “Focus”; for years I’ve endured this rubbish and I’ve hoped it might improve, but in vain. Now the sportsmen and women amongst my readership will soon realise that I’m being cruel in the manner of “shooting fish in a barrel” by attacking this publication. It is too easy a target, but I’ve had enough of it, and in the long term I’m probably doing them a service.
This edition tells us about new school buildings that have just opened; now I don’t know about you, but I’d expect it actually opens in September and the “story” should really be about completion, but if they have actually opened it with a short time to go before the end of the summer term I wouldn’t faint with surprise. The focus (pardon the phrase) is interesting because it reveals the important priorities, which concern councillors in charge of our local education.
We have a quote: “Probably the best school I have ever visited” – Parent. Doesn’t sound totally original to me, I think I may have heard something similar on a television advert. I’m not convinced I should be putting too much stock in this parental judgement.
Continuing with the educational excellence theme, the first picture shows the councillors outside the new building and we’re told: “Your Councillors fought a 15 years battle to get the old school replaced” now I think it is more grammatically correct to say: “Your councillors (small “c”) fought for 15 years…” or “Your councillors fought a 15 year…”. So I think it safe to assume grammar wont be a priority.
The second picture shows the “Modern reception area” I’m sure this will greatly contribute to the learning environment. I certainly can’t remember any school I attended having a modern reception area.
The third picture shows: “Safe, inner playground, provides secure area for younger and more vulnerable children”. I’ll refrain from parsing, but the playground isn’t really what school should be about. I have to add that this playground looks more like a garden with newly planted trees and small plants, and if the children are enjoying themselves I can’t see it lasting.
The final picture shows: “Hydrotherapy pool provides exercise option for pupils with special needs”; I’ve nothing against the pool per se, but of the four pictures none show anything remotely educational to do with the school.
Further on we’re told there is a “brand new family centre”. Just what is that? My parents and many like them managed to raise a family without a “family centre” somehow I suspect it will have very little to do with what I would call a family.
Finally we’re told, “a multi user games area will be constructed.” What is that? A computer network to play games on? Clearly my own education must have been lacking and I missed out on the “multi user games area”.
A full front-page article on a new school, and hardly any reference to its educational provision. I’m so glad that education is state controlled by such competent councillors.
Next, I’ll deal with the saddest article in the publication; apparently “Residents have told us “there’s nothing for them to do”. So the Council is organising the "biggest summer entertainments programme that Westfield has ever seen.” What person is so uninventive that they have to go to the council to tell them what to do. I have a few suggestions, but to be constructive, how about some voluntary work? How about visiting some of the myriad cultural attractions in York to which residents get discounted entry? What about taking up a hobby such as painting or fishing or hunting or reading? (There is a library you know). What on earth do these councillors think they’re doing in organising events for people because they are bored? Good to see my council tax is well spent.
In fact if they are bored that can watch the “Eco Depot office taking shape” on a web cam as another article informs us. I haven’t bothered with the link nor have I had a look at it. We’re told it gives “a 76% reduction in energy use compared with to a traditionally built, air-conditioned office”. I thought air-conditioning was an environmental no no. Now where I work, we don’t have air-conditioned offices, this is after all York, England not Miami or Lahore. We don’t need air-conditioned offices; more money well spent.
The next article to mention is the Lib Dems prattling on about NHS cuts and having a go at the Labour government “It’s disgusting and heartless” says council leader Steve Galloway. Unsurprisingly no mention is made of the closure of the Hebden Rise day care centre, which was quietly closed by the Lib Dem council and the subsequent turfing out those with learning difficulties. If I may quote his wife, councillor Sue Galloway “I’m concerned that residents’ health will suffer because of these cuts.” Again, she’s not talking about the Hebden Rise closure.
She continues on to say “The government has caused these problems by meddling in local services” an interesting position, which contrasts nicely with the final article I shall mention, a self-congratulatory piece about cardboard recycling.
A good article on garden waste recycling can be read here:
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2006/06/compost-for-brains.html
I must give credit where it’s due the Lib Dems do inadvertently identify the main issue being “landfill taxes and charges”, but totally miss the point that “The government has caused these problems by meddling in local services”. Here of course it is the government and the EU doing the meddling, but because it fits in with Lib Dem ideology they have no objection, no matter how much extra it costs the taxpayer.
Liberal Democrats Foc us? They certainly do.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
This edition tells us about new school buildings that have just opened; now I don’t know about you, but I’d expect it actually opens in September and the “story” should really be about completion, but if they have actually opened it with a short time to go before the end of the summer term I wouldn’t faint with surprise. The focus (pardon the phrase) is interesting because it reveals the important priorities, which concern councillors in charge of our local education.
We have a quote: “Probably the best school I have ever visited” – Parent. Doesn’t sound totally original to me, I think I may have heard something similar on a television advert. I’m not convinced I should be putting too much stock in this parental judgement.
Continuing with the educational excellence theme, the first picture shows the councillors outside the new building and we’re told: “Your Councillors fought a 15 years battle to get the old school replaced” now I think it is more grammatically correct to say: “Your councillors (small “c”) fought for 15 years…” or “Your councillors fought a 15 year…”. So I think it safe to assume grammar wont be a priority.
The second picture shows the “Modern reception area” I’m sure this will greatly contribute to the learning environment. I certainly can’t remember any school I attended having a modern reception area.
The third picture shows: “Safe, inner playground, provides secure area for younger and more vulnerable children”. I’ll refrain from parsing, but the playground isn’t really what school should be about. I have to add that this playground looks more like a garden with newly planted trees and small plants, and if the children are enjoying themselves I can’t see it lasting.
The final picture shows: “Hydrotherapy pool provides exercise option for pupils with special needs”; I’ve nothing against the pool per se, but of the four pictures none show anything remotely educational to do with the school.
Further on we’re told there is a “brand new family centre”. Just what is that? My parents and many like them managed to raise a family without a “family centre” somehow I suspect it will have very little to do with what I would call a family.
Finally we’re told, “a multi user games area will be constructed.” What is that? A computer network to play games on? Clearly my own education must have been lacking and I missed out on the “multi user games area”.
A full front-page article on a new school, and hardly any reference to its educational provision. I’m so glad that education is state controlled by such competent councillors.
Next, I’ll deal with the saddest article in the publication; apparently “Residents have told us “there’s nothing for them to do”. So the Council is organising the "biggest summer entertainments programme that Westfield has ever seen.” What person is so uninventive that they have to go to the council to tell them what to do. I have a few suggestions, but to be constructive, how about some voluntary work? How about visiting some of the myriad cultural attractions in York to which residents get discounted entry? What about taking up a hobby such as painting or fishing or hunting or reading? (There is a library you know). What on earth do these councillors think they’re doing in organising events for people because they are bored? Good to see my council tax is well spent.
In fact if they are bored that can watch the “Eco Depot office taking shape” on a web cam as another article informs us. I haven’t bothered with the link nor have I had a look at it. We’re told it gives “a 76% reduction in energy use compared with to a traditionally built, air-conditioned office”. I thought air-conditioning was an environmental no no. Now where I work, we don’t have air-conditioned offices, this is after all York, England not Miami or Lahore. We don’t need air-conditioned offices; more money well spent.
The next article to mention is the Lib Dems prattling on about NHS cuts and having a go at the Labour government “It’s disgusting and heartless” says council leader Steve Galloway. Unsurprisingly no mention is made of the closure of the Hebden Rise day care centre, which was quietly closed by the Lib Dem council and the subsequent turfing out those with learning difficulties. If I may quote his wife, councillor Sue Galloway “I’m concerned that residents’ health will suffer because of these cuts.” Again, she’s not talking about the Hebden Rise closure.
She continues on to say “The government has caused these problems by meddling in local services” an interesting position, which contrasts nicely with the final article I shall mention, a self-congratulatory piece about cardboard recycling.
A good article on garden waste recycling can be read here:
http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2006/06/compost-for-brains.html
I must give credit where it’s due the Lib Dems do inadvertently identify the main issue being “landfill taxes and charges”, but totally miss the point that “The government has caused these problems by meddling in local services”. Here of course it is the government and the EU doing the meddling, but because it fits in with Lib Dem ideology they have no objection, no matter how much extra it costs the taxpayer.
Liberal Democrats Foc us? They certainly do.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
