Lighting the blue touch paper.... ready? Kelly 'doing right thing' for son
Former Education Secretary Ruth Kelly has defended her decision to send her son, who has "substantial learning difficulties", to a private school.She said she had removed her son from a state school after professional advice recommended he be placed in a school "able to meet his particular needs".
Ms Kelly said the local authority had accepted the advice, but she had not asked for any help with the cost.
She said: "I, like any mother, want to do the right thing for my son."
Do you know how much it costs to get your child statemented for special needs care? a whopping £12,000 spoundulics - if you want to fight the LEA
My LEA had to be forced through a tribunal before they would provide the right school for my severely autistic child. It was a brutal experience.Ruth Kelly did not even shown me the courtesy of a response when I wrote to her about it.
In my view she has the right to spend her money how she wants. But I also have the right to call her a hypocrite. I did not have the luxury of options that she has taken for her own child
Is a comment from the BBC website which opened up their news story to the public for debate about British Member of Parliament Ruth Kelly sending her child to a private school rather than a state school, for better provision for the education of her child.
My interest in this story is the tidal wave of public response, a group forming network of conversation, and the grave dilemma facing a government who now desperately needs to overhaul our education system.
The £12,000 I cite is fact and we know various parent who have had to take on the LEA (Local Education Authorities) to legally force them to make provision for children who have special needs.
Britain, bankrupted after the Second World War, is now facing another thorny financial crisis. How to redefine fair education for all in the 21st Century. Where every child will count in terms of contributing to the success and GDP of this country.
I have written about my children before, all 3 who are dyslexic. The cost to educate them privately staggering. But do we get tax relief? No.
It is fascinating to read the ferocity, frustration, anger, bewilderment, cynicism of those that have engaged at the BBC website. Even from as afar as Australia
How about this...
As an retired teacher I have some experience of this government's 'inclusion' policy. This meant a class of children with as many as a third with special needs from autism to Downs syndrome. No one was trained or qualified for special needs nor was much achieved. The clever/average children lost out. There is a need for special schools, but if Tony & co had their way they would not exist.Typical of them - over-paid hypocrites, how many of us with a large family could afford to go private?
[Pauline-WiltshireUK]
And this comment
Surely we should be berating a school system that does not meet the needs of our children rather than a Mother who wants the best for her child.
So who will be the champion for reform? Where is our equivalent to Jamie Oliver and his feed me better campaign that forced government policy on food provision in schools to be changed?
In total the BBC website shows 1,099 comments the first coming at 9 January, 2007, 18:32 GMT 18:32 UK as it hit the main TV news
Rather than tut-tut-tutting at the TV and saying oh dear.
Open response platforms provide people with the means to engage in the debate - it is only the beginning, it will be interesting to see how this narrative develops. How far will the BBC push this? What will they do when it comes to the next general election? Or a time of war? How far will people power affect organisations and institutions?
20th Century education no match for the needs of a 21st Century world
But this is a clear indication of the rise of social media and its direction.
I really love the way you do things around here.
Posted by: Gold Bridesmaid Dresses | June 02, 2011 at 03:12 AM
I follow you VIA GFC and I love your blog!
Posted by: Belstaff Outlets UK | November 18, 2011 at 07:29 AM