Deeply Worrying

Back in January this year I posted about interference in our education system (at least that is what the politicians call it - an education system) and wondered whether parents were aware of this. Today, courtesy of The Albion Alliance Presents, comes notice of another insidious intrusion into the welfare of children, an intrusion of which I was not aware and one that makes me wonder whether parents of children are.


The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) produces what is termed a S'cool agenda for young people and which advises that the 2011 Agenda does not only help young people to keep track of their daily activities and homework, but is also intended to raise awareness on fundamental rights issues in Europe. The FRA S'Cool Agenda provides useful information on topics like racism, xenophobia, discrimination and homophobia as well as a calendar of commemorative days and a number of other features. From the 2011 Agenda it is also learnt that S’cool Agenda is published by the FRA for teenagers between 12 and 18 years old. The purpose of the  S’cool Agenda is to raise awareness about fundamental rights. Every year, limited numbers of the S’cool Agenda are printed and distributed across the EU for free.


I may be old fashioned but I always assumed that children went to school to gain an education - to be taught the correct use of their language, to read and hopefully develop a love of great literature, to learn about the history of their country and its evolution, to acquire a basic grasp of mathematics, etc etc. Do read S'cool Agenda and then ask yourself this question:


If our politicians are so hell bent on preventing the 'grooming' of children for sexual practices, how in the name of damnation do our politicians allow the 'grooming' of young minds for political purposes?


Just asking.......................

Ray Honeyford

An obituary appeared in today's edition of the Daily Telegraph for the above-named, a teacher who in 1984 dared to criticise multiculturalism. This man was also the subject of two articles, one in City Journal in 2002 and the other in the Daily Telegraph in 2006. Besides being right on multiculturalism he also was totally right when considering the worth of politicians. 


When Ruth Kelly, then Communities Secretary, made a speech publicly questioning the multiculturalist orthodoxies that, for so long, had acted almost as a test of virtue among "right-thinking" people - and asked if he had been impressed by Kelly's speech, he is reported as having said that she was only a politician, a bird of passage, minister of education one day and minister of communities the next, and like all politicians liable to say whatever was fashionable or useful to her career at the moment. (my emphasis)


It is perhaps pertinent to repeat the last words of Theodore Dalrymple, writing in city Journal:

"If we had only listened to Ray Honeyford, we should not have sown what we are now reaping and what we (and others) shall reap for many years to come."

Questions for Ukip?

An article has appeared in the Mail today in which Paul Nuttall castigates the EU for 'brainwashing children in our schools', the article referring to an 'Education Show' held in Birmingham. 'Googling' 'education show birmingham' brings forth an announcement by the European Union of an event that took place on 4th and 5th of March 2010. Later, on the 11th November a related event took place at the RAF Museum, Cosford in November 2010. That this matter was raised on this blog 4 days ago and now appears in the Mail may be just a coincidence, however it has to be asked why the time-delay on the part of Ukip in raising this subject and referring to the event? 


The excuse that a direct link could not be proved does not hold water as would not a political party like Ukip keep track of such events and send an observer along? The Ukip website has an entry on this subject here. Saying on the Ukip website that Paul Nuttal has demanded of Michael Gove is not the same as saying he has written to Michael Gove and once again questions have to be asked of those responsible for input into the Ukip website - so the question arises, has Nuttall demanded verbally (which can be ignored) or has he written (which requires a response) - big difference in message and of content - and importance.


Being unable to find reference to any later 'Education Show' or 'Conference' event on Google begs the accusation that like all politicians - and irrespective of party - rule number one is to never miss an opportunity to get your name and that of your party in print.


Just saying...........

Insidious education

"The most erroneous assumption is to the effect that the aim of public education is to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence, and so make them fit to discharge the duties of citizenship in an enlightened and independent manner. Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim of public education is not to spread enlightenment at all; it is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality."
H.L. Mencken

"Whenever is found what is called a paternal government, there is found state education. It has been discovered that the best way to ensure implicit obedience is to commence tyranny in the nursery." Benjamin Disraeli, 1874

Presently education is the exclusive competence of each Member State, yet only last November, the 11th to be precise, a conference took place at RAF Museum, Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP entitled: "All About EU : Raising Awareness of the European Union across the Curriculum and Whole School Community". Funded by the European Union, it covered raising awareness of the EU in the primary and in the secondary curriculum.


So children attending schools in this country will be educated indoctrinated with 'the EU is good', which probably explains why governments have steadily deleted British history from the curriculum. I wonder how many parents were aware of this conference or are aware of just what their children are taught? If education is an exclusive competence of Member States, just what were the government and education authorities doing allowing such a conference with that agenda? That this was held in association with a Conservative-run council is not really that surprising, especially now their leader has admitted that it is a party only moderately eurosceptic.

The moulding of young minds

This report in the Daily Express should be of concern to any parent who has children at school, be they state or private. That education is an area in which the EU has the competence to carry out actions to support, co-ordinate or supplement the actions of Member States under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) (Article 6e) means that whenever Brussels wishes to stick it's oar in, it can do.

I believe it correct that when, in schools, one particular political viewpoint is made it is obligatory that the alternative is also made - unless of course our elected dictators have managed to change this. To begin instilling political claptrap into the minds of a 5-year-old is surely taking matters to an unacceptable extreme and were I a parent I would want my child excluded - failing which I would promptly withdraw him/her from that school.

The burning question now arises is what our puppet-government will do should this become a directive or regulation from our masters in Brussels. The question has to be asked, when considering most EU 'initiatives' are discussed months before they become public, whether the decision taken in November last year to dismiss teaching staff who are members of BNP and other 'extremist groups' was a precursor to this latest idea from Brussels.

Regular readers will be only too aware that I believe our present collection of elected dictators are no different to any other dictator, elected or otherwise.

When considering the smugness and superiority captured on the face of this man, if you turn to history books of events across the channel 70 years ago it is possible to see similar expressions captured on the faces of a different race.

Afterthought: For any reader wanting an insight into "European Schools", see this post. 

Just saying.........