tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post116825537123541956..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Ruth Kelly Has Done What's Right for Her ChildIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168526368301023202007-01-11T14:39:00.000+00:002007-01-11T14:39:00.000+00:00This would, on the face of it, be an opportune mom...This would, on the face of it, be an opportune moment to say that it was laudable for Ms Kelly to take this action as it is clearly in the best interests of her child.<BR/><BR/>However, the resignation matter is somewhat different, “Should she resign ?… absolutely yes, no doubt about it”. <BR/><BR/>She is a minister of a governmental team that has completely failed in the adequate provision of either a special needs educational system nor indeed a cogent strategy. <BR/><BR/>What this governmental team (yes, I mean the team of the least credible PM of the last two centuries) has presided over is the “misrepresentation” of a laudable theory (inclusion) whilst in practise it has presided over the systematic dismantling of special needs educational provision within the UK.<BR/><BR/>I was very fortunate in having the opportunity to relocate to the United States in order to better address the learning needs of our Autistic son, however this comes at a heavy price to my family life (as I spend half my life on the other side of the globe earning a living) but it was one we (my American wife and I) realistically felt was the only option in light of the clear failure on the part of the UK system to deliver an adequate educational option for parents of special needs children. <BR/><BR/>We also spent the best part of £40k on providing an intensive (@ 6hrs a day) speech and language program for our child as an “offset” to the State’s one hour a week provision in Edinburgh.<BR/><BR/>Did we begrudge this investment in our child’s future? No, and neither would any parent in a position to do so, however the fact of the matter is that the UK’s “inclusion policy”, in the vast majority of cases, is neither adequately supported nor resourced. <BR/><BR/>The winners are the PR machines whilst the losers, invariably, are the families of those with special needs.<BR/> <BR/>Clearly there are pockets (mostly within London) in the UK where some local authorities are addressing such educational special needs issues, strangely including the district where Ruth Kelly and her family have their home. Ruth Kelly’s (somewhat reluctant) de-facto statement is “this may well be the best State provision, it just isn’t good enough for me”. <BR/><BR/>So what clearer case can there be (for resignation) than one such as this, a minister for education withdrawing her child from one of the best (state sector) special needs programs in the UK as it is inadequate/inappropriate for her child. <BR/><BR/>Please, this is a pathetic admission of failure, and a clearer resignation issue could not be found.<BR/><BR/>I do not believe she is guilty of “hypocrisy”, she is doing the best for her child. She, and all her cabinet colleagues, are however “guilty” of being incompetent and thus, if they possessed one shred of decency, they should resign en-masse and bring their incompetence to the electorate.<BR/><BR/>They have failed on IRAQ (false intelligence, false rationale for the invasion), failed on the “war on terror” (with policies which clearly helped to create home grown bombers, whilst simultaneously dropping the BAE/Saudi corruption investigation), failed one of the most vulnerable sectors of society (special needs education). <BR/><BR/>What success have they had?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168471602147134912007-01-10T23:26:00.000+00:002007-01-10T23:26:00.000+00:00Vienna Woods, how do you define:1. "mind control o...Vienna Woods, how do you define:<BR/><BR/>1. "mind control of young people"?<BR/>2. "abuse of women"?<BR/>3. "indecent haste" where canonisation is concerned? <BR/>4. "interference in government and other public institutions"? and<BR/>5. a "sect"?<BR/><BR/>And you still haven't answered my point about the number of living left-leaning politicians in Opus Dei, compared to the number of dead (including long-dead) right-leaning ones.<BR/><BR/>There's a whole article on my blog entitled 'Opus Dei and the Left', which deals, among other things, with why people are so hostile to Opus Dei.David Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839882674758833524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168417613985798412007-01-10T08:26:00.000+00:002007-01-10T08:26:00.000+00:00Letter in Daily Telegraph 10 Jan 2007Sir – As a so...Letter in Daily Telegraph 10 Jan 2007<BR/><BR/><I>Sir – As a solicitor, I have acted in cases where in excess of 2,000 learning disabled children and adults have been adversely affected by government policy. My disabled child clients have not been fortunate enough to have a choice to go to an independent school, and their challenge to a special school closure did not get off the ground, because they were fighting the government policy of "integration".<BR/><BR/>I act for disabled children in mainstream schools who are punished for behaviour outside their control. The education of other children suffers when teaching staff have to direct attention away from the majority towards the needs of a vulnerable and needy child.<BR/><BR/>The parents of my clients were all reassured at their birth that the state would provide for them. While sympathising with her personal position and that of her innocent child, sadly the Government in which Miss Kelly is a minister has chosen to steal the care from my clients and spend it on war.<BR/><BR/>They call this policy "Fair Access to Care". This is double speak for "No Access to Care" for all falling below critical need.<BR/><BR/>I saved the learning disabled children's services in two counties, one Labour, one Conservative. I acted for 40 claimants, but got legal aid only for one. Continuing with the other 39, for whom the service formed the core of their sense of identity and self-worth, meant that only 1/40th of the cost of the case would be paid. Most had parents at risk of depression and suicide if service and respite were withdrawn. The case was lost because the local authority "is following government policy" and the other 39 learning disabled claimants have been ordered to pay the costs.<BR/><BR/>This is the future for the people whom Miss Kelly of all people, with her supporter David Cameron, should put their careers in jeopardy to fight for, rather than taking the Government's shilling and shielding their own.<BR/><BR/>Yvonne Hossack, Kettering, Northants</I><BR/><BR/><BR/>Some people have an economic penalty for daring to challenge the Almighty Government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168417071830320482007-01-10T08:17:00.000+00:002007-01-10T08:17:00.000+00:00David Lindsay wrote,..in what sense is Opus Dei a ...David Lindsay wrote,<BR/><BR/>..in what sense is Opus Dei a right-wing sect?<BR/><BR/>I evah deirt ot dnatsrednu uoy tuohtiw hcum sseccus.<BR/><BR/>I am a practicing Roman Catholic and like many others of my faith I have had several brushes with Opus Dei over the years which has scared me. They remind me of the Moonies with their mind control of young people and abuse of women. The one and only very ill judged decision by the late Pope John Paul, was to elevate Escrivas (founder of Opus Dei) to Sainthood with indecent haste.<BR/><BR/>If you really want to learn about the interference of this sect in government and other public institutions, have a look here… www.mond.at/opus.dei/ . Don’t worry, it’s in Englishlanguage.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168385177331528842007-01-09T23:26:00.000+00:002007-01-09T23:26:00.000+00:00Vienna Woods, in what sense is Opus Dei a right-wi...Vienna Woods, in what sense is Opus Dei a right-wing sect? Ruth Kelly, a Labour Cabinet Minister after all, is the most prominent Opus Dei politician in the world today, and appears to be the only one, anywhere, at Cabinet level. The President of the Socialist International, António Guterres (UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and former PM of Portugal), has a long history in Opus Dei. Its ranks also include Squire Lance, Antonio Fontán, Paola Binetti, Llúis Foix, Mario Maiolo and Xavi Casajuana (if we count Catalan nationalism as part of the Left; it is certainly a very long way from Franco), among others.<BR/><BR/>Most of the Chilean "Chicago Boys" were not members of Opus Dei. Pinochet himself never had any affiliation with it. Of six right-wing Opus Dei politicians listed on Wikipedia, four are dead (one since 1966), whereas the three broad left-wingers listed (including two women) are all still alive.<BR/><BR/>So, insofar as it has a political orientation, Opus Dei’s would seem to be towards the Left, if anything. Much like the Catholic Church Herself, in fact. So much for being right-wing. Now, in what sense is it a sect?<BR/><BR/>Oh, and Voyager, it is Her Again whom you can blame for central government micro-management of schools: like Blair, she had a Howard Hughes-like fear of dirty local government, in her case because the only thing that she knew about it was that her father had been booted off it after more than 30 years. Like Blair, she could not get her ahead around the idea that local government is not an agency of central government; and so she tried to create a nationalised parallel education system (cf: Blair's City Academies, &c), among much else, in order to undermine it.David Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06839882674758833524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168381625430983162007-01-09T22:27:00.000+00:002007-01-09T22:27:00.000+00:00Iain is correct in his posting. I certainly do not...Iain is correct in his posting. I certainly do not support Ruth Kelly's politics, however, since I am a free-market, libertarian Conservative, I do support her right as a mother with means to send one of her children with special needs to a school outside the state system. The other 3 children are continuing education in state schools.<BR/><BR/>What's needed is good educational opportunities for all youngsters irrespective of their family background and wealth. I support the re-introduction of the Grammar School system. Sadly, only people like MP's have the means to have their children, even with special needs, educated in this way.<BR/><BR/>It's a sad person who won't strive to secure the best possible education for their children, especially if they have special needs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168376260932576602007-01-09T20:57:00.000+00:002007-01-09T20:57:00.000+00:00Anonymous 10:53 asks, Verity,what is "garbage educ...Anonymous 10:53 asks, <I>Verity</I>,what is "garbage education"?<BR/><BR/>I am surprised you haven't heard of it yet. Garbage Studies, an investigation into the history of garbage from earliest times to celebrity garbage today is predicted to overtake Media Studies as the most popular degree subject for pretentious young people with a sense of entitlement who don't have the mental wherewithal to handle a real discipline.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168375377633135902007-01-09T20:42:00.000+00:002007-01-09T20:42:00.000+00:00I do not support Ruth Kelly's politics, however, s...I do not support Ruth Kelly's politics, however, since I am a free-market, libertarian Conservative, I do support her right as a mother with means to send one of her children with special needs to a school outside the state system. The other 3 children are continuing education in state schools.<BR/><BR/>What's needed is good educational opportunities for all youngsters irrespective of their family background and wealth. I support the re-introduction of the Grammar School system. Sadly, only people like MP's have the means to have their children, even with special needs, educated in this way.<BR/><BR/>It's a sad person who won't strive to secure the best possible education for their children, especially if they have special needs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168354494792185772007-01-09T14:54:00.000+00:002007-01-09T14:54:00.000+00:00Mr Whine,I fear you are a little too harsh on Ms K...Mr Whine,<BR/><BR/>I fear you are a little too harsh on Ms Kelly. Reportedly she has four children and only one is going to a private school. This makes me think that perhaps the poor child is indeed afflicted with some learning difficulty.<BR/><BR/>This does not, however, absolve her of the charge of hypocrisy. She and her chums set up the state system supposedly to serve everyone. Now she has obviously lost faith in it and she is demonstrating that she thinks it's there for everyone else.<BR/><BR/>Typical NuLabour elitist thinking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168345941198654472007-01-09T12:32:00.000+00:002007-01-09T12:32:00.000+00:00"special needs" my arse. there's an elephant in t..."special needs" my arse. there's an elephant in the room that nobody is talking about on the mainstream media. Ruth Kelly is a devout Roman Catholic. So devout that she is rumoured to be a member of Opus Dei.<BR/><BR/>Tower Hamlets has a rather large Muslim population. Go figure why she went private.<BR/><BR/>"special needs" is spin spin spin...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168343790321466032007-01-09T11:56:00.000+00:002007-01-09T11:56:00.000+00:00Labour's latest lunacy on EducationThe rules also ...Labour's latest lunacy on Education<BR/><BR/>The rules also stop a school giving priority to pupils whose parents put it as their first choice.<BR/><BR/>New School Admissions Code !!!!<BR/><BR/><BR/>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6244099.stmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168340521512334582007-01-09T11:02:00.000+00:002007-01-09T11:02:00.000+00:00I don't blame kelly for doing what is right for he...I don't blame kelly for doing what is right for her child, but I do blame her for being in a government that is not doing right by other peopple's children. She has effectively admitted this by her actions, and that is why she should leave government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168340238077421612007-01-09T10:57:00.000+00:002007-01-09T10:57:00.000+00:00When good is not good enoughhttp://www.phoenix.tow...When good is not good enough<BR/><BR/>http://www.phoenix.towerhamlets.sch.uk/<BR/><BR/>Ofsted said ...<BR/><BR/>"Phoenix School is a very good school with a significant number of excellent features. There are no significant weaknesses in its provision for pupils. As a result, there are no key issues for the Governors to address".<BR/><BR/>Hom, hum. So what exactly are you saying Iain - no matter how good the state school your wouldn't send your kids there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168339995302449652007-01-09T10:53:00.000+00:002007-01-09T10:53:00.000+00:00verity - what is a 'garbage education'?verity - what is a 'garbage education'?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168339912916553682007-01-09T10:51:00.000+00:002007-01-09T10:51:00.000+00:00man in a shed - learn to use the apostrophe !!!man in a shed - learn to use the apostrophe !!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168339131822604102007-01-09T10:38:00.000+00:002007-01-09T10:38:00.000+00:00Hardly an underprivileged background!and her fathe...<I>Hardly an underprivileged background!</I><BR/><BR/>and her father was a Civil Servant as was Charles Clarke's and Patricia Hewitt'sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168338116192396652007-01-09T10:21:00.000+00:002007-01-09T10:21:00.000+00:00Research shows that Ruth Kelly was born in Ireland...Research shows that Ruth Kelly was born in Ireland before moving to England where she attended Edgarley Hall - the prep school for Millfield School. She then went to the private girls school Sutton High School. She won a scholarship to the sixth-form of Westminster School to undertake her A-levels. She went on to The Queen's College, University of Oxford (where she read Philosophy, Politics and Economics) and then attended the Labour breeding school (London School of Economics).<BR/><BR/>Hardly an underprivileged background!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168337029555421542007-01-09T10:03:00.000+00:002007-01-09T10:03:00.000+00:00My daughter was diagnosed as dyslexic shortly afte...My daughter was diagnosed as dyslexic shortly after she started school at 5 years. She went to a state school here in Vienna where the teacher was quite exceptional and she was able to help her overcome much of the problem, although it is still evident sometimes and she is now 16. Dyslexia in kids (and adults for that matter) is mainly to do with legostanic writing – i.e. back to front writing of letters. It’s nothing to do with learning ability and affects a great number of kids to a more or lesser degree. I don’t know what form of dyslexia Ruth Kelly’s child suffers from, but statistics would suggest the same as my child.<BR/><BR/>Although my daughter has attended private school since her 11th, year, the decision had nothing to do with dyslexia, but the local Grammar School standards which I didn’t appreciate. I have to say that most NuLabour politicians are hypocrites, wanting socialist policies for the rest of us while they enjoy the privileges which they regard as their right. Blair is a prime example of this. <BR/><BR/>Ruth Kelly has always been playing charades with the rest of us while existing in a right wing world of her own desires. She is reportedly a member of the right wing sect of the Roman Catholic Church, “Opus Dei”, which she doesn’t admit, stating it is a private matter, which hardly makes her a socialist except in name. Knowing this organisation as I do, I wouldn’t trust her to hold office in education or in any social sphere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168331658448212882007-01-09T08:34:00.000+00:002007-01-09T08:34:00.000+00:00>I won't be calling for Ruth Kelly's head.Why does...>I won't be calling for Ruth Kelly's head.<BR/><BR/>Why does this remind me of the Wall Street Journal's 'bottom stories of the day' feature, which runs headlines like 'Sheehan criticizes Bush' and 'Nothing stolen in local house'?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168326995211303732007-01-09T07:16:00.000+00:002007-01-09T07:16:00.000+00:00Iain,I'm sorry to say, but like most commenters he...Iain,<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry to say, but like most commenters here, I must disagree with you. There is some serious hypocrisy going on here and it should be a resigning issue.<BR/><BR/>Either Ms Kelly believes in the system she has helped to create, in which case she should keep her son within that system. Or she has lost faith in the policy of her party and the government of which she is a member and should say so and then resign on the grounds of conscience.<BR/><BR/>To opt out of the system and then try and conceal her motives with mealy mouthed excuses that bear no examination simply marks her out as a hypocritical politician trying to have her cake and eat it.<BR/><BR/>She deserves all the criticism she is getting from the public and quite frankly she should be getting a shedload more from MP's (and wouldbe MP's). She's dragging their name through the mud and adding yet more to the public perception that they are simply a bunch of self centred careerists who care not one jot about the people they claim to represent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168326336858377992007-01-09T07:05:00.000+00:002007-01-09T07:05:00.000+00:00What we should abolish is State Schools. How did t...What we should abolish is State Schools. How did they become nationalised ?<BR/><BR/>Once they were Local and Accountable but now they obey Whitehall Diktat.........they are simply sausage-factories fitting human meat into the same casings and spewing them out at the "Value" end of the freezer.<BR/><BR/>Time to abolish all State SchoolsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168316974755658322007-01-09T04:29:00.000+00:002007-01-09T04:29:00.000+00:00If Ruth Kelly is doing what is best for her childr...If Ruth Kelly is doing what is best for her children, why the bloody hell does she leave the other two, IN, the State system?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168312740792973122007-01-09T03:19:00.000+00:002007-01-09T03:19:00.000+00:00david lindsay - for a person posting as legally br...david lindsay - for a person posting as legally brain dead, you are doing OK. Not great, but we all recognise the disadvantage you are posting under. Being on life support with a big switch above your tubes that says ON/OFF, it cannot be easy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168309148035227852007-01-09T02:19:00.000+00:002007-01-09T02:19:00.000+00:00I thought for years that I was dyslexic. Looking a...I thought for years that <B>I</B> was dyslexic. <BR/><BR/>Looking at some of the above I now realise that I'm a pretty mild case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1168304410380146942007-01-09T01:00:00.000+00:002007-01-09T01:00:00.000+00:00The services for parents of kids with SEN have imp...The services for parents of kids with SEN have improved. Despite the closures there has been an increase in kids with statements being in specialised facilities since the Tories left. And 5% of the statemented kids go to independent schools with state support. Ruth, bless, has saved the state the burden. Obviously as a socialist I'm agin it all. Selection. Privilege. Faith schools. Hypocrisy. Dave/id Cameron says Ruth is no hypocrite if LP are not up for abolishing private schools. But we bloody well should do that. It works better all round. But right now she's embarrassing without being much of a hypocrite. Dennis Healey paid for his old mum to go private and avoid Tory NHS queues. He argued that though he opposed the mixed economy that was what was available. And having the money he prefered to save his mum the pain while working for future equality.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com