‘Schoolgate Three’ are stoking fear
I WAS disappointed to see the anti-two-school model agenda use a child to install project fear in their electioneering march on Sunday 2 February. Bullying in schools in Guernsey happens in all schools regardless of size and yet no deputy raises this abuse in the chamber or parent marches or writes to the local paper to highlight this abuse. They all bury their heads in the sand like this abuse never happens in Guernsey. However, statistically, bullying in schools with a higher pupil ratio is no different to a collection of small pupil ratios schools.
One must question why the ‘Schoolgate Three’ have only seen fit to submit a requete now when the opportunity was always there. Could it be they have achieved absolutely nothing during their term but have latched onto public fear of a non-tested, two-school model in the Bailiwick and are looking at the upcoming general election in June to secure their seats? I’m not a cynical person, but would say it’s a possibility.
The big question for me is, how many more millions will the delay cost the taxpayer? This is easy to quantify. What is not easy to quantify is the negative damage further delay and uncertainty will have on the education of our children in the public school system.
Surely the aim of the public educational system is to raise their game to the high standards of the private schools. There are some amazing educators within the public school system who just want to get on with their vocation and teach at the highest level regardless of the size of the school. The uncertainty is damaging and demoralising to both pupil and teacher.
The homework the ‘Schoolgate Three’ should have completed is:
1. What will be the financial cost of the continued delay of the two-school model?
2. What will be the massive impact upon the educational standards and futures of all pupils in public education over the next four years and beyond should the two-school model be rejected?
3. Write an essay of no more then 500 words on the following subject matter: what sort of people’s deputy would use children and project fear to secure re-election?
PETE BURTENSHAW
petejb@cwgsy.net