This could always be blown-out-of-proportion-reporting, but if not, the message this sends sucks.
Children from better-off families have been banned from school trips with their less privileged classmates.
Only pupils eligible for free school meals because their parents are on benefits are able to take part in the holiday activities.
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Parents of pupils unable to take part are furious after being told their children cannot take part, even if they offer to pay.
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Rumney, 29, a self-employed cleaner from Partington, added she would be willing to pay for her son to take part but has been told she was not allowed to do so due to restricted places.She said: ‘It’s a nightmare. What sort of incentive does it give to these kids to want to go out and work if all their friends are allowed to go on fantastic trips but they aren’t?
The message to the kids here: work hard, save, be frugal and wise, and you too can get screwed over. This is exactly the sort of message that the British government (in this case, a school council) would be wise to not send. A long-term better approach woudl be for the school to offer to pay for *half* of each students expenses for these trips, and leave it to the parents to pay the rest. Thus, the kids who don’t get to go will be those whose parents either don’t want them to for whatever reason, or those who cannot afford it. And so, this way you’ll still get crying children… but in this case, crying because their parents haven’t worked hard enough, not because they worked too hard.
Alternatively, have two separate school outings: those who can pay get to go to zoos and football games and the like. Those who cannot, get free trips to job centers of some sort, where they learn basic skills for the job market. Perhaos even put them to work, let ’em earn some money doign some agricultural or light factory work. Sound mean? Bullcrap. What do schoolchildren need more… entertainment, or education? And what education could they need more than how to be productive members of society… or at least not parasitic ones?
8 Responses to “Punishing the successful”
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When my children were in school in the 90s, they asked me about this kind of thing. Why, they asked, were the computers and tutors and special trips given to the damaged, to the stupid, and to the dirty?
The British question is about money, not intellect or socialization, and that’s probably the worst of choices. One wonders how resentful the “rich” kids will be toward the “poor” kids, and how that will play out over the next 20 years.
Time to open the sea chests and hum “Rule Britannia” until the bubbles stop.
Jim
“When my children were in school in the 90s, they asked me about this kind of thing. Why, they asked, were the computers and tutors and special trips given to the damaged, to the stupid, and to the dirty?”
Oh good, that’s just wonderful… and Britain is wondering why they don’t have much social mobility these days….
Sadly, it’s not restricted to Britain. We’ve quite a sufficiency of that rubbish here.
I’ve *long* been of the opinion that education should be required… but only up to the 6th grade or so. At that point, a series of tests can determine just how useful further education would be for a particular student. Some would clearly do well with further education in the sciences; some in the arts; some, I suppose, in athletics. others can begin their careers. There really is no good reason why we have so many illegal immigrants doing jobs that a 14 year old could do.
Another gem from the daily: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1242682/Family-shut-dream-home-gang-gipsies-moved-Christmas.html
Frankly, the story seemed just to stupid to be true. Then I saw it was in Britain. It’s sort of trainwreck in progress fascinating to watch what’s going on there. One wonders when, or even if enough Brits will stand up and yell “stop!”
Oh, we will yell “Stop!” this summer, you bet…May 6th is the date that was let slip…
Grif
>Oh, we will yell “Stop!” this summer, you bet…May 6th is the date that was let slip…
Never happen…
Despite the rhetoric, the Tories aren’t bothered, because _their_children don’t go to this kind of school…..