Rescuing
Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected
Dictatorship
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Spin, not
face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's
chosen method of communication. Ordinary
people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question
which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member
might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like
us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she
might tell the truth.
Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September
16, 2004
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School
gets 100% pass rate in maths and English. So what does Ofsted
to? Attacks it for concentrating on the 3Rs!
By
S\arah Harris - Education Correspondent, Daily Mail, October 16,
2004
A
Public school with a 100% record in maths and English has been
condemned by Ofsted because it concentrates too heavily in the
three Rs. Inspectors have accused £7,650-a-year Charterhouse
Square School of failing to provide a proper education because
the curriculum is too 'narrowly defined'.
They
say that the heavy emphasis upon English and mathematics means
that other subjects receive less attention. The criticism triggered
a backlash from incredulous parents and teachers, who pointed
to the school's reputation for academic excellence. Former chief
inspector of schools, Chris Woodhead, said Ofsted should be stripped
of its powers to inspect private schools. Charterhouse Square,
in the Barbican, Central London, caters for around 160 three to
11-year-olds.
They
go on to study at prestigious public schools including Westminster,
City of London School for Girls, Queen's College and Portland
Place. All reached the required Government standard in English
and maths Key Stage Two national curriculum tests for 11-year-olds
last year. Some exceeded the standard. The average achievement
in these subjects in neighbouring state schools in Islington was
69% and 68% respectively. The national average was 75% and 73%.
The
inspectors admit that pupils are 'happy, well behaved, secure
and self-confident'. But they say the school's focus on preparing
pupils for entry tests means lessons often concentrate on practice
for such exams and do not provide enough opportunities to develop
creative skills.
Teaching
is mostly 'instructional and lacking inspiration with an over-reliance
on exercises in workbooks and set texts. Younger pupils have 'insufficient'
experience of design and technology and none in information and
communication technology. School furniture was another area of
concern because tables and chairs are 'too large and inappropriate'
for younger pupils.
Their
report concludes that the school, which opened in 1985, is not
complying with the requirements for continued registration as
an independent school. It must draw up an action plan to tackle
the problems and failure to make improvements could ultimately
lead to closure.
Headmistress
Jamie Malden hit back angrily, blaming Ofsted for the fact that
eight of the 26 places in the school's first year class were vacant
this September for the first time ever. She said: "We are
supposed to live in a democratic society, yet the Government is
increasingly telling people how to live their lives. They're basically
saying 'You're not doing it our way, so you're wrong'. Surely
education can't be defined by tick boxes. As long as the children
are happy, the parents are happy and they're all doing well academically,
how can they say that's wrong?"
Mrs
Malden said that all pupils aged five upwards do some form of
maths and English a day, but not to the detriment of other subjects.
Timothy Blair, a company director from Islington, who has a five-year-old
son at the school, said: "You just need to look at the results
to see it's working."
All
independent schools must by law undergo inspections. The Education
Act 2002 introduced tough new regulations which they must meet.
They are not required to follow the National Curriculum but should
give experience in broad areas including maths, linguistics, science,
technology and creative skills. The DIES can order that a school
is removed from the independent schools register if it is not
satisfied with its action plan for improvement following a critical
report. But Professor Woodhead said: " Private schools should
be judged by their popularity with parents who pay the fees. The
State has no role or right to interfere. A school that is achieving
high SATs results, is sending children to highly-selective, prestigious
London schools and is satisfying its parental community isn't,
in my view, a failing school."
An
Ofsted spokesman said: "All independent schools of whatever
size and type must comply with national minimum standards set
by the Department for Education and Skills."
A
spokesman for the DIES said: "We are confident that the Charterhouse
Square School will take on board the thrust of the recommendations
made in Ofsted's report. This has been demontrated by the school
providing an action plan that addresses the issues raised and
sets out a time-scale for action."
For
the health of our democracy, we, the people of the United Kingdom,
must find a way to force Mr Blair to resign
Such
defiance of the democratic process and the will of the majority
of we people of the UK, must be exposed by voters as a matter
or urgency, and not just in the two by-elections we have had this
July and the European elections in June 2004. But how can this
be done?
The
most effective way of getting our deceitful PM to resign would
be to mobilise the army of Labour MPs currently in the House of
Commons and get them to demand it, the loss of their seat to be
a penalty if they did not. All voters in Labour-held constituencies
need to write a letter along these lines to their local Labour
MPs:
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Dear
Despite
his absolute and unequivocal assurances over the past year
of the serious risk to our security of Saddam Hussein's
'weapons of mass destruction', Prime Minister Blair
has admitted, that the threat was non-existent. For that
critical error of judgement and for his gross incompetence
in handling this very important issue, I ask you to take
immediate steps to ensure that Tony Blair does the honourable
thing and resign without delay..
I
would therefore be much obliged if you would propose and
help mobilise a Parliamentary vote of 'No Confidence' in
Mr Blair which, despite Labour's huge majority, would leave
the PM with no option but to resign.
If
I get no reply to this letter, I shall assume you will continue
to support Mr Blair as our Prime Minister. In such circumstances
I shall not vote for you in the forthcoming General Election.
Signed:
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Simple,
non-violent, protest letters along these lines on a variety of
issues could be the basis for re-vitalising our democracy and
increasing voters' interest and participation in politics. Download
a printable copy of the above letter here.
There
is another way for the voice of the silent majority to be heard,
a voice that made sure broken promises would not only be revealed,
but punished in subsequent elections.
In
the year available before the General Election expected in 2005,
many topics are available as ammunition, each one asking questions.
A weapon for our purpose will be the results of Opinion Polls
in individual constituencies using ICM, NOP, Gallop, Mori
or YouGov.
Questions
suggested for this purpose are listed here.
CAST
YOUR VOTE ON A VARIETY OF OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES HERE.
Current
and prospective Parliamentary candidates of all Parties running
for election could share a platform at public forums in every
constituency. They would be presented with the results of
polls on this issue expressed by the majority of voters in that
constituency.
The candidates could be asked if their own views and that of their
Party manifesto corresponded with the polls, and if not, how they
intended to represent the will of the majority of local voters.
Local and National Press, Radio and TV coverage would be arranged
and the results published on this web site.
Here
is another powerful strategy for using your vote effectively in
the forthcoming General Election. Send your sitting and prospective
MPs a letter defining your requirements if they want your vote.
This example deals with the proposed
EU Constitutional Treaty.
Your
letters would end: "If you do not answer
this letter, I shall take it that you intend to follow the Government
line. I shall act accordingly in the forthcoming General Election.
Or
why not create a questionnaire that you send to all the candidates
in your constituency, getting them to give yes/no answers to questions
of your choice, and ending it with the same paragraph(above).
Download
a printable example of the questionnaire.
It
is high time for the people of this United Kingdom to stop allowing
themselves to be manipulated by politicians. We need our representatives
in Parliament to genuinely reflect the view of the majority in
their own constituency, even if this means going against their
personal and/or their party's policy. While they may argue their
case, hoping to change the minds of the majority in their constituency,
they should ultimately be obliged to reflect the majority view
of those who elect them.
It
will be argued by politicians of all parties that most voters
don't have the knowledge necessary to express an opinion on important
subjects at issue, and that our vote is a form of delegated democracy.
We should argue that it is their duty to ensure that we voters
do have ready access to such information as is necessary to form
an intelligent opinion. That, after all, is one main purpose of
Opposition Parties in our Parliamentary Democracy.
Most
important of all, such proceedings would rekindle in voters their
latent interest and obligation to cast their vote, knowing that
the candidate of their choice would be more likely to act in accordance
with their wishes. A much higher turnout in elections would be
the result.
Contact
your local Party Chairman. Gain his support for setting up public
forums in your constituency on these, as well as any other relevant
topics, well before the next General Election expected in 2005.
You should then, depending on the integrity of the candidate of
your choice, feel fairly certain that your view on any subject
being debated in Parliament will more accurately be reflected
by your representative in that assembly.
