The most important thing is it passed off peacefully and I must praise the way Alex has organised this. He has been in constant contact with us throughout.Full Story at - http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/8676975.Student_protest_passes_off_peacefully/
I published a flyer for Adam to help him publicise the march. I understand how angry he is that people who have had a free university education wish to saddle him with tens of thousands of pounds worth of debt in fees. I happen to agree with him, that it is a ridculous way to prepare young people for the future.
Rather sadly, not everyone thinks it a good thing that intelligent young people such as Alex are prepared to get off their but and make their voices heard. Some people have sought to drag Alex into their own little rows, not even having the good grace to check their facts. One such person is blogger Guido Fawkes. He had a spat with former Gordon Brown advisor Damien McBride (he who launched a campaign of smears and misinformation against various Tories spouses and loved ones). So how does Fawkes seek to get back at McBride, who now works at the School which Alex attends? By smear and innuendo, implying that McBride rather than Alex is the organiser of the march. Given that Alex had widely publicised his phone number and email address, how hard would it have been for Fawkes to at least have the good manners to ask Alex if McBride was involved.
Sadly "big cheese blogger" rather seems to enjoy monstering a schoolboy and his campaign. Even more repulsive are the 100 odd "Tory Sheep" who jumped in to stick the boot in with ill informed comments. It strikes me that Fawkes has shown himself to be a bully, a liar and twat with his behaviour. If he were a man, he'd give Alex a bell and apologise for his knobbish behaviour and print a retraction. He may totally disagree with Alex, he may think it's great that students are saddled with debt ( although he himself got a free University education), but surely he should be above telling porkies and not checking his facts. I do wonder if his rather bitchy comments about FCHS are born from prejudice as he is an ex pupil of Salvatorean College - another RC school which is decidedly more middle class than FCHS (a fully comprehensive school) has ever been.
Anyway if you've got absolutely nothing to do, you can read his twattish rant here -
http://order-order.com/2010/11/18/mcbride-rallies-the-boys/
And no, I'm not a mate of Damian McBride, I'd left the school before he started at infants.
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ReplyDeleteOh my goodness me: how pathetic ... as reported yesterday, I was at the prizegiving night at FCH shortly after the protest, as my son also attends this school. The idiotic Fawkes should know it is a non selective comprehensive school which unlike the schools the Tories prefer, and does not, as he implies, educate the priviliged sons of middle class families but has a wide intake of all backgrounds and abilities. Education is not seen solely as a matter of grabbing the first place in league tables, pupils are encouraged to engage with the local community as part of their development, as well as take an interest in the wider world. The prizegiving was attended by senior police officer Sir Hugh Orde oh and a few local councillors such as - guess who - our beloved Brian Coleman. I am sure Brian enjoyed listening to Sir Hugh, especially his reference to the subject of cuts in police funding, and also to the head teacher's description of the tuition fees hike as creating 'a sense of betrayal'. For once there was no opportunity for yelling objections. Funniest of all, however, was watching Coleman's face when the organiser of the evening was thanked profusely for his efforts: ie the Business Liason officer, Mr Damian Mc Bride. Yes, this is his job, btw, not telling sixth formers to organise a demo - only someone who does not have a son of this age could possibly think you could persuade a sixth former to do anything they haven't thought of themselves ... To imply that a sixth former is incapable of organising a protest is insulting and also shows how little the Tories (and Libdems) understand about the long term political impact the tuition fee scandal will have. Alex is to be commended for his demo. And if you need any more reasons to despise the nasty, small minded voters who form the bedrock of right wing Tory support, look through the comments on the Guido Fawkes blog. Excuse me while I go and wash my hands.
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ReplyDeletesorry Rog: having problems posting, and then managed to repeat it three times!
ReplyDeleteMrs Angry,
ReplyDeleteI think you'll find this particular Lib Dem recognises only too well what a skunks testicle the tuition fees issue is and has said so loudly and often
Well done to Alex and the students of Barnet.
ReplyDeleteHigh praise indeed from the Chief Constable and reported really well by the Hendon Times.
It shows that the Young People of Barnet are aware and engaged in caring about their education.
I cant believe that "big bloggers" have sought to undermine a local protest. It only goes to show how the co-alition Government knows that it has made a major error in this policy which discriminates against students from poorer backgrounds.
I am really pleased it went so well.
Thank you for setting things straight with the post Roger - you're a better man than Guido Fawkes will ever be!
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that people like Guido Fawkes and like Andrew Harper are angry at the protest is a good sign. It shows that they are worried - and why wouldn't they be? 250 school students turned up outside the tory office in just ONE borough to show their anger at their treatment. It says something..
Anyway - thank you to everyone else who supported this protest. It probably won't be the last.