dom.blog

Great article in The Observer today about plans to mix state and private schools in strange ‘super schools’. The idea sounds cool but wacky and I doubt anything will come of it – but what caught my eye was a nice quote from a certain Barbara Harrison, chair of the private Girls’ Day School Trust.

‘The parents of children at private schools are paying a lot specifically to ensure their youngsters escape certain things – things they would almost certainly be caught up in if this idea comes to fruition.’

So there you have it. The lie that parents are somehow forced to send their kids to private schools because they only want “the best for my child” or some other bullshit has been exposed. Private schools are about ‘escaping certain things’ – any guesses as to what these could be? The wrong kind of people, perhaps?

Some people would think I was being frightfully rude to construct a sentence containing the words elitist, snobs and enemies of society, so I won’t.

Creationists lose round in textbook sticker fight

the school board has been ordered to remove the stickers immediately

This is what worries me. Remove them – how? You might damage the book cover! And who is going to remove them exactly? The same crack team of sticker-people who put them on in the first place? They better get going, they’ve got to do it ‘immediately’ – which means NOW, people! (Are you allowed to use your fingernails to peel them off? It’s a tough call.)

In case you can’t remember or couldn’t be bothered to click on the link, this was the infamous ‘evolution is just a theory’ sticker in Georgia’s science books. Some people objected to the truth – preferring the ‘alternate idea’, also known as a lie, of ‘intelligent design’. If there really was an intelligent designer, he would have marked the science books in permanent ink or something, rather than a lousy sticker.

Oh, how could I not post about this!

The thing that gets me, and I mean really gets me, is that the name of the fancy dress party was ‘Colonials and Natives’. I mean, hello? How much more evidence do we need that these people are not worthy for employment, let alone represent the country. And this time it’s not some mad Uncle. We’re talking about the guy who is third in line to the throne, attending a party in a fascist uniform.

How ironic that people beat up on the working class chavs who, while not being a haven of tolerance and respect, would probably draw the line at swastikas.

No, I didn’t watch it. I was too busy working on Spotlight Cinema. But I am proud of the BBC for sticking to their guns on this, unlike the disgusting Popetown incident. Religious fanatics are on a high right now, aided by Mary Whitehouse’s censorship cronies who still believe we should all pray before bedtime and blush when someone mentions a dirty word.

The majority of Christians realise that the Jerry Springer opera is a parody, or don’t care and don’t watch. The bullies who cheated the complaints system before it was even shown are the ultimate in arrogance. They believe that, if they don’t like the sound a programme before it has even been shown, they can deny anyone else the right to see it.

I hope they do prosecute the BBC. Hopefully that will prompt the government to repeal the idiotic blasphemy and replace them for a law against being a lying bully who stamps on other people’s freedom to advance their own selfish ego. (For the record, I don’t have a problem with banning incitement to religious hatred, as long as it’s worded correctly.)

Well, that got that out of my system. Now I must sleep, so that I will have enough strength tomorrow to carry my 10-tonne bag to school.

Christmas comes but once a year, and this season we’re getting some special gifts a little early. David Blunkett has gone. David ‘Police State’ Blunkett is out.

Now, let’s be fair. I respect Blunkett because he believes in what he is doing, and it seems that he really hasn’t done anything wrong. It’s the best way for him to go – the door is firmly closed but he hasn’t left in disgrace. There’s a huge feeling of sympathy for the man, and that’s good.

But, change in the Home Office is much needed. David Blunkett has been obsessed with chasing headlines and seeing just how far he can go to annoy civil rights groups. The holding of prisoners at Belmarsh without trial is a low point for British dignity. And we all know the real reason Blunkett has gone – it’s nothing to do with visas or nannies and everything to do with the bizare slagging of his colleagues.

It’s doubly good that Blunkett is out because now Charles Clarke can take his place. The man who keeps pushing City Academies [spits on floor] can now go and be ‘the hard man’ where we need one – in the Home Office. Yes, you read that right, we need a toughie to take on the misery of crime that affects the worst off in this country. (Oh, and ever since he put Prince Charles in his place, I’ve always had a soft spot for Clarke.)

So – things get interesting (again) – for one thing, I wonder how this affects Blair? Only time will tell… along with the journalists, columnists and bloggers, of course. But don’t listen to them. They’re just happy it’s Christmas.