UK State schools are being forced to prioritise "social misfits" at the expense of the majority of pupils

Increasingly Western societies have begun to pander to the wrong doer. Criminals are frequently excused on the basis of social background. The overemphasis by liberals on individual rights has weakened the glue that cements societies together. We live in an era of political correctness gone mad. The rights of society are increasingly subjugated to the rights of the individual. The obligations of the individual are rarely emphasized. No wonder western society is crumbling.
This pernicious over emphasis on the rights of the individual has found its way into the education system throughout the western world. The Telegraph carries an excellent article on the British education system titled:

Bright schoolchildren take back seat to 'social misfits', says head teacher

Here is an excerpt:

The most disruptive children are being plied with "indulgence and sentimentality" instead of firm discipline, it was claimed.
Steve Patriarca blamed Gordon Brown's decision to create a new "Orwellian" Government department with duel responsibility for schools and social services.
It meant education for the most able often came second best to the needs of problem pupils, he said.
The comments will come as a huge embarrassment to the Government.

Mr Patriarca led fee-paying William Hulme's Grammar School in Manchester when it was tempted out of the private sector by Labour in 2007.
In a high-profile move, it axed parental fees and academic selection to become one of the Government's flagship city academies - semi-independent state schools sponsored and run by the private sector. A total of five independent schools have now converted.

Mr Patriarca, who retired last summer, said the school agreed to the move because academies offered the chance of "effective denationalisation" of state schools by taking education out of the hands of "overpaid, ill informed, over comfortable" civil servants.

But talking openly about the move for the first time, he said the school struggled "to retain educational values" in the face of pressure from the Government.
"The Department for Children, Schools and Families lives up to its Orwellian title," he said.
"There are direct tensions between its responsibilities for social work, children and families and its commitment – if that is the word – to education. It seems to me to be a cumbersome hybrid which fulfils none of its roles very well.

"It is politicised in a way which seems to find achievement embarrassing. It is preoccupied with the less able and the social misfit – which would be fine if it actually achieved anything in dealing with such children. It doesn't ....

Benenson Society is a worthy alternative to Amnesty International and adheres to principles advocated by Peter Benenson

The decision of Amnesty International in 2007 -at a meeting in Mexico- to support access to abortion for women in cases of rape, incest or violence has angered pro-life members. Catholic schools in Australia, Canada, Scotland, Ireland, England and the US have left the organisation. Protestants have also resigned. Fr Chris Middleton principal of St Aloysius’ College, Milsons Point, Australia publicly condemned Amnesty's new stance and sought a reversal without success. St Aloysius' College Milson's Point and Loreto Kirribilli opposed Amnesty’s decision and severed their association with the organization. This was the genesis of the formation of the
Benenson Society.

The Benenson Society was first formed by students at St Aloysius College Milson's Point and Loreto Kirribilli last year. The society aims to provide students with the opportunity to campaign for human rights, directly lobbying governments on behalf of prisoners of conscience, for the end of torture and the death penalty, and asserting the rights of all to basic freedoms.
The new society's charter was put together in consultation with individuals around Australia, including staff and students at Loreto and St Aloysius.

In just a short time, the Society has grown rapidly not alone in Australia but overseas. Many schools in Australia are now members. Choosing the name ‘Benenson' indicates the schools' desire to stick closely to the founding principles of Amnesty International founder Peter Benenson. The new group has as its symbol a stylised white rose, inspired by the White Rose Society- a group of Catholic and Protestant students and staff at Munich University who opposed Nazism the Second World War by writing letters and pamphlets and were persecuted or killed for their convictions.

Membership is open to students through forming chapters in schools, colleges and universities that sign on to the Charter of the Benenson society. Associate membership may be held by teachers and others interested in supporting the work, as well as by members who finish their studies and wish to remain associated with the Society

Find out more about the Society, and join online at The Benenson Society

Brian Hayes TD is correct to target language difficulties of immigrant children

FG Education spokesman Brian Hayes TD speaking in a personal capacity has suggested that immigrant children should be segregated from other students in the classroom until they are able to speak English. Throughout the country there is evidence of large numbers of immigrant children sitting in classrooms unable to benefit from a proper education because of an inability to understand the English language. In addition Irish children suffer as teachers endeavour to address the language deficit of immigrants within mainstream classes. Naturally less progress is made in the teaching of course material.

Thankfully Brian Hayes has begun to address the issue. He is motivated by a desire to tackle this problem in a coherent manner. He is not suggesting permanent exclusion. He is not suggesting discrimination as a solution to the problem.
He is suggesting a temporary exclusion of some immigrant students.These can then benefit from intensive English language training. Lo and behold the PC (politically correct) brigade is as usual out in force with accusations of racism. It is time to ignore them with their Pavlovian responses. There is a major problem. It is time to tackle it.

Perhaps the PC do gooders might care to explain how immigrant children clearly lacking a proficiency in the English language can benefit from education in a mainstream class. At present both indigenous children and immigrant children are discriminated against where there is an inability to deal adequately with prescribed courses.