There's No 'Public' In 'Education System'

Education Minister Terry Lister has spoken. St. George's Prep will be stripped of its second P1 class in September.

Since making the original announcement a couple of weeks ago, the Minister has come under enormous pressure from parents, the Royal Gazette, the Opposition UBP and even two of the Government's own MPs to reverse his decision. Despite a convincing case put forward by parents' representative Nick Duffy that the school both needs and can cope with the extra class, the Minister has foolishly decided to press on with his plan.

To make matters worse, he appears to have told the school of his decision by leaving a message on principal Mary Lodge's answerphone. This was craven. News like that should have been delivered to her directly, and if he was unable to reach her he should have waited until he could.

In the wake of the decision, Mr. Duffy mischieviously suggested that the Government should rename the 'public education system' as the 'Ministry education system'. As he pointed out, the public are the people who use the public schools, who pay for them and who vote for the politicians they want to manage them, yet as far as this decision was concerned, their wishes have been completely ignored.

The question remains as to why Mr. Lister decided to stick to his guns. The figures presented at last week's PTA meeting, put forward by the parents, principal and trustees, have convinced me that Mr. Lister's stated justification - that the school would be unable to cope with the extra students generated by a second stream as they move through the school - is simply untrue. What other explanation could there be?

Many St. Georgians seem to believe that his decision may have been motivated by a mistaken belief that St. George's Prep is still a school for privileged white children, as it has undeniably been in the past. If this is indeed the case, then the Minister should have been at that PTA meeting. Almost every parent who stood up to protest to Dr. Joseph Christopher was black.

It's also interesting to note that PLP MPs Dean Foggo and Jennifer Smith, who have taken the school's side in this argument, are on the opposite side of the internal PLP split from the Minister, who was one of the rebels responsible for ousting Ms. Smith from the Premiership shortly after the election last year. You have to wonder whether Ms. Smith's support for the school was actually counter-productive for them, and whether Mr. Lister's decision to stand firm was partly inspired by a desire to wiggle the knife in Ms. Smith's back a little more. Or even whether Ms. Smith's decision to support the school was motivated by a desire for revenge on Mr. Lister. We'll probably never know.

Thus far the UBP's response to the Ministry's decision has been lacklustre. Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell made a comment on the radio this morning which suggested he couldn't remember some of the figures associated with the issue. Such imprecision is inexcusable for someone in his position. He was at the PTA meeting last week. I would have hoped he was taking notes. If the UBP is to effectively oppose the Government they need to do their homework and they need to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the situation.

The issue is far from over. The parents will now launch an appeal on the grounds that the Education Act gives them the right to have their children taught in the local community, and if that fails will take the matter to the courts. I'm no lawyer, but it doesn't seem a strong argument and I'm not optimistic about the parents' chances of success. Nonetheless law firm Wakefield Quinn have already agreed to represent the school free of charge for as long as it takes, so the parents have nothing to lose. The PTA is also refusing to concede the fight and is organising a petition of parents, teachers and other interested parties in St. George's.

Mr. Lister should be explaining his reasons for his decision in the House of Assembly today. A lot of people will be very interested to hear what he has to say.

Comments

[Em'lys Bay on 19.03.04 at 15:31]

Arbitrary and mysterious PLP decision making, as ever.

Perhaps it's a kick in the tail to St Geo: home of Jennifer Smith, and which did not show appropriate respect by voting with sufficient vigour for La Webb.

St Geo looks as empty as it did in the 70's. Just has nice brick streets now.

[Greme Outerbridge on 19.03.04 at 16:01]

If the second stream of students is supported by the headmaster and the parents then I'm all for it. The Ministry of education is arcane and clueless about the very thing they are supposed to manage,Education! Minister Lister like the Deliverance has gone up in flames at another Ministry--He has to be the worst Minister in Cabinet--I really wish Somerset voters would wake up and dump him out of office!!!

[Uptawn on 19.03.04 at 18:09]

Bye, just hush up before they take away your darn bridge too!

[graeme Outerbridge on 20.03.04 at 10:26]

Uptawn thats a GREAT idea blow up the Bridge and declare Independence for the new country of St.George! The Dragon LIVES!