Vinny , of the shelf and the out of touch men in frocks

The whole idea of this blog is to chart my journey along the road that is a cert Ed. I have tried to only post things that relate to that. But a few things have now come together that have once again got my back up. Before I go on anymore lets be upfront.  If you wish to go and read my post save your time and stop the looking for the red under the bed. As i am one and the other thing is I am also a Humanist.

So if you are still happy to carry on .... Lets go.

The other evening I went to an evening with Polly Toynbee by as part of Sheffields off the shelf festival. What she had to say was a good all round summing up of where we are as a county. Where we are going and what is more than likely going to happen. This women clearly know's her stuff and talk's sense. Since the start of the century the gap between the bottom and the top was improving as the trade union moment began and pay and conditions improved. looking at social history its clear to see it was fair from a rose garden but things where moving. Then came the 1980's and it stopped but not only that but the progress made went backwards.

Today we are yet again going backwards but at an alarming rate back in the 1980's 1 in 8 childen lived in poverty today its now 1 in 3. This county is a not a 3rd world one we are a member of the G8 and G20. This is just wrong we have the money but its not evenly handed out. Only 10% of this county are 40% tax payers of them  1 or 2 % at the very top hold most of the countries wealth taxing this small number by only a small increase would pay off the deficit over night.

The cuts that are taking place are no longer if and when but are taking effect now once a service go's it will not come back and if it is possible it will need even more money and staff just to build up the skills base. As Labour found when they set up new services like Sure Start centres.

Where Am I going with this well last night I watched the last episode of Educating Essex on channel 4 over the last few weeks we have been able to follow life in a secordny school in (yes you got it) Essex. For the last program we got to see how a lad called Vinny was getting on. He is a young lad aged 15/16 who finds himself in care as his relationship with his mum has broken down. He's not a bad lad but has just last his way and is angry with the world. But his teachers and mostly the head teacher refuse to give up on him and try to help him. He is not able to go to the school prom as his behaviour was not good enough. When asked the head teacher say yes its upsetting and yes he feels bad. Vinny has been let down by the system and I am part of it the head go's on to say. Vinny with some help go's on to get on a course at college so who know where he will end up.


The county is full of young people like Vinny. Why as a society do we write off so many Vinny's ? 


Why do we as a county not value what the Vinny's of this world my one day go on to achieve ?


We as a county cannot go on like this as I have already said in one of my posts the idea that the whole education system needs change. I now believe this reform needs to go on into other things. Too many peole are not into politics do not vote and see no point in it. Every election we get to read some of the best works of fiction ever known , party manifestos that promise the world and then come's to nothing. The party system is not fit any more. As a former chair of my local ward party I have seen it. Everyone go's around like a headless chicken thinking that as members they can change the way the party think. I tried over and over again to help our ward change to try new things but no , no one can see it. A party of what ever colour is a way of sharing views and standing by value and principle and not the be all and end all. How nice it wound be if at election time the knock at the door comes and some one says Hello I am James and this is what i stand for and the is is what I will do oh and by the way I am the Labour candidate. One thing we do need is more indpentant members who just what to help others but unless you have the money you can cross that Idea off. All partites have tried to get more women and ethnic groups into parliament but now one from poor backgrounds who with a bit of help can more then most do the job of an MP.

The next thing that got me going was the tents out side St paul's my view is good look to them. They have a point and things need to change making money is not the problem it how you do it and what you do with it that matters. Last night on question time one of the panel missed the point , he was from the daily mail. 'What give's them the right to do this ect. ect If they want to change things become an MP was his war cry'. As another panel member pointed out thats the problem they are not able to be one. If that was not enough he went on to say that it was only a few most of us are not taking part so what the problem was his basic agreement. 


Well he has missed the point as I have said in the past education has been freed by technology. Standing up for what you believe is right and being able to say so has also been freed. We do not all have to be in a tent  in London to have say. The Arab spring was started by a coming together on Facebook . News is also now free and we are able to read and find what news we wish. The fact that I am writing this is an example of this. Another was the March for the alliterative back in March my wife was part of that and prod of that I am. I was at home dog sitting but was able to watch live news feed and take part via Twitter and Facebook. So Mr writer of daily rot, oh I mean mail. You are the one out of touch not me or the many more who know believe things have to change the question is how ? 






Issues like this are no longer for the real left wing or the hippy set with what at times have come up with unworkable changers and idea. But are now main stream change will come more people want it most do not have the answers but have the will. Meanwell the Church of England has been somewhat found with there pants down. At first quite happy with the tents that was until the takings went down in the gift shop. Then it all went wrong. We want you to go was the cry of the men in frocks then one had enough and broke free and said no. Good on him change then happened. You can stay was the cry , we understand and will be part of the fight. I can only think that the years of incense has pickled there brains. Why do they still believe they can change things no one is listening  to them anymore churches are closing or many stay open just for the one old lady with a funny hat and the one man and his dog. The church is part of the problem it hold's millions in trust and shares  in the very bodies that hold all the money. Most of the management of St paul's are ex city types. Why not turn over the underused church billings to the people and the communities they say they care about ? Why do we as a county allow them power to change laws and discriminate on grounds of race and sex to name two ? Why are 26 Bishops allowed to sit in the lords just becomes they are Bishops ? 

Right Sister lets get the sick out the door fast
USA health corp move in tomorrow 

Only yesterday one of their number i.e. Archbishop of York was up on his feet calling not for the lords to do what ever they can to make the health and social care bill workable in the hope that we can stop the whole NHS falling into room 101 with all the rest of things we hold dear.  But calling for spiritual health to be added as separate part of the bill. As past of my plan for a better country the link between state and church has to go the 26 bishops have to go too. The one's is the church that think diffently also need to stand up and say so.

For the Vinny's of this world the future is but a dream as more and more the people who can help the many Vinny's in the world are being cut and cut. One day it will not just be the Vinny's who are left to wonder if only.