School Dinners

[WC1]

All a good opportunity to give Argyll and Bute Council another kicking, and more grist to the mill of those whose default position is that those of its officials who aren't fools are knaves. Pity the poor kitchen staff, though, when national newspapers carry the headline "Time to fire the dinner ladies'. I've made my position on this blog clear previously. I haven't changed my view. I know from long experience that at least the earlier of this young lady's photographs are not truly representative of school meals in Lochgilphead or any other school in Argyll and Bute. I know the wide range of healthy options available on a daily basis in those schools. I know there has to be portion control but also that there is plenty more available than what is being implied by this blog. As for the lifting of the ban by the leader of the Council, this comes dangerously close to an elected member interfering in operational matters. Is it really OK for kids to take photos inside schools whenever they like and then publish them on the web, or does it just apply to school meals? Do we really want school staff, teaching and non-teaching, constantly looking over their shoulders and wondering when they're going to feature on t'internet? What happens to responsive complaints procedures, or the ability of staff to take action to address issues before they turn into complaints, in an era when we blog first and ask questions later?

[Ship called Dignity]

One thing for sure it is raising alot of money for charity. Over £44,000 today alone! See http://www.justgiving.com/neverseconds

[Govangirl]

Dear Martha,
Many people spout much about empowering children but few can handle it in practice so stop immediately from blogging about your experiences. Haven’t you learned yet that you go to school to learn passively and that you must swallow whatever is served up to you, whether it's dogma or fried pizza? True education is not about learning to question and to challenge. You naughty child! We want you to learn lots of facts and poetry reciting by rote. Obviously, educating you properly has proved to be far too dangerous.

Haven’t you realised that the current narrow education system successfully contributes to the majority of adults not questioning their concerns because of fear or lack of confidence? We can’t have folk telling those in authority what they don't want to hear, for goodness sake! You need to learn that if you can keep people from seeing it, it isn't a problem. We don’t want you knowing that the truth can be powerful enough to make some very important people very uncomfortable.

And you are responsible for staff at your school in danger of losing their jobs! Of course, any adult with half a brain cell would recognise that what actually caused this fear was a stupid, hysterical and distorted newspaper headline in the Daily Record but personally I would have you hauled up before the Leveson Inquiry anyway, you ungrateful child. You clearly cannot be responsible with a computer. Can’t you just spend your spare time online being groomed by perverts or downloading porn or something?

I’m also extremely concerned that your blog is spelt correctly, the grammar is exemplary and the content is both interesting and well structured. Are you seriously suggesting that a nine year old did this on their own after all the reports in tabloids that British children are all actually illiterate?

Most of all, you have placed the future of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence in grave danger. A confident pupil who teaches herself and presents as an effective contributor to society through both debate and successful fund raising, who displays a knowledge and understanding of IT through her blog, who shows excellent health and fitness sense through her discussions, and who has expanded her knowledge of Scotland's place in the world by having multi-national contributors to her site shows that the results of innovative teaching are simply not what we want.

You will be punished severely. For starters, you can begin tomorrow by meeting the Council leader so that he can be photographed with you for the front page of the Record.



First, they came for the wee school lassies ...

[Bobh]

GG- Superb

[Sheik Yir Erse]

WC1 - your comments are akin to what I would expect Basil Fawlty to say about something like Trip Advisor.

[russanros]

It's an amazing story and it is almost certainly the irresponsible journalism thats the most to blame, the dinnerladies could not possibly of had alot of influence on the menu, food suppliers etc. And therefore should not be sacked!

True enough the way its been handled is bad, with camera phones and IT in the advanced state it is it's obvious that things like this can no longer be supressed/repressed, a ban was only going to make things worse, especially with the charity angle.

Its good to see commonsense finally prevailing but must be very embarrassing for the council and the charity must be VERY pleased.

[Ruairidh]

[Govangirl]

That was fantastic Ruairidh!

[lochend]

This young lady has certainly stirred up a hornet's nest.Without getting into the debate about what is and is not suitable for school meals, does nobody else think that children should NOT be allowed to take mobile phones into school in the first place.I assume the pics were taken on her mobile.

[Bobh]

This young lady has certainly stirred up a hornet's nest.Without getting into the debate about what is and is not suitable for school meals, does nobody else think that children should NOT be allowed to take mobile phones into school in the first place.I assume the pics were taken on her mobile.

How would you suggest this should be managed?

[argylltourist]

Lochend....Martha's webpage was done as a project, not surrepticiously. Unfortunately, once the media get hold of a story the truth gets lost!

Having mobiles at school was not the issue.

[lochend]

Argylltourist,Thanks for explanation that clarifies why it was done.Bobh I'm surprised at your reply,do you think children should routinely have mobile phones with them in lessons? I'n not sure how it would be prevented but a situatoion where the usual suspects are playing games and texting away beneath the desks would be impossible.Perhaps this is another issue and I apologise for digressing.

[Bobh]

Argylltourist,Thanks for explanation that clarifies why it was done.Bobh I'm surprised at your reply,do you think children should routinely have mobile phones with them in lessons? I'n not sure how it would be prevented but a situatoion where the usual suspects are playing games and texting away beneath the desks would be impossible.Perhaps this is another issue and I apologise for digressing.

When i was on a secondment many years ago (circa 1999-2001) I was frequently in both primary and secondary schools when mobile phones were starting to become within reach of schoolchildren. Teachers attempted to control this issue. It was impossible then and even more so now.

In this day and age the mobile phone is primarily a communication device. Most parents are happy that their children have them to communicate. To keep in touch so to speak.

In answer to your question to me. No. but you have not answered mine. How would you manage it?

[Isa]

Wasn't the photo taken in her free time at lunch and not class time?

There are leaflets in most of the shops explaining the C for E but reading WC1's post I am not sure he has quite got to grips with it yet. He comes across as very pedantic and old school but whatever the rights or wrongs this pupil has certainly caught the imagination of the country. I even saw it on Sky News

[MPR]

Im right there with you GG, great post, less sheeples more free thinkers..