Commons protest shirt farce
Thursday 24th January 2008, 2:59PM GMT.
Children from Shropshire campaigning against the closure of their school were today told they could not enter the Houses of Parliament wearing their ‘Save Our School’ shirts.
When the youngsters from Church Preen School, near Church Stretton, came to start a tour, they were told that they could not wear their slogan-bearing sweatshirts and T-shirts.
And the situation was more embarrassing for headteacher Jude Duffy – who revealed she was wearing nothing underneath, other than her underwear.
She had taken a group of pupils to Westminster to meet Daniel Kawczynski, Shrewsbury & Atcham MP.
Mr Kawczynski stepped in and said he would accompany the party throughout their tour to ensure they did not have to take off their shirts.
“This is outrageous,” he said. “The slogans could hardly be more inoffensive. We are living in a Stalinist state.”
By London Editor John Hipwood
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I cannot believe that a headteacher would do that- aren’t they supposed to be teaching the kids rather than thinking up political stunts, however much she may be able to carry her underwear.
Sign her up t’other Star.
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Good grief! What a hidebound institution! Thank goodness Daniel was there to sort it out.
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There are very clear rules made by the House of Commons for visitors to Westminster. They are not made by the government of the day, but by the memebers.
If Shrewsbury’s MP did not know the rules, or failed to advise the school of the rules, the fault is with him.
He is a laughing stock for his idiotic comments.
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Dear JF
I would like you to know that our visit to the Houses of Parliament was planned last September in order to cover the Citizenship part of the National Curriculum which I pressume from your acid comment you are unfamiliar with. The children are learning about the process of democracy and witnessed the Houses of Commons and Lords in action. The fact that startling news about our school closure reached us a day before (some hasty work from the sweatshirt company!) was purely co-incidental. Our visit was a most worthwhile educational experience. I anticipate your apology forthwith.
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Hi Jude Duffy, well done for taking a stand.
I would like to ask though do the children fully understand why the school was sellected for closure?
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Hi Bob, The children understand that SCC have not enough money a problem stemming from lack of funding from Central Government. They understand that SCC think that there are other schools in the locality that can accommodate them – it may be that SCC will realise that the routes these children are destined to travel down are very, very narrow steep lanes……watch this space. By the way, antbody reading these comments – i can spell ‘presume’ – re. earlier e mail!!!!
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