Fed up of hearing what Trevor Cooper has to say; here’s a little something from www.ashleymote.co.uk

More Springtime in Europe - More Dangerous Nonsense - April 2007

Once again the EU is desperately trying to whip up enthusiasm amongst schoolchildren for the annual springtime “celebration” of their beloved EU. Straight out of Orwell’s 1984 - Big Brother has come to life.

MEPs – including yours truly, would you believe - have been invited by the EU’s London office to circulate “educational” materials about the glories of the EU and its parliament. These are, apparently, to be sent to our local schools, complete with order forms for additional copies.

Bad enough, you might think. But it was not enough, it seems, for the paragons of Brussels and Whitehall.

A few days later came a letter from Geoff Hoon, our demoted former Defence Secretary, now languishing in the dungeons of the Foreign Office as Minister for Europe. He, and Education Minister Alan Johnson are so desperate to improve their lot with Messrs Blair, Brown and Barroso that they have produced a “learning together” brochure that invites teachers to “get involved in celebrating 50 years of the EU”. Just in case their collective ministerial efforts were not enough, the British Council has been roped in to help.

The package on offer includes DVDs, display material, teaching aids…you name it they have it available. The Department’s website www.globalgateway.org even offers lessons “incorporating a European dimension”. “Ready-made” European e-Twinning project kits can be downloaded from the British Council’s website www.etwinning.net. Elsewhere. “access partnership resources” are available on www.britishcouncil.org/comenius.

Finally, schools can register their “interest” by emailing learningtogether@britishcouncil.org. Perhaps they ought to hear from a few angry parents and grandparents who know that all this is in clear and direct breach of the Education Act 1996, specifically articles 406 and 407.

These Articles forbid “the promotion of partisan political activities in the teaching of any subject in school”, and demand that “where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils, they are offered in a balanced presentation of opposing views”. Fat chance!

And who pays? Right first time – us. British taxpayers.

To read more go to www.ashleymote.co.uk

Finally my appologies to any one wishing to see me in Ramsgate tomorrow I will be spending time with my wife and therefore not coming in this time.
Thanks Trevor Cooper