“In the worst cases, governors can be rather like the jury that was dismissed from a high-profile trial last week: ill-informed and not able to make good decisions”; this is what BBC News quote Sir Michael Wilshaw Ofsted Chief Inspector of having said to support his call for some school governors to be paid. Apparently Sir Wilshaw, who is also Michael Gove, the education secretary’s “hero”, in a speech today will cite ” weaknesses in leadership, including governing bodies, were a common problem among the 6,000 schools rated less than good“.
This comes Hot on the heels of Sir Michael Wilshaw the judge presiding over the Vicky Price Trial, describing the jury as having “absolutely fundamental deficits in understanding“; because 10 of the 12 members couldn’t agree upon a verdict and that they asked questions seeking advice.
I’m not attempting here to debate the abilities of everyone to be an effective school governor, nor even jury member; my concern is that within a week there are two knights of the realm in the news claiming the general public are effectively not able, to carry out civic duties.
The notion that people in general are not capable is not only offensive but I believe untrue, I can’t help but think this is nothing more than posturing in an attempt to justify the ongoing erosion of the civic & political rights of the general populace
For me, this is an attempt to further undermine the confidence of the people, in, the people. It coming at the time, when most people are becoming poorer via the struggling National economy and therefore in need of a greater amount of State Support, is I believe, another example of the Elite playing divide and conquer. While we argue on the abilities, or lack of, in each other we fail to recognise the reality; we are losing another right every week; the loss of legal aid will result in little or no access to natural justice, fewer employment rights leaves us at the mercy of Company owners, the effective removal of living space via the commonly known bedroom tax means a depletion in our right to privacy , increased powers for the Police to ‘kettle’ demonstrators disallows our right to assemble, etc.
The loss of these Rights might appear as unimportant as we struggle to make ends meet but this is exactly what the Government and the wealth holders want, they continue to profit in both finance and power believing the people too bemused to understand the bigger picture. And I’m truly worried that they may be correct??
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21593576
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/oct/14/michael-wilshaw-new-ofsted-chief
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/20/vicky-pryce-retrial-jury
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2013/feb/20/vicky-pryce-trial-10-questions
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/20/vicky-pryce-jury-can-reach-majority-verdict
jaynelinney 
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You will hear no arguments from me. We; the people: are constantly being undermined and underestimated while the ‘respected'( and i mean that in the loosest possible way) constantly battle against (rather than with) those who are essentially their employers.
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Nice post
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