Just come back from Ryeland’s Primary School Christmas fair and what a marvellous fair it was. I was never a great believer in the parents teachers associations, as I felt that it was simply full of do gooders playing their own little power games, but in Ryelands case this certainly isn’t true. Within our area, in comparison to other primary schools, Ryelands hasn’t got the greatest reputation, it is nothing to do with the educational standards, it has been created by the white Daily Mail readers of the area – basically the school isn’t white enough for most people. The teachers, the parents who vounteer, anyone who has anything to do with Ryelands, it is because they actually care about the school – the teachers give up so much of their own time (unpaid) and with the parents form ‘Friends of Ryelands’, organising as much as they can to raise money for the cash strapped school.
The beauty of it is most people involved aren’t political but doing it because they care about where their child goes to school and want to help make a difference. How many people I have met who talk a good game and have a great philosophy on life but don’t actually get involved on a day to day basis. How many people become precious when choosing a school for their children but are not willing to work with a school to help it evolve. Children should go to their local school and if it has a bad reputation, help work with the school to develop it. You can guarantee the teachers will welcome any support they can get (unless it’s a strange religious school then only the chosen few can help.
You might not be able to change the world but it doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference.
Watching Nye’s face as Father Christmas stopped to chat to him and give him a gold coin was priceless.
Jason E Cooper 