Comment posted Major success for Argyll and Bute Council education staff and for Kilmodan school by Integrity? Not in the ConDemAll.
Yet another success for a school the previous administration, and in particular Cllr Marshall’s criteria, would have us believe is failing.
A little encouragement and a little support and our rural schools can, and do, demonstrate quite how effective they are and quite how well they deliver education.
Integrity? Not in the ConDemAll also commented
- Regarding the update which reads ‘Auileen Goodall is an Educational Development Officer – not a Quality Improvement Officer. This keeps the pressure on the question of just what the very many QIOs at Argyll and Bute council actually do and whether that is worth what it costs us’
This is an important point of discussion. It would be interesting to know what are the remits of both roles and how much overlap is there. Based purely on title (which can obviously be misleading) they certainly appear to be roles which must have a lot of similar responsibilities. Are we getitng value for money from these two roles?
Recent comments by Integrity? Not in the ConDemAll
- First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
Not sure if I agree with putting fascism and Islam on the same shelf (as it were).
However interestingly, and a little ironically, if there is a massively generalised criticism of the Islamic faith it is its traditional resistance/opposition to multiculturalism – a criticism that could be made of UKIP with little difficulty. - Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
‘more honest and upfront’Really?
- First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
On the issue of accusing people of being fascists I, in a rare moment, agree with Malcolm due to the people in history who have, through their actions, defined the term (although its proper definition has doens’t necessarily mean you need to be a mass murderer).It is a little bit of double standards though because in another post you refer to Farage as ‘good old’ yet he descibed the protesters as ‘fascist thugs.’ So an offensive remark by him in your eyes Malcolm?
- First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
Using violence against it is obviously contradictory however it is often the action of very last resort. It is a good line by Arden although worth putting it in the context of the play it comes from which focuses on military deserters who are sickened by a war they are being forced to be a part of. Apartheid and the America civil rights movement is a very different context where years of suppression, violence, and some of the most heinous acts were committed on people for no other reason than bitter inbred prejudice. - First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
The NIMBY, of all political persuasion, certainly isn’t a rare bird however their existence in place A, or of persuasion B, doesn’t detract from criticism of specific examples of it.I agree it is unsafe to use fringe views to represent a whole group and you make a fair point about the need for clarity in the overall ‘cause’. For me though, UKIP cause it not clear and I don’t see these issues as the views of a minority within the group, or a collection of rogue members.
Your point about Alex Salmond’s potential reaction to similar treatment of one of his own party (or himself) is valid and is a point I made in an earlier post. At the risk of repeating myself (well not a risk as I am doing it!) I believe the best course of action would have been for him to openly state that he didn’t approve of the actions of the crowd and, in the same statement, making it clear that the group was not representing either the SNP or the Scottish independence movement.I am sure he, as any of us would, be shaken by such an experience. The fact that there was no actual physical violence doesn’t for a second mean anger/abuse at such close proximity is not hugely intimidating and a politician, irrespective of opinion, should be allowed to perform their role without being out in a position where they are fearful for their safety. Tony Blair would, almost definitely, face a similar reaction in certain places, as would a number of other politicians over the years. Like you I would argue that this is not the best way to express discontent. Only in a very small number of occasions would I condone taking protest to the point of physical intimidation and I reserve that to some of the most significant ‘upheavals’ in modern times (examples being the fight against apartheid and the civil rights movement in the US) – even then there would be a line I, personally, couldn’t step over.
Drifting away from the point a little (although I must say it is refreshing to be debating something other than Scottish Independence or A&B Council!). My overall point is that I believe UKIP to be a party with an inherent bigotry at the core of it and this is clearly evidenced by the actions, statements, and affiliations of too many of its members for it to be brushed off as a the actions of a fringe minority. If the same number of statements (of the same nature) had been made by members of any of the mainstream parties (on both sides of the border) then they would face a far bigger backlash from the media and opposition supporters despite the actual percentage representation being far lower.
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Yet another success for a school the previous administration, and in particular Cllr Marshall’s criteria, would have us believe is failing.
A little encouragement and a little support and our rural schools can, and do, demonstrate quite how effective they are and quite how well they deliver education.
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Well done Kilmodan! Great school, great kids and great community.
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So, is this Aileen Goodall one of these much maligned immprovement officers we keep hearing newsie and FA rubbishing??
Mmm??
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We could do chapter and verse on QIOs in general and in particular but it seems thrawn to do that right at the moment because our hope is that things will improve under new political guidance.
ARSN was always aware that QIOs follow instructions from their employer and indeed it was obvious that some were uncomfortable with the roles they had during the closure consultations, not least the dreadful scripts they had to read from (Vygotsky indeed!).
Now that there’s a new administration, we hope to see more of the kind of work Aileen Goodall is doing. Given all the negative tensions involved in the closure debacle, I’m sure it’s what our QIOs would rather be doing.
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Didn’t you read the Update at the foot of the article Simon?
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A bit unfair, B2. Simon’s reply was posted before newsy posted the update.
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Just checked our time logs. We posted the update at 08.23 and Simon’s comment to which Barmore 2 refers was posted at 09.09.
Apologies.
I had done this time log check myself and had not noticed the days, only the hours.
Simon posted his comment on 3rd June at 9.09pm.
Our update to the article was on 4th June at 08.23am.
Lynda
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It is certainly very interesting to hear what has been happening in Kilmodan.Has this been successful in the other schools across Argyll?
I would love to hear from the teachers and support staff on the closure story now that they are allowed a voice without
the threat of disciplne.Or have all the bosses seen the light.Still a lot of money being paid to the QIO,s or is this new title a change or additional staff?
I would hope that the education department and Carol Walker,s so called leadership will be examined very quickly by the new council along with giving us the answers to spygate and Jo Smith.Is she still sitting at home being paid to get a sun tan.
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Well done Kilmodan…!
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Well said Barmore 2. Kilmodan deserve our congratulations, as do all the wee schools who keep clocking up one prize or another for doing really special and wonderful work.
I reckon Argyll & Bute always had the best chance of implementing the Curriculum for Excellence because the wee schools already had to operate that way to an extent and the teachers really know how to make it work. Let’s hope they’re allowed to flourish now so the kids, and their communities, can move forward with security and confidence.
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Yes – well done to EDOs, so why shouldnt all the QIOs become EDOs?
And I hope that Neil McIntyre gets the answers to his questions quickly – I cant think of a good reason why he shouldnt.
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Regarding the update which reads ‘Auileen Goodall is an Educational Development Officer – not a Quality Improvement Officer. This keeps the pressure on the question of just what the very many QIOs at Argyll and Bute council actually do and whether that is worth what it costs us’
This is an important point of discussion. It would be interesting to know what are the remits of both roles and how much overlap is there. Based purely on title (which can obviously be misleading) they certainly appear to be roles which must have a lot of similar responsibilities. Are we getitng value for money from these two roles?
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I think the best people to enquire this with would be Head Teachers across Argyll & Bute and perhaps ask them to list the areas they have received help or have found QIOs and QIMs to actually have been a benefit to them.
I already know the thoughts of one area – so I would expect much silence to follow such a request.
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Thank you for the subtle prompt on the latest typo.
Aileen Goodallhas now been reunited with her proper name.
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Surely after the chaos of the rural schools proposed closures the points made by Integrity and Crazy in response to this story would be a great place to start for our new councillors The investigation into duplication of responsibility across the whole spectrum of council departments will surely follow.Jobs can be created and services improved if someone has the sense and guts to do it.
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I expect the new Lead Councillor on Education, who knows his area of reponsibilty , possibly better than his appointed staff, to lay down the law to his staff as to policies and guidance. The days of paid staff laying down policy, and failing to give correct information to the elected members and the Council as a whole, are over. One such occurrence such as we have seen in the last few years will lead, I hope, not to resignations and “settlements” but to termination with no recompence. The first real test will probably come in the next 2 weeks with the report on Spygate and the dealing with the culprits in that affair.
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