Dear Chief Secretary to the Treasury,
I'm afraid to tell you there's no money left.
Signed, Liam Byrne

(Outgoing Labour Chief Secretary to the Treasury. May 2010)
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Tuesday 30 March 2010

MP rap (song)

First spotted at Dick Puddlecote's place this video can also be seen at Subrosa and Old Holborn.

Take your pick, but do watch it somewhere, and see what some British primary school children are being taught at school. Then take the time to read the comments that have been left on the site you've chosen to visit.

Then think about it.

The song was probably a well-meaning attempt to celebrate the 'history' or 'achievement' of people of only one colour, and in doing so focused on only one local individual who also happens to be a popular MP.

It would be interesting to know how this would work if a school were to try to, say, "celebrate" any other feature that is an inherited characteristic, and over which the individual has no personal control - for example blond hair, blue eyes, pink skin.

Would there be an outcry?

Of course there would, and history tells us that doing that sort of thing can be dangerous.

So, knowing the lessons of history, it's strange to learn that schools and, indeed, any organisation, are allowed encouraged to champion or celebrate the inherited characteristics of one group of people, and do so for a whole calendar month each year, whilst ignoring the fact that in today's Britain we are meant to be all equal - irrespective of race, colour or creed.
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2 comments:

JuliaM said...

Do you really think this sort of school has any history teachers who are capable of learning the lessons of history..?

Mrs Rigby said...

I have no idea, although I do know of some young people who are following degree courses with the intention of teaching - they're degrees in 'teaching', not subject-related.