Ruth Kelly Sends Her Son to Private School

(aside: Wow, you would think this blog is I Speak of British Dreams.  We will return to the USoCentric focus soon.)

Ruth Kelly, a Labour Party member, was once the UK's Education Minister and is now  Secretary   of State for Communities.  Her four children are in what is called public school in the US, in a low-income district that claims "

She sparked a huge debate in the UK because she has placed her son , in a private school that specializes in learning disabilities.

"I appreciate that some will disagree with my decision," Ms Kelly said in a   statement. "I understand why, but we all face difficult choices as parents   and I, like any mother, want to do the right thing for my son - that has   been my sole motivation."

Hard to tell from this distance, but it sounds like the school uses multisensory instruction.

Kelly is accused of being hypocritical.

Charges of hypocrisy are reinforced by the fact that Labour has pursued a policy of putting children with special learning needs into mainstream schools.

Dozens of special schools have closed as a result - making it impossible for most parents to get the kind of schooling for their children which Miss Kelly is able to afford with her £137,000 salary.

More than 100 such schools have shut their doors since Labour came to power in 1997, according to the Conservatives.

[snip]
The boy is understood to suffer from dyslexia and dyspraxia, a condition which affects co- ordination, as well as other learning difficulties. After his removal from English Martyrs Roman Catholic School in East London, he is due to start at his new school within days.

(note: for some reason, "dyspraxia" is a much more common diagnosis in the UK than the US).

I'm not sure what I think--certainly, Kelly has the right to put her child in any school she selects.  However, I don't know if Kelly has voted to close specialist schools, or has reduced funding for special education in the past.  If she has, shame on her.

Details:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/article2137981.ece
http://www.oxfordmail.net/display.var.1110250.0.kelly_defends_decision_to_send_son_to_oxfordshire_private_school.php
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1986045,00.html
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23380929-details/Ruth%20Kelly:%20A%20lesson%20in%20hypocrisy/article.do

Comments

[Liz Ditz]

I didn't get what the row was about, really ....evidently New Labour has been systematically closing SpEd schools.

Read NHS Blog Doctor for more info

This is what New Labour does. They have destroyed the best education system in the world, and they are destroying what used to be the best health care system in the world. But they do not give a toss. Because they, and their families, do not intend to use either of them.