School Funding and the Shooting Down of Flight MH17

It has been interesting to view the discussions at Westminster over the appropriate response, and sanctions, in relation to the terrible shooting down of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, in Ukrainian airspace this last week.

There was clearly a full turnout, with all those present eager to express a view, jumping up and down in their seats to gain the speaker’s attention like veritable jack-in-the-boxes; no need for a quick run around the block to keep their weight under control after a House of Commons lunch then.

Two MPs stood out amongst those selected to contribute; veteran MP for Kensington, Sir Malcolm Rifkind who, obviously aware of the presence of TV cameras, had very carefully co-ordinated his green-rimmed spectacles with a matching tie. How fetching. The other was local MP David Heath. As important and serious as the current situation is, I was left wondering, given his earnest demeanour, why neither he nor any of our other Somerset MPs had felt sufficiently enthusiastic to attend the recent debate on school funding. I have heard all the arguments about timing etc. but a quick look at their respective websites reveals some interesting activity, or lack of it in some cases. Websites and e-mails are, apparently, the regular victims of hackers.  

Despite the modest funding increase, announced last week, which each of our MPs is keen to take some credit for, as a local authority we continue to languish at the bottom of the pile when it comes to central government money. There have been sterling efforts by SCC officers to pull us up by our boot straps and improve educational achievement but our funding levels remain woefully inadequate. As one would expect, this brings with it consequences, and a level of inequity.

In response to initial correspondence I felt duty bound, on behalf of the children of Somerset, to follow this up. To give him his due, although clearly having had all of his buttons pressed, David Heath did respond, not least to rebuke me for my temerity in raising the issue. However, I see that he has an interest in the safeguarding of children, for which he must have credit.

On the one hand we have a small number of schools that for various reasons require additional support to reach the minimum standard of attainment, whilst at the other end of the scale we have a school, recently inspected by OFSTED, where the lead inspector is purported to have said on departure ‘It has been a privilege to lead the team that has inspected this school.’ There could hardly be a greater accolade.   

The link between these two seemingly unconnected debates is, to my mind at least, education.

Whilst sizeable sections of any population remain largely uneducated there will always be those, who through their own power hungry agendas, will try to influence, coerce, and in some cases, force others to do their bidding. This need to exert control over others is more easily achieved where people do not have access to proper education and training that will enable them to weigh up the odds of any situation, to debate and argue it intelligently, coming to their own conclusions and acting accordingly. Surely no civilised person could willingly condone or participate in the killing of innocent civilians going about their business? Or could they?

The world is in a constant state of confrontation, the cost of which is enormous as those sat in their ivory towers safely distance themselves from the action.

In the case of the downing of MH17, it is hardly surprising that each of the two warring factions try to cast the blame on the other, whilst we here at home, view with horror pictures on our TV screens of bodies, and dismembered body parts, someone else’s loved ones, left lying in the heat of the midday sun and then unceremoniously bundled into bin bags; but only after their personal belongings have been ransacked with callous disregard for any sense of decency. Who would wish such an end?

The response, apart from outrage, has so far been rather muted in the west, while no doubt those at the front end of diplomatic negotiations weigh up the political consequences.

One thing we can be sure of is that in the intervening time before independent experts have had the opportunity to inspect the site that there were many opportunities for the rebels to have tampered with the wreckage.

Someone must be held to account, but before we rush to point our fingers in outrage at the occupants of the Kremlin, we must remember the part we have played in past conflicts, and the arms we have supplied to others that have been used to slaughter other innocents. I am reminded of the phrase ’Let he who casts the first stone...’