On Thursdays I collect Grandson Number Two from pre-school. This saves my daughter the cost of an after-school club. If we make the mistake of referring to his pre-school as nursery, the little chap indignantly corrects us. If he gets himself together fast enough and we don‘t dawdle down the hill to the bus stop, we’re usually in time for a bus at 8 minutes past 3, give or take a minutes or two. This Thursday it was either early or just spot on time as we saw it sail round the corner on the last stage of our descent to the stop. A little later, another bus arrived, S350. S for “school bus” and 350 indicating the route. The driver stopped for us. Some school bus drivers won’t stop if you clearly do not attend the local comprehensive school. We got on.
As we sat down a cheeky little joker, probably 12 years old, informed me, “This is a school bus”. So I replied, “Well, he’s been to school.” Cheeky little joker was delighted. He and his mates laughed their socks off and asked where we were going. They were again delighted to find we were all headed for Delph. By the time we arrived, we were firm friends and everyone waved goodbye. Probably the best experience of a school bus I’ve had in a long time.
Our local school kids seem to be the lucky ones; they are all equipped with coats and shoes at any rate. According to this article many schools are having to provide clean clothes for their pupils, in some cases arrange for them to have showers at school, even in some cases take them out of lessons to let them sleep for a while. All this because their homes are inadequate (the actual homes, despite best efforts of the parents, although some of them are also inadequate) with no heating, not enough beds to go round, no electricity for the washing machine, assuming it works, of course. Such is the UK in the 21st century. Who would have thought it?!
I was reminded of an episode of The Wire where a teacher, former policeman, arranges shower facilities, clean clothes, etcetera, to try to keep a student in school and prevent him getting pulled into selling drugs in Baltimore.
According to the article, it’s more difficult here in the UK to help secondary school pupils than primary school pupils. Cuts in education spending have reduced the number of pastoral staff, making it easier for problems to slip through the cracks.
Still on the subject of children, last night I heard a report about another aspect of the Gaza situation. 90% of pregnant wpmen in Gaza ate receiving inadquate nutrition. As a result babies are born smaller. Organs have developed but do not function well. There are more miscarriages, more still births, more neonatal deaths. Malnutrition in utero and in early life lead to developmental problems later. So it’s not just today’s Palestinians who are suffering. The next generation stands no chance either.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment