The School Run

‘LACK of a decent education means that many of us are too stupid to know what we were dong two minutes ago let alone two months in the past.

‘Pssst. Can I borrow a tenner?’

However, the Times knows that two months back the Government was launching a £50m strategy aimed at persuading children to walks or cycle to school.

All very well and good if little Bianca lives close to the school, but less wonderful if little Nicky lives well outside the catchment area and would have to leave home at 5am to make registration on time.

It’s none too surprising that the plan has yet to bear fruit.

But by way of an inducement to follow guidelines, parents of pupils at St Osmund’s Roman Catholic primary school, Salisbury, have been made an offer.

From now on any parent who wants to drop off their little loves by the school gates must pay an annual £25 fee.

That sounds fair doesn’t it? But, amazingly, not all the parents are delighted. Indeed, around 100% of them are completely hacked off.

‘No thought has gone into this traffic situation and now it has come to a head,’ says David Parker, a disgruntled parent. ‘On a point of principle I shall not be paying the charge.’

But children whose parents do not want to break school rules or are unable to pay face a long walk to the gates.

And if the traffic is as fierce in Salisbury as it is in other cities, those gates could well take on a pearly sheen.

Look out, kids!’

Posted: 13th, November 2003 | In: Broadsheets Comment | TrackBack | Permalink