Topic: Youth Parliament



Jack McCann



Politics and Youth 

Our main man has done it again! Jerry went and ordered up another top of the class visitor for us. So off we went to our usual haunt one fine winter's afternoon to hear out our latest victim/guest. And in walked the very fine Jack McCann, member of the Northern Ireland Youth Forum, elected member of the Youth Parliament, a youth politics activist. At 18 years of age Jack has a strong vision and has chosen to become involved in politics because he wishes to make an impact and widen thinking. He has already successfully campaigned to allow the right to vote at 16 and has negotiated reduced transport costs for young people.

 

Jack told us a little about his interest in politics. He has clearly contributed greatly to raising the profile of young people in politics both in Northern Ireland and more recently while at university in Warwick. He recognises that while young people represent 28% of the population they also form 100% of the future and he wishes to be a part of decision making. He regrets the media images of mask-wearing youths rioting on the streets of Belfast and wants to demonstrate that young people can better voice their concerns within the world of politics.

 

Jack is fully aware of the difficulties we face in Northern Ireland. When every issue is shrouded in bigotry and our politicians labour under over protected structures, it is nigh impossible to see how we might progress. With no opposition there is no debate and so deals are alternated between the DUP and Sinn Fein. Young people want change and this is not happening in Stormont and so they are turned off.

 

The Current Affairs group then came in with some interesting thoughts. It was suggested that in Northern Ireland we are lucky in that our politicians have a wealth of experience. We are governed by a body of people who are not career politicians but rather they are farmers, teachers, solicitors ........... even former terrorists. A motley crew, perhaps, but at least they have all worked at the chalk face. They are real people, without all the gloss, in touch with the people. What prevents them from making real impact is the system they have to struggle against. Many of our members brought up yet again the notion that perhaps if the SDLP and the UU were to leave they could form an Opposition and real debate could begin. This would require some changes in legislation but it is not inconceivable. The present structures have taken us so far but now that politicians talk to each other it is time and it is appropriate to introduce some changes.

 

One last interesting fact came out when our man Jerry asked how many of us are or have been involved in politics. It was refreshing to see that a good number of hands went up. Clearly many of us have some understanding of the difficulties of bringing about change and we are still committed to making an impact.

Topic - Shared Education Debate



Shared Education Debate Panel

MLA speaks out for single education system

 

Causeway U3A Current Affairs Group were the hosts today for an invigorating discussion on the Shared/Integrated Education debate with a prestigious invited panel of speakers including  (L - R) P J O'Grady, Ministerial Advisory Group on Shared Education,   Mervyn Storey, DUP MLA,   Helen Mc Laughlin, Vice Chair of NICIE, and Professor Alan Smith, UNESCO chair UU.

 

Mervyn Storey opened the debate with a reminder of the  first Minister's declared interest in instigating a fundamental change in the education system in Northern Ireland. He agreed with Peter Robinson that the present system was a 'benign form of apartheid' and that it was time to 'formulate a road map towards greater sharing and ultimately a single system.' Mr Storey recognised the huge challenges facing politicians. Ultimately all components will need to come to agreement.

 

The floor was then opened to Alan Smith who referred to the huge costs of running peace building programmes within a system of Shared Education and indicated that this could run to an extra £50m annually. He also questioned why teachers are being asked to compensate for the deficiencies in a flawed system with hugely increased workloads organising these programmes. Professor Smith referred to the evidence that children sometimes learn negative attitudes through these programmes and suggested that time and money would be better spent on scrutinising the ownership of our schools.

 

Dr P J O' Grady opened his debate with a reminder of the historical perspective. Faith schools have been around for some time and have long concentrated on forming the whole person. He argued that 'we walk on sacred ground' when we educate children. He further claimed that Faith Schools have accomplished a great deal in terms of developing good Cross Community relationships and they should continue to play an important role in our society.

 

Helen Mc Laughlin took up the challenge of the graveyard shift but talked to everyone with her common sense approach. Ms Mc Laughlin regretted how we 'deliberately pull apart our children at the age of 4' and send them to different schools. However in Integrated Schools children meet together in an ordinary, uncontrived way and they have the opportunity to learn about each other's traditions. Ms Mc Laughlin looks forward to a situation where Integrated Education is no longer another sector but a main contributor to one single education system.

 

The discussion was opened to the floor and a lively debate ensued. It was suggested that we consider a variety of models of education, such as that in Donegal Town where a radical approach has transformed the system. Reference was made to education systems in France and elsewhere. Many regretted the lack of provision for the growing number of children of no faith or different faiths and it was also suggested that we need to look at the training of teachers. It was largely agreed that there is now an appetite for change in Northern Ireland and that we should strike while the iron is hot.

 

Yet another vibrant debate for The Causeway U3A Current Affairs Group! Congratulations to the organisers and to all the participants.

TOPIC: Hopes of Finding

Question Six

Will Madeleine McCann be found?

 

Comment

Unfortunately probably not. And the McCanns must be aware that the most recent publicity may in fact put her life at risk, if she is still alive. The situation is pretty hopeless in reality. But the continued publicity has raised awareness of the phenomenon and it is important to keep that awareness alive. If only for the sake of preventing potential future abductions.

TOPIC: Energy Bills - Paying Too Much?

Question Five

 

OIL or GAS - Does NI have a choice?

Are we in Northern Ireland paying too much for our energy?

What can we do?

More competition?

 

Comment

In a word, Yes! It’s outrageous! We are out of sync with the rest of the UK, there is no competition, they can charge what they want, we have no say. Our main problem is that most of our houses are run on oil and there is no regulatory body. So is there anything we can do?

Well actually there is one thing we could do. It doesn’t tackle the main issue but it might help us reduce our oil bills a little.

Most companies give reductions for bulk buying. In the Causeway U3A we have 900 members and we could put in a bulk order. This could potentially reduce our bill by around £30 per delivery. Any volunteers to organise it?

TOPIC: Literacy and Numeracy - OECD Survey - Dire Stats

Question four

A recent report by the OECD reveals that in both England and Northern Ireland our 16-24 year olds are ranked 22 and 18 respectively out of 24 in literacy and numeracy. The survey covered England and N. Ireland. Alone in the developed world our 16-24 year olds performed worse in literacy than our 55-65 year olds. Is it because our generation was taught literacy and numeracy by methods that today would be considered old-fashioned? These methods worked for us. The present methods don’t appear to be working for many young people. Discuss!!

 

Comment

Times have changed. Children are different nowadays. They have higher expectations, they are less submissive. What worked in the past may not necessarily be the best thing for our young. Echoing the past is probably neither possible nor advisable. It’s not the methods which are in question here. Rather there have been many changes in society which may be affecting our young people’s learning.

One thing to consider is a child’s readiness to read. Is there the support at home to allow a child to ready himself/herself for school? Are there books at home? Do the parents read? Are the parents there? Are the parents talking to their children? Are they caring for them? Are they stressed? Is the child happy? Children learn best when they have all their needs met, when they are happy, secure, content. A happy family makes a happy child.

But also our children here start school at a very young age, much more so than in other developed countries. Are they ready for school? I recently overheard a conversation between my two great nieces. The older one had just started school and the younger one said that she couldn’t wait to be in school. Niamh told her little sister that on the contrary she should enjoy nursery because ‘when you go to big school you have to sit in a seat for a very, very long time and you have to listen to the teacher talking for ages and ages’. Obviously even the most dutiful Niamh finds it all rather tiresome and was not quite ready for it all. I doubt even Niamh would appreciate us requiring her to revert to rote learning in order to ensure better literacy scores in the future.

Literacy is a huge problem in this country and we do need to ensure that all our young people reach high standards. But perhaps we might do better to adapt our teaching strategies with children rather than surmising that The Only Way Is Echoes

TOPIC: Poots or Pots. Gay Blood Donor Ban

Question three

Edwin Poots, local Health Minister, has been under some pressure recently. Mr Justice Tracy has ruled that the ban on gay men giving blood is ‘irrational’. Poots has been challenged by gay men because he has refused to lift the ban which has already been removed in England. He has also been challenged by Sarah Ewart, a pregnant woman who has been told by her doctors that she was carrying a malformed foetus. She had no option but to go to England for an abortion which, by law, could not be carried out here. She feels that in NI there is no account taken of the mother’s welfare. A second woman, expecting twins, has come forward who is in a similar situation to Sarah. Should our abortion laws in NI be revised? Can Edwin Poots steer a wise path through these emotive issues?

 

Comment

What kind of a backwater do we live in? Do we really allow some puffed up religious extremist dictate government strategies which openly discriminate against one section of our population? Does he expect us to all sit back and agree with these ‘irrational’ decisions based not on intellectual investigation but merely individual prejudice?  Donated blood is routinely screened. Where is the problem? This whole fear is invented by Poots and his cronies out of religious intolerance and ignorance. And what do we do in this country? We have largely left it up to the oppressed themselves, the gay population, to fight their own corner against this blatant attack on their human rights. No big well of support here from a largely disinterested population ready to let this bully boy trample over the rights of a section of our society who continue to battle against discrimination, prejudice and oppression. In 2013!!! At least they seem to have won this particular battle. Doubtless there will be many more to come.

But maybe Sarah Ewart will be in a better position to do more damage. Who can have anything but sympathy for this young woman, who, while coping with the most terrible grief, has had to face the impact of another of Poots’ ill-conceived strategies? (Except of course the Rottweiler, Bernadette Smyth). Poots, with his black and white religious fervour, has decreed that Sarah cannot receive the care and treatment she needs in NI. The care and treatment that medical teams would very much like to provide. Poots knows better than anyone, of course. Better than Sarah herself, better than the unfortunate young couple who have just received the same awful news as Sarah, better than any medical team.

But will Poots be reined in?  Will he bow to better judgement? He does seem to be a much more subdued version of himself in recent days. Not before time. Our politicians need to sit up and take note that they are here to serve everyone. We do not pay them huge wages in order that they can implement their own highly prejudiced policies. In my view Poots should have been required to resign. That is what would have happened in any sane society. But then who would be there to replace him? Yet another equally biased and not yet rather chastened Poots lookalike. We will have to make do with Poots. He’s going to be treading lightly for a while, isn’t he?

TOPIC: Andrew Mitchell v Police Federation

Question Two

The career of a former Chief Whip at Westminster, Andrew Mitchell, was abruptly curtailed when he was involved in an incident with police at the gates of Downing Street.  

The incident was reported by police but additional investigations revealed that the initial report was not as it seemed. This was further compounded by a meeting of Mr Mitchell with officers of the Police Federation, after which the officers announced that Mitchell would have to go because he had not been frank with them. Little did they know that the meeting was being recorded and Mitchell had been completely frank with them.  Deborah Glass, deputy chairperson of the police watchdog, and Teresa May, Home Secretary, have commented on the event and only yesterday David Cameron, in the House of Commons, suggested that the police owed Mr Mitchell an apology. Have some of the police in England been abusing their position of serving the public by following a political agenda?

 

Comment

All is not well between the police and politicians. Well, well!! Who would have guessed? But then if your government thinks it’s a good idea to consistently use your police force to political gain then what do you expect? But is this the kind of police force the people of Britain want? One where police officers have been shown to conspire to denounce politicians? And where no disciplinary action is as yet evident? How can a population trust a police force where there is so much evidence of malpractice? The recent revelations about the lack of authenticity in the Hillsborough police report and the finger of suspicion pointed at them over the possible lack of investigation of Jimmy Saville’s activities all suggest that the police force in Britain needs a competent regulatory body. Maybe it’s time for them to look towards Northern Ireland for guidance. Here in the North we trust our Ombudsman to ensure the accountability of our police force and we are all sharply aware of the difficulties a country can get into when a lack of trust for the police force sets in!