Times Online Live Q&A with Ed Balls
They kicked off pandering to the Labour Class War agenda then let one HE question through:
[Comment From naomi naomi: ]
Why is home education such a problem to you? These families cost the state nothing regarding educational funding and yet gain excellent results by adapting the education to suit their childs needs.Why do you insist on treating them like potential abusers? There is no evidence that large numbers of home ed children are at risk.The current system if implimented correctly would be more than satisfactory.Why put the blame on caring devoted parents ,when in fact it is often local officials and social services that let children down and allow KNOWN abuse to continue?Ed Balls:
Home education is part of our education system. I fully support the right of parents to educate their children at home if they choose. To say that I am labelling them as potential abusers is just plain wrong. But as a society we do have an obligation to make sure that the rights of all children, to learn and be safe, are respected too.
and that was it, on to SATs and more opportunities for Balls to attempt to come across as if he gives a stuff and of course try to plug his worthless policies. One question and the answer was, in order, WRONG, LIE, LIE and WRONG.
Su Said on February 9th, 2010 at 2:26 pm quote
Another ‘yes-but’ answer, negating everything preceding the ‘but’! And we still carry on regardless. Fab photos of Ed from the online chat!!
Shell Said on February 9th, 2010 at 4:19 pm quote
I read the whole thing. Don’t know why. I suppose I was looking for some spark that the man actually cares about education in any form at all. But nope-no sign of it.
Mark Ure Said on February 9th, 2010 at 4:25 pm quote
Aside from the other deeply disturbing stuff, it’s funny how we are apparently part of _their_ “education system”. Does that mean that criminals are part of their justice system or that us herbalists are part of their healthcare system? What does he think the word system means?
Ciaran Mchale Said on February 10th, 2010 at 8:53 am quote
It is quite an unfortunate photograph of Ed Balls. It makes him look like he is preparing to inject some heroin.
Your analysis of his four-sentence answer as “WRONG, LIE, LIE and WRONG”, combined with the unfortunate photograph, reminded me of a great song by Sinead O’Connor called “Big bunch of junkie lies”.
Regards,
Ciaran.