WHAT PARENT WOULD SEND THEIR SON TO ACLE HIGH SCHOOL?

So many big issues to write about, so little time, but just in case anyone missed this I couldn't let this go.

Headteacher Tim Phillips, at Acle High School in Great Yarmouth decided that none of the boys were good enough to fill the Head Boy or Deputy Head Boy positions so put girls in those places. It means that the positions allocated to Head Boys/Girls and the Deputy Head positions are all filled by girls.

As can be seen by the comments in the Daily Mail and also in the piece itself, there is much disdain for this position.

Obviously Tim Phillips thinks it is OK to mock boys (all the boys at this school will be a laughing stock) based on his own "judgement" and thinks there is nothing wrong in doing so. No wonder boys lose confidence in their ability when they mocked and undermined in such a way. The man obviously thinks he is some sort of tough guy when really his decision just damages people. No boy at that school will have any respect for him, bet they can't wait to leave school.

The key issue is firstly, no parent with a son in their right mind would send him to that school if he remains headteacher. He thinks they are rubbish and is happy to publicly say so.

Secondly, would Phillips ever think of doing the same the other way 'round. That is, if no girls were good enough in his laughable mind, would he put four boys into these positions? Of course not and of course if he did, the Equalities Commission, the Fawcett Society and Guardian/BBC would be all over him.

So angry...

Posted by Skimmington

He has tried to backtrack but still does not accept his wrong (Eastern Daily Press) 

Comments

[John Kimble]

The headteacher appears to be saying that there aren't sufficient males of the appropriate calibre and the few that do exist didn't feel able to come forward.

Clearly the female pupils are doing fine, so there's no problem in terms of deprivation, lack of resources and unintelligent staff. I.e. it's not a failing school, just a school that fails males.

The school is not only failing to teach and develop male pupils but also creating such a feminised environment environment where the few remaining successful males don't feel comfortable applying for prominent positions.

Now who should ultimately be reponsible for such a situation?

Often when faced with such issues where say females of ethnic minorities are under performing we introduce positive discrimination to compensate (it's a ridiculous idea of course, but quite common).

However when it's males who are failing the opposite occurs, no positive discrimination such a special awards for best male pupil. Instead all the positions reserved for males are scrapped completely and the new idea of equality is to put females in their place.

I'd be in favour of the whole best person for the job situation if this occurred everywhere, but the real world couldn't be more different.

it's quite ridiculous that children are forced to cope with the rigour of such harsh selection processes, yet at the very highest level in Parliament there are countless females only in prestigious roles solely because of their gender.

Lets fix the problem at the top first please and leave the children alone.

[Bob]

Its child abuse. I hope these boys are not in families of excluded fathers so the dad's can get together and pay him a visit to explain himself.

That kind of discrimination from the state or people in authority sends a powerful message to kids, other people's kids at that! If he wants to treat his own sons like dirt that's one matter, but treating other people's like dirt is another.

I notice the families of the girls awarded the position of Head Boy or Deputy Head Boy seem to think its ok, such is the ingrained acceptance of 2nd class citizenship for males.