UK Bureaucrats Descent into Political Correctness Madness

Wherever one may live, they can always take solace in the fact that he or she does not live in Britain.

It is not just the escalating crime rate, the bizarre antics of its police, or the ‘No Go’ Muslim neighborhoods that lend color to this depressing land. It is the idiotic responses of politicians and bureaucrats to problems, many of which do not exist except in their own minds, that bring the true descent of Britain into madness into focus. And it operates as a road map for what shall no doubt be coming to America. This, folks, is where American crackpots get their ideas!

From The Sun, we learn:

The head of a new school has banned the word “school” — in case it upsets pupils’ parents.

Watercliffe Meadow is known as a “Place for Learning” because staff say “school” has a negative impact on some mums and dads.

The new £4.7million academy in Sheffield, South Yorks, replaced three old schools.

School’s out … for headteacher Linda Kingdon

Its 481 pupils, from nursery to Year 6, are allowed to wear slippers instead of shoes.

Headteacher Linda Kingdon said: “We decided we didn’t want to use the word ‘school’.

“One reason was many parents of children here had very negative connotations of school. Instead we want this to be a place for family learning.”

“There are no bells or locked doors. We wanted to de-institutionalise the place and bring the school closer to real life.”

Ah, Miss Linda, school is real life. It is you that need to get in touch.

This follows a fairly long history of Britain attempting to govern by wishful thinking. From The Telegraph:

“Among examples of confusing terminology… in recent years was the widespread rebranding of lollipop ladies as “school crossing patrol officers”, teachers being known as “knowledge navigators” and the emergence of the “education centre nourishment production assistant” – otherwise known as dinner ladies.

It follows efforts to rebrand libraries as “idea stores”, dustmen’s trucks being referred to as “provider vehicles”, and a recent high-level attempt to ban the use of the word “inmates” for prisoners in case it offends them.

Earlier this week David Lee, the leader of Wokingham borough council in Berkshire, announced a personal mission to banish jargon including terms like “network model” – meaning map – and “predictor of beaconicity” for a good idea.

Cllr Andrew Sangar, who is Sheffield City Council’s “Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Lifelong Learning” said the local authority was “relaxed” about the rebranding exercise.”

Was there ever more a waste of time and money? Sure! These idiots (oops, we mean “mentally deficient correctors of politically sensitive discourse”) can do way better than this. Again from The Telegraph:

Children’s paddling pools to be drained under health and safety rules

“A council has been told that the 18-inch deep pools should be subject to the same level of safety as beaches and public swimming pools.

The pools have been supervised by park attendants with life-saving training, but now officials say the paddling pools should be patrolled by trained lifeguards. The move was criticized by parents and councilors who said youngsters had been taken to the parks to paddle in the pools for generations.

Officials have ordered that eight paddling pools in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, should have fully trained lifeguards.

The council said it could not afford to employ lifeguards, and the pools may have to be drained.”

So who watched the kids previously in the wading pools? “Attendants with life-saving qualifications have managed the pools during the school summer holidays.” OK. So you make a rule that is impossible to comply with, and then eliminate the subject matter. Problem solved.

Not
Why stop there? Here is a bit of idiocy shared by President-Elect Obama:
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The low-energy bulbs that won’t fit your light sockets

“Low-energy bulbs are incompatible with millions of lamps and sockets in homes, it has emerged.

Lighting experts said many of the more bulky fluorescent lights were too large for table and standard lamps and didn’t always fit older ceiling sockets. They also do not work with dimmer switches and security timers, are unsuitable for chandeliers and can’t cope with freezing conditions when used outdoors. ”

Somebody just figured this out? It is written on the package. Why the sudden concern?

“The EU is phasing out the traditional incandescent bulbs – which have served Britain for more than 120 years – from September to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the UK major retailers have already begun to scrap 100w bulbs under a voluntary agreement with the Government. ”

Britain is going to replace the old light bulb with low energy bulbs, all of which are manufactured in China, which cost ten times more, are insufficient for certain uses, are highly polluting, and use as much energy and resources in the manufacturing process as is saved through the life of the bulb (hence the price). And this is save the world from the mythical effects of CO2. Better, we think, to save the factory jobs at the light bulb plant.

What does this level of meddling do to a person of normal intelligence and a bit of common sense?

Loner who built network of tunnels out of rubbish in his home dies ‘after getting lost in labyrinth’

“An eccentric loner is believed to have died of thirst after becoming trapped in a bizarre and intricate network of tunnels built from rubbish in his home.

Investigators believe the labyrinth was so complicated that Gordon Stewart, 74, may have become lost inside it. It is thought he may have died as a result of dehydration, after becoming unable to find his way out of the stinking mass.

Locals say Mr Stewart, who wore a ponytail, was often spotted riding his bike around the streets. Officers discovered him entombed in his own creation, built from discarded carrier bags, boxes, old furniture and other assorted junk.

Gordon Stewart’s house

Foul-smelling: Mr Stewart’s house was filled with rubbish

One neighbor, who asked not to be named, said: ‘He was slightly eccentric, but very clever. He was just a collector. He came home with a load of cardboard boxes and lived in his own world.’

A second described his death as a ‘tragedy’.

“Neighbours said Mr Stewart’s home had been accumulating rubbish for at least 10 years. This week, plastic bags were clearly seen piled across his front window, while outside further bags, broken furniture, computer parts and even an old TV set spilled over his front lawn.”

You could go crazy.

by pat

Image – light bulbs
Image – Gordon Stewart’s House
Image – Monty Python

Tags: Britain, lightbulbs, Political correctness, rubbish, schools, U.K., wading pools