Headmistress to close last state school CCF in Scotland

**GoodIdeaAtTheTime** · 07-02-2010, 20:11

It should be read in the context that the Headmistress is a committed Jehovas Witness and her first act was to ban all celebrations of Christmas. The have a "winter holiday" on the school calendar - not even a winter festival. So it's not someone being PC, more religious extremism with the taxpayer's money.

The girl they mention in the first line is an army scholar and has signed on for the RAMC. She is unlikely to be the last soldier Knox produces. Knox CCF has done a lot to raise funds and the profile of help for heroes.

Our first big fight could be our last - Times Online

**oldmuso** · 07-02-2010, 21:34

Very sad, knew them from my old days in the area - here's their Facebook support page -
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=224326959458#!/group.php?v=info&gid=224326959458

**GoodIdeaAtTheTime** · 07-02-2010, 22:31

Of course the headmistress was happy enough to take the credit when the Queen came to visit:

**woopert** · 08-02-2010, 10:43

Originally Posted by oldmuso

Very sad, knew them from my old days in the area - here's their Facebook support page -
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=224326959458#!/group.php?v=info&gid=224326959458

If anyone wants to tip them off that I'm happy to post a sticky thread with the petition details on, then crack on.

**mmhmm** · 08-02-2010, 21:31

Im sure a sticky would be very useful the link for the petition is http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/keepkaccf/

**ub2008** · 09-02-2010, 09:48

Left wing politics at is best. Argh.

**abeaumont** · 09-02-2010, 09:50

No feller, not left wing politics. It's religious fundamentalism.
What gives this headteacher the right to impose her belief system on everyone in the school?
NOTHING!

But, the crucial thing is that for a CCF to survive it must have the active support of the teaching staff, and sufficient volunteers to do the work with the cadets. Why isn't the headteacher actively promoting it?

Also somewhat worrying is the small size - how come there are so few? What have the existing officers (sorry, don't want to upset some peoples sensibilities - "officers") been doing to maximise interest. It seems a very small proportion of the school is involved.

**GoodIdeaAtTheTime** · 09-02-2010, 10:59

Originally Posted by abeaumont

But, the crucial thing is that for a CCF to survive it must have the active support of the teaching staff, and sufficient volunteers to do the work with the cadets. Why isn't the headteacher actively promoting it?

The school runs a fresher's fair sort of thing and the CCF were stuck in the corner and told that they could not have a powerpoint display or give out the handouts the cadets had made. The headmistress felt that it would make the other stands look bad.

The bottom line is that she is (allegedly) fiercely anti-military - what other civil servant would challenge Brown and Balls desire to increase CCF numbers as part of promoting their ideas of citizenship?

**OldSnowy** · 09-02-2010, 11:13

Originally Posted by GoodIdeaAtTheTime

Originally Posted by abeaumont

But, the crucial thing is that for a CCF to survive it must have the active support of the teaching staff, and sufficient volunteers to do the work with the cadets. Why isn't the headteacher actively promoting it?

The school runs a fresher's fair sort of thing and the CCF were stuck in the corner and told that they could not have a powerpoint display or give out the handouts the cadets had made. The headmistress felt that it would make the other stands look bad.

The bottom line is that she is (allegedly) fiercely anti-military - what other civil servant would challenge Brown and Balls desire to increase CCF numbers as part of promoting their ideas of citizenship?

Sadly, yet another example of Government all-mouth-and-no-trousers. Gordon wanted more CCFs - not ACF/SCC/ATC - as Posh schools have them (there are good reasons why CCFs are in Boarding schools, rather than being community-based, like ACF - think about it for a minute...) and so he said - make it so.

What he didn't do was supply any money whatsoever. Nothing. Combine that with Teachers who are either too busy (a good few), too anti-military (another large number) or who are concerned that their Head Teacher will not support the idea (as at Knox Academy) and you get the present result. IMHO A CCF cannot survive without the support of its Head. Knox Academy CCF is a dead duck, it appears

Gordon speaks, the world trembles, and nothing actually happens.

Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus

**Devilishdave** · 09-02-2010, 11:30

I went to Knox and the CCF 20 odd years ago. It was a fantastic organisation when I was involved, the guy who ran it was a legend. He was 60 and could still walk up 2 flights of stairs on his hands. The problem I see is that once the head does go they wont be able to reinstate the CCF as CCFs are now only in fee paying schools. As I said on the Face book link the whole thing smarts of the lack of the will to win.

Dave

**abeaumont** · 09-02-2010, 13:26

Originally Posted by Devilishdave

I went to Knox and the CCF 20 odd years ago. It was a fantastic organisation when I was involved, the guy who ran it was a legend. He was 60 and could still walk up 2 flights of stairs on his hands. The problem I see is that once the head does go they wont be able to reinstate the CCF as CCFs are now only in fee paying schools. As I said on the Face book link the whole thing smarts of the lack of the will to win.

Dave

Correction: CCFs are NOT only in fee paying schools.

My only "service" was with a CCF contingent in a state secondary school and that ended with my retirement quite recently. The town had no less than four CCF contingents, and only one of them was in a public school. It is true though that the great majority are in public schools.

It bothers me that the Knox Academy contingent only has about 30 cadets (if we can believe a newspaper report) out of a school population of close to 900.

It also bothers me that the governing body is not supporting the contingent. The headteacher is responsible to them for the way the school is run.....

**Devilishdave** · 09-02-2010, 14:34

You are correct however Knox Accademy is the last non fee paying school in scotland to have a CCF.

Dave

**SirWatching** · 17-02-2010, 20:23

Please be re-assured the only reason the Knox CCF is not 90 (or more)strong is because the head teacher has actively worked at stalling all growth. The officers and cadets involved have been very enthusiastic and despite their limited size have competed well in all the CCF competitions.
Had the CCF had just a tiny bit of encouragement it could have been everything it should have been.
Please if you have time , sign the petition or right a letter.

The kids are still fighting for their CCF!!