Freedom to Lash..
"Mr Chairman and CF Exec
On Behalf on the
It was not long ago that both you and I were at school and went to lessons entitled PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, Education) where we were taught about responsible drinking from the early days of secondary school. This to me is more than enough to make young people understand the dangers of binge drinking and allows them to make decisions after this education.
I am also rather annoyed, as are some of the student life team that we were not consulted on this issue/idea in anyway. Then again if I have learnt one thing about some members of this NME in the last two weeks, it is that it does what it wants, regardless of the membership view. I am of course referring to the reforms, but that’s for another letter.
We as the Conservative Party need to be getting into these schools and selling our message, not preaching to young people about what they should and shouldn’t do. Conservatives want to give young people more control over their lives, not attempt to control them completely.
Also I think it rather looks down on young people. Most young people understand the dangers and do not go out and binge drinking. Most young people drink in moderation and are sensible. So this idea once again is targeted at that small minority that don’t understand and I some cases just don’t care. This Labour Government punish and attempt to control to many of those good honest young people, when they need to really be looking at way of tackling anti-social behaviour.
Conservative Future in schools needs to be going to School Councils and Citizenship classes with our PPC, MPs and Councillors and selling the Conservatives message. Encouraging young people to vote when they turn 18. Let them know that the Conservative party is on their side, not against them.
Most young people do not connect with Politicians they don’t understand them or feel that they are in touch with the issues that are important to them. We need listen to our young people not preach, they are fed up of that!
It is time to stand up and listen to young peoples views before we preach to them. Yes it is important to make people aware of the dangers, but we need to win their trust before they listen to us.
It is time to listen and let young people make their decisions. Moderate control not complete!
Kind Regards
Peter Smallwood
National Student Life – Vice Chairman (Schools) Student Life Schools Officer
Note from Peter –
P.S. – I feel its is only fair to inform you that I was one who talked to *****(Tory Bear) about this last night. I was told about this in my role as VC for Schools by Patrick. It was in confidence but I felt that this was an important issue that needed to be brought to CFs attention. Not hidden away like some thing have been in recent weeks. So you can stop your Witch Hunt on this one!
P.S.S. – While I am taking up your time. I would like you know that Hillingdon CF is holding it AGM tomorrow and will be having it own vote on these reforms. Once we know the results (which I expect to be against) we will discuss the next step and actions. My branch will be taking a lead to get more branches to ballot its membership on this issue and present the results to you."
You gotta fight for your right to party.
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7 comments:
Errr, if you're told something in confidence, doesn't that mean you are supposed to keep it to yourself?
Bravo, Peter and Anna
- there is a big difference between Social Action and Social Work.
This isn't helping people, it is lecturing to them.
I am glad that this issue has been brought to our attention. As Members of CF we are intitled to know what the NME are doing in our name!
If the NME are going to go through
with this - surely they would have had to have told someone at some point about it, anyway.
Why keep it secret? What do people have to hide?
That advert/campaign material was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.
Much as I disagree with the specifics of the reforms and agree the drinks campaign is not really our portfolio, let us not forget that Peter and Anna are two unelected CF officers who see no problems in carrying out jobs with no democratic mandate under titles held purely due to Patrick being too bloody lazy to do it himself.
All to happy to be part of the establishment when they were giving out pretty titles weren't we?
Leaving the debate on the wisdom of the leak aside for the moment we might well look instead to the substantive ideas of this letter. Although I would not consider myself a Libertarian in terms of ideology, I can think of at least three compelling reasons why this campaign is misguided.
1. It is not the place of CF to lecture people about drinking habits. It is the job of parents with the support of schools. An additional CF voice is unnecessary;
2. Repeatedly banging on about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption to children induces warning fatigue and the realisation that getting smashed is an economic way of rebelling. Making the point to excess can be counterproductive;
3. If they're not going to listen to their teachers or parents, why on earth would they listen to CF?.
Notwithstanding of course the bear's point that this is a waste of time and effort that could be better used elsewhere.
Matt, I'm not so sure that Peter's position as VC for schools has anything to do with Patrick being lazy but is more due to the fact that peter was better placed to be involved with schools. There's nothing lazy about delegating work to someone who can do it to a higher standard, and I am also concerend that you seem to think that because Peter and Anna are "unelected" they have no right to an opinion on this matter. I don't believe comments like that add any value to the debate, and it is, in fact, the attitude you have accused some NME members of taking against you as an AC re the reform situation. Now can we all please stop personal attacks? Its getting ridiculous.
ADx
Apologies for my previous comment, written in the heat of the moment.
Nothing personal, no offence meant, all comments fully retracted.