This week North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale underwent an hour of in-depth questioning from Laleham Gap’s Post 16 pupils. Fresh from national media interviews about why Sir Roger wants Prime Minister Boris Johnson to go, the probing he got from the students was no less intense!
Paul Ursell, the Post 16 teacher, had organised the question and answer session specifically to encourage his pupils not only to know their democratic rights but also to begin to become more confident in using them.
Mr Ursell had organised a ‘Democracy Day’ back in October for his pupils where the Education Officer from Parliament had explained much of the mechanics of Parliament.
Mr Ursell said: “I organised this follow up so my students would get a chance to exercise some of their rights and to build their confidence to question those in authority about the issues that matter to them.”
Prior to Mr Gale’s arrival Mr Ursell’s students carried out some detailed research about the MP. They found out about his career, both as an MP and prior to that. They found out how he had voted on key issues and about some of his beliefs, so they were able to question these. Their thoughtful questions ranged from the personal (why had he become an MP, what was he like at school and asking about his dogs) to the political. Students quizzed him about what his government was doing for the homeless, why he held the views he did on same sex marriage, whether Brexit was good and was it fair that people aged 16 in Scotland and now Wales could vote in elections but not in England.
Sir Roger praised the students for their questioning and thanked Mr Ursell for organising the event, promising to return another time. Sir Roger said: “One of the things I like most about my job is events like these. It is great to be questioned by bright young people. I like it because these sessions are always challenging, they always make you think. The students today asked very searching questions, as they should and it is very healthy for politicians to answer their questions.”
Mr Ursell was equally proud of his students, saying they showing a greater confidence in exercising their rights and that it boded well for them as future citizens who would stand up and participate in the debates that will shape their futures.
Excellent example set by the school and students (many Universities would’ve simply “no platformed” him!).
Since when do MP’s answer questions ?
It is good to get students questioning those in authority.
Arent masks meant to be worn in secondary schools ?
Yes.
It would appear that Roger Gale and the teacher were breaking the law, unless they were medically exempt.
Politics/ economics should be a basic part of the curriculum then populist liars such as Johnson or far right extremists and mediocrities such as Craig Mackinlay would not have been elected and the economic and international harm caused by Brexit would likely not have happened either.
Your bang on the money Dave, I have received nothing but ill informed, and dismissive replies to my emails from Mackinlay, who has taken on being a chocolate tea pot seriously! He still can’t bring himself to admit that it was Brexit that caused all the migrants to risk their lives to get here! He now knows that when we were in the EU asylum seekers could be removed to the first EU country they arrived at, but we are no longer a member, so none of the EU countries are obliged to take them, and don’t! Mackinlay seems to think France will, which they won’t, and haven’t, Duurh!