Calum Munro adds to the confusion

 

Calum Munro is the former policy lead to Highland Children’s Forum (2004 – 2014) and outlines his support of the Named Person scheme in Third Force news:

"There is so much misinformation and misunderstanding around the concept of the named person it is no wonder the public are confused about it." [Nicola is not helping much, is she?]

"The people most vociferously opposed to the concept of the named person seem to be based around organisations for families who want to home educate their children. There is nothing that I have read in the Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) agenda or the named person concept that interferes with the current right of a family to do that. But their right to home educate should not interfere with the right of families with children and young people who have additional support needs to have a simpler way of accessing services. Home educators have nothing to fear from the named person and should not be campaigning to deny those who have need of it from getting it into place."

What an appalling statement which only adds to the confusion. Home educators have every right to be concerned about the Named Person scheme, as do the rest of us. They have followed the scheme from its beginning with the abandonment of the ContactPoint database; but data-mining is the part of the Named Person scheme that nobody is prepared to talk about.

"The key issue for me is that it gives parents (and children) a single point of contact through which they can seek help. It should ensure the end of the pass the parcel` syndrome in some areas where difficult cases were passed from agency to agency with the carers becoming more fraught as nobody wanted to listen. It is now the named person’s duty to listen and to seek the appropriate help for the family/child."

http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/images/uploads/articles/_secondary/Calum_Munro2WEB.jpg

Single point of contact eh? No it`s the excuse around which to gather every child and family`s data, not forgetting associated adults.

Now from the Scottish Daily Mail:

"The SNP`s `state snooper` scheme has plunged into further chaos after teachers warned they will not perform the role during school holidays."

"The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS), the country`s largest teaching union, also revealed that members will ditch the role at weekends."

"Minister are already facing a rebellion from health visitors, who fear they will be made scapegoats and sued by angry parents if children are harmed."

"Now teachers - the other profession singled out to act as Named Persons through the project - have joined the revolt."

"With civil war erupting in the public sector, council chiefs hit out at the EIS for unveiling its stance without holding talks."

"First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has refused to bow to demands to `pause` the roll-out, which is due to take place this August, despite growing opposition."

"The SNP wants state guardians to be a single point of contact for children up to the age of 18 to spot early signs of abuse or neglect."

"However, the Scottish Daily Mail can reveal that responsibilities could be passed to council workers, who may have little knowledge of their background, for several weeks every summer. Already stretched local authority workers will be expected to take on thousands of additional cases."

"Larry Flanagan, general secretary of EIS said: `The EIS is also clear that though the service will continue throughout holiday periods and beyond the hours of the working week, members of local authority staff rather than teachers will fulfil the named person role at these times. Arrangements such as this already operate in relation to child protection matters.`"

"However, child protection teams focus on vulnerable youngsters, while the Named Person scheme is designed to provide a single point of contact for them all."
------------------------------------ 
Calum Munro, there will be no single point of contact.

Sturgeon is in no hurry to address concerns

"Campaigners against the controversial named person policy have challenged the First Minister over `confusing and inaccurate statements` made about the scheme..."

 

"They wrote to Nicola Sturgeon requesting a meeting on April 1 but say they have `not even received the courtesy of an acknowledgement` to their letter..."

"Opponents say these `state guardians` risk intruding into the private lives of families, but the Scottish Government argues the service will act as a safety net to help families and children if they need it."

"No2NP spokesman Simon Calvert said: `We all want children to be safeguarded from abuse, and we all want families to have access to the services they need. But the named person scheme is not the answer to those problems...`"

"Ms Sturgeon has described the scheme as `good and sensible`, but has said parents are not legally obliged to use it. In March, she told MSPs at Holyrood: `The named person scheme is an entitlement, I think it is a good and sensible entitlement. It is not an obligation...`"

"But campaigners fear the scheme could be compulsory, with no ability for parents to opt out..."

"With an election looming and this issue assuming increasing importance, I would have hoped the First Minister might have engaged with the campaign and answered our questions."

"An SNP spokesman said: `The First Minister’s office has received this letter and will respond in due course.`"

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/scotland/nicola-sturgeon-challenged-on-confusing-remarks-on-named-person-policy-1.933880

`In due course` is disdainful of the Scottish public is it not ?

Leslie Scott from Tymes Trust and part of the NO2NP campaign has been voicing real concerns:

"What this legislation means for every family in Scotland is that state employees will have the authority, power and duty – regardless of parental consent - to monitor every child’s ‘wellbeing’ (nothing to do with child welfare systems) against outcomes as dictated by government. The legislation includes no definition of wellbeing and ultimately decisions will be made on the Named Person’s subjective opinion..."

"This is a universal compulsory scheme with no opt out. If parents are not `compliant` this could result in them being flagged up as showing ‘resistance’ or ‘limited engagement’, both of which are risk indicators in the wellbeing assessment process. But parents declining advice will not stop the Named Person carrying out their functions as stated in the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act, to gather and share personal even sensitive information on every child and all associated adults and to intervene..."

"It is therefore hugely concerning that within the wellbeing assessment process are 304 wellbeing signifiers including that: `the child/young person, along with parents/carers is compliant with treatment for any illnesses, diseases, chronic conditions or impairments`. This is one signifier of many that illustrates compulsion at the heart of this legislation."
Read more at http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/named-person-nanny-state-or-safety-net#zJ8ie6tV84zC56kw.99

Of course, Leslie Scott`s concern comes from her understanding of ME sufferers who are often misdiagnosed. Compulsory mistreatment would not be acceptable.

But there are concerns for the wider public too: For instance, is there not a danger that `must comply with treatment or be considered a risk` will become `must comply with the vaccination programme?` Great for the pharmaceutical industry but a disaster for parents and children who want to take a more considered approach.

Must comply: It`s a slippery slope which the legislation allows.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/scotland/nicola-sturgeon-challenged-on-confusing-remarks-on-named-person-policy-1.933880

Stephen Fry`s insensitive remarks about child abuse survivors

"In an interview with Dave Rubin on the American talk show ‘Rubin Report’ ... the writer, actor, presenter, and all round national treasure Stephen Fry decided that `self pity` by survivors of child sexual abuse was an appropriate target for his ire."

"Fry’s argument focused on censorship and the `deep infantilism` he perceives in today’s society. The discussion included mentions of the unsuccessful Oxford University petition to remove a statue of colonialist Cecil Rhodes and the application of so-called `trigger warnings` to literature."

"Fry remarked that many great plays contain scenes of rape and murder, including Shakespearian classics such as Titus Andronicus and Macbeth. `They’re terrible things and they have to be thought about, clearly,` Fry said, `but if you say you can’t watch this play… [because] it might trigger something when you were young that upset you once, because uncle touched you in a nasty place, well I’m sorry.`"

"`It’s a great shame and we’re all very sorry that your uncle touched you in that nasty place – you get some of my sympathy – but your self pity gets none of my sympathy. Self pity is the ugliest emotion in humanity. Get rid of it, because no one’s going to like you if you feel sorry for yourself. Just grow up...`"

"The language Fry uses is so utterly patronizing that it strips his wider points, about the inability of some to engage with complex issues, of any real value. To belittle someone’s childhood experience of being abused by a family member and reduce it to ‘uncle touched you in a nasty place’ is deeply callous and irresponsible."

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/stephen-fry-which-child-sexual-abuse-victim-do-you-think-changed-their-mind-about-trigger-warnings-a6980546.html

On this Date in History, April 15: Rosalba Carriera, Leonardo and Impressionism

On this date in History: April 15

In the United States April 15th is synonymous with tax day, but in art history there were several other important occurrences on this day.

Rosalba Carriera (Jan 12 ,1673– April 15, 1757) was a Venetian Rococo portrait painter known for her pastels.  She was a very successful artist in the Rococo era who was highly sought after for her portraits by members of European royalty.  Rosalba enjoyed a long career as an artist.  She died at the age of 84, 259 years ago on this day.

Carriera, Felicita Sartori in a Turkish Costume, Uffizi Gallery, circa 1728-1741, pastel on canvas

Also on this date 564 years ago- Leonardo da Vinci  (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519), was born in the small town of Vinci in Florence (hence his name). 

Leonardo is one of the most famous Renaissance artists in the world, he was a painter and inventor and filled many notebooks with his observations, anatomy drawings and proposed inventions with notes written backwards.  Leonardo's painting of the Mona Lisa is perhaps the most well known art work in the world.

The Virgin of the Rocks, Leonardo da Vinci 1483, Louvre

April 15th also marks the introduction for French Impressionism.


The first exhibition of French Impressionists exhibition opened on April 15, 1874.  Thirty painters including Claude Monet, Renoir, Degas, Pissarro and Berthe Morisot were included.
 
The exhibit was held in the photographer Nadar's studio in Paris. The group of artist’s didn’t start out calling themselves ‘Impressionists’ but the art critic Louis Leroy coined the term taken from the title of Monet’s painting Impression, Sunrise. While this was meant in a derogatory way, the artist’s in the show liked it and in later group exhibits collectively referred to themselves as the ‘Impressionists.’

Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise, 1873, Musee Marmottan, Paris