General Chat

A judge yesterday blasted a decision to prosecute a boy of ten for calling his school friend racist names in the playground. District Judge Jonathan Finestein called the move 'political correctness gone mad' The boy is accused of calling an 11 year old pupil 'paki' and 'Bin Laden' but claimed that he himself had been called 'white trash' Judge Finestein ordered the boy remain on summons and adjourned the case until April 20th so the CPS can decide whether it is in the public interest to proceed with the prosecution Judith Elderkin a national executive member of the National Union of Teachers said she though the judge Mr Finestein was 'out of date' and should take the allegation of racism seriously.

Didn't the same judge also say that the lad should have had a good clout rather than be taken to court?

He said was that in the old days the headmaster would have got them both and given them a good clouting. He would have said they had behaved like idiots, given them the slipper, or whatever he used to get and they would have gone away to shake hands.

No... I do not think a 10 year old child should be prosecuted for name calling. It would be better if the head teacher had given a talk to the whole school explaining how hurtful name calling is and laying down ground rules for punishment within the school regardless of where the name calling took place. Jean x.

Why can't we bring effective penalties back to the classroom so that our overburdened and EXPENSIVE legal system doesn't have to face dealing with kids who use inappropriate speech or behaviour? Surely the two boys could be brought face to face and told to apologise to each other? End of matter!

Quite right Jean. Judge also says that the CPS fail to prosecute more serious breaches of the law. Happy days

I do not think taxpayers' money should be wasted on a prosecution, but then neither do I think that giving them a 'clout' will solve the issue. Stricter discipline in schools and at home is the key, but children are children and they will call each other names. It happens, get over it. Btw, can I hasten to add, before my comments are misconstrued, that I am NOT condoning any sort of name-calling, heaven forbid. I just think a different approach should have been used to diffuse the situation. Liz

Yeah, he should be punished the little git! Especially calling someone 'Bin Laden', thats horrible. White trash is the crapiest insult ever, so he can't use that as an insult!

Will the names of geeks and fatty and four eyes, and all the other school yard names be put under such scrutiny? PC has gone mad.

No I don't think he should be prosecuted. He should be educated in tolerance/consideration and so should the other boy if it is true that he called him white trash.

I don't think he should have been prosecuted, especially as the two boys were quickly friends again ad now play in each others houses. But the second boys Mother is to blame here for reporting it. When we were young and when our kids were young we would have laughed it off as a playground tiff which is what it was. we have all gone too far overboard with all the PC nonsense and now minority races perceive insult where none is really intended. the judge actually said he was called fat at school. Ann Glos

PC Gone mad again. If society does not get a grip and stop being so stupid, what’s wrong with giving the lad a telling off, he is only a child for god sake, they will bring back hanging for this if it gets much worse or lock him up and throw the key away. what ever happend to, Sticks and stone will break my bones but calling names won’t hurt me? Roy

not a 10. That child has heard someone call a brown person 'paki' seen the effect and copied. he cannot possibly be fully aware of the inference of calling some one Bin Laden- ask the majority of 10 year old who he is and they wont have a clue - probably think they sing i a pop group.