HAVING recently read a newspaper story regarding a special needs youngster, we were shocked to see that Gloucestershire's education department had apparently failed and humiliated the boy and his family.
At this time were are currently fighting to keep two special needs schools open – Oakdene and Dean Hall. These people are responsible for putting closure notices on both schools and we, like many others, think that they are not fit to make such decisions on special needs children.
Now a family has been dragged through the courts at expense to us all. As a result it must be clear to most people that the council cannot make a judgement about our special needs children.
The question is now: Should they resign? We think the answer must be 'Yes'.
We are now asking that the "gagging order" placed on the family should be removed as the father wants details to be made public and as ratepayers we all have a right to know.
We are also asking the Education Department to let our two schools continue as they are and in their present form.
If they make another mistake it could be very costly to the mental and physical state of our children and they will also go against public opinion.
In view of all this we feel that the meeting of the Schools Organisation Committee should be adjourned until the New Year. – Alan and Jayne Bowkett, Commercial Street, Cinderford.