School Closure Is A Case Of Cross Purposes
One of the smallest schools in Britain has closed its doors for the last time. Cross Inn school, which opened near Aberystwyth in Ceredigion in 1855, had just two pupils. The running costs of $92,000 (about 45,000 pounds) a year per child made the two-room primary school one of the most expensive, eclipsing the fees of Eton and Harrow. Ceredigion Council decided to close the school after a steep drop in the number of pupils and the rising costs of keeping it open. The parents of the two remaining pupils fought a long campaign to save the school, stalling its closure by a year.
15 comments:
Even I think the Brits are barking!
I'm not surprised, Carol,
I can see the economic reason, but it's a tough call for a small community - in any country.
Cheers
David
We see this so often. It is such a huge blow to the community. One day those in the know will wake up! Well, we can oly dream.
Thanks for adding me to your blogroll...I will add you to mine, and a few more people here. Lovely to meet new friends. Be sure to visit mine today as I am posting something to share!
Denise
2 pupils??? But, given teh economics it was a decision which had to come about sooner or later!!
I wonder which of the students was the teachers pet.
Hi MrsNesbitt,
Yes, here in Oz there are very isolated communities as well, out in the bush or on stations (farms). And you've hit the nail on the head - it is a blow to a community.
Thanks for your warm welcome. Will definitely check out your latest post.
Keep smiling
David
Hi Sam,
Yes, I cannot argue with the economic rationale, but sometimes an isolated community needs an expression of faith that might translate into a few thousand quid to keep a school going.
It's the little things, not the big decisions, that send tiny outposts or communities down the gurgler.....
Thank goodness our families were not touched by this sort of decision.
Keep smiling
David
Hi Pope Terry,
I know the answer. They took it in turn, in alternate weeks!
Keep smiling
David
Hi David
This isn’t a case of an isolated community.
The truth behind the story is very simple. For the last thirty years houses in West & North Wales have been bought as second (holiday) homes. The owners visit for 2 weeks per year plus the odd weekend. The rest of the time they are left empty.
The result is young local couples cannot afford to buy houses in their own village and have to move away. Without young families the school, post office, village shop and even the pub close.
Travel around Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire in the winter and you will come upon one ghost village after another.
Holiday home houses are so expensive in West Wales, 2nd home buyers are now moving to buy houses in towns in Carmarthenshire, the result: a terrace house that cost £30,000 five years ago now costs £150,000. So young couples are finding it difficult to enter the property market even in formerly industrial towns.
Back to your blog, Cardiganshire Council kept the school open in the hope of saving the village, regrettably it failed.
I do wish they could have stalled long enough for those two kids to finish.
Thanks for including me, David.
If I ever catch up with my blogroll, I'll add you to mine.
Ah, YesBut,
Thanks to you, kind sir, we finally have the full picture. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
That representation puts an entirely different slant on the debate, doesn't it?
Thank you for giving us the local angle and putting it into perfect context.
Accuracy is all. Our thanks for your efforts.
Keep smiling
David
Hi Granny,
No worries at all about including you on my blogroll. 'Twas my pleasure ....
Look forward to reading more of your posts
Keep smiling
David
Yesbut wrote 'The truth behind the story is very simple. For the last thirty years houses in West & North Wales have been bought as second (holiday) homes. The owners visit for 2 weeks per year plus the odd weekend. The rest of the time they are left empty.'
Isnt that why the people started burning them and then 'not the nine oclock news'came out with the line, "if you feel like coming home to a nice roaring fire, buy a house in wales"...
Hi Pope Terry,
I donlt remember that episode. Might have to get the DVD!
Keep smiling
David
It's the little things, not the big decisions, that send tiny outposts or communities down the gurgler.....
But David, I didn't do it! I swear!
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