IN March of this year the Daily Express published four pictures of Paul McCartney struggling to rise from a lying position to a sitting position on a Caribbean beach. They were captioned by ‘Help! I need somebody’ and ‘Twist and clout’ in an attempt at humour. McCartney is the same age as me and in my experience there is nothing particularly amusing about trying to get up from the ground or floor if there isn’t something conveniently placed to give a bit of support. That’s why every so often someone who lives alone is found dead or severely dehydrated after a fall. McCartney’s face did not suggest he found it terribly amusing either.
I’m not going to suggest that the pictures were ‘offensive’ or generate some synthetic outrage in the hopes of provoking a ‘Twitter Storm’, but I am doubtful that the paper would have published similar pictures of some well known figure struggling to rise from a wheelchair. A wheelchair says ‘disabled’ and no one wants to to be accused of mocking the disabled. There’s even talk of making such boorishness a ‘hate crime’.
The editor of the Express is not alone in viewing disability in simplistic terms like this. Someone is either disabled or not; it’s a binary thing like some digital ‘on off switch’. But as many people, some old and some not so old, will be happy to testify, it’s not, it’s analogue. You gradually lose the ability to do the things you used to take for granted in your younger days.
There’s no cliff edge moment, leg muscles just become that bit weaker and it becomes more difficult to stand up without something to push on with your arms. Knee joints begin to show signs of wear and it becomes painful to walk Or you find you cannot read the small print, or you need the subtitles on TV programmes because you cannot hear so well as you once could.
One of the best descriptions I have heard of what life is like for older people came from the biologist Jared Diamond who at the time was 81, he said he lives a life of ‘constructive paranoia’. What he meant was that before putting your feet somewhere, check there’s nothing to fall over, when going down steps always hold the handrail, make two journeys not one when carrying things from one place to another and always put your keys in the same place.
Mostly the ability deficit that comes with age can compensated by these little tweaks to everyday life, but some cannot. In the late 1970s the bioengineer Heinz Wolff initiated a project he called URINE, an acronym for Uninteresting Research Into Necessary Equipment which looked at ways of overcoming the ability deficit which comes with age. More recently the Sports Department of Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) started a project to examine the link between loss of muscle strength and propensity for falls in older people. But in spite of all the talk about diversity there is little evidence that there has been any widespread recognition of the impact of the incremental decline in abilities which many people experience as they age.
Not all supermarkets ensure there are plenty of smaller trolleys for people who struggle to handle the ‘family shop’ size. Some directors of TV films and dramas have them filmed in what looks like ‘Mudochrome’. Businesses and local councils arrange for Public Notices to be printed with the smallest possible font size to save money. For several years the ‘i’ newspaper regularly ran a page which had parts of the text printed in pale blue or pale yellow on a white background. Web pages frequently have text on a patterned background. These things may look great, but they are purgatory for anyone whose visual acuity isn’t 100%.
No doubt all these organisations have some well paid individual to draw up a policy document on disability and diversity, but until these individuals begin to stop thinking about disability in digital, on off, terms and begin to realise that for most people it’s not, it’s analogue, life will be just that bit more difficult than it need be for some people because it’s the slow decline in their ability to do everyday things like what McCartney was trying to do that matters.
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MMU student told his course leader he was 'extremely concerned' about Batley
Batley Grammar teacher is under police protection after showing picture in class
MMU student said he worried about the 'cowardly response from the unions and other bodies connected to teaching' amid the row over the Batley teacher
By Henry Martin For Mailonline
Published: 13:22, 13 May 2021 | Updated: 16:44, 13 May 2021
A teacher trainee was hauled before a fitness to practise meeting after saying he 'would not hesitate' to use images of the Prophet Mohammed in a class - sparking a fierce backlash from freedom of speech advocates.
The Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) student had told his course leader he was 'extremely concerned' about the recent case of a teacher at Batley Grammar School who was suspended after he showed an image of the prophet to pupils.
The Batley, West Yorkshire teacher and his family are still under police protection, and the threat to their safety is judged as so severe that even their relatives do not know where they are now living, more than six weeks after fleeing their home.
The MMU student, who is set to complete his Postgraduate Certificate in Education course this summer, had written an email to his course leader on April 1 saying he worried about the 'cowardly response from the unions and other bodies connected to teaching', The Telegraph reports.
'I would like to know whether or not MMU is prepared to stand up for any student who finds themselves in a similar position,'he added, arguing that the protests which arose amid the row were a 'clear attempt to enforce a de facto blasphemy law on teachers and schools'.
'I would not hesitate to use drawings of any religious figure, including Mohammed, and I certainly will not bow to any pressure from protests, and I would like to think that my university will stand with me,' he said.
The course leader did not reply, but one month later the student was contacted by the head of the teacher education department demanding he attend a 'fitness to practise cause for concern meeting'.
The reaction has prompted fury as critics voiced their support for the trainee teacher.
The Free Speech Union said: 'It is absolutely ludicrous that a trainee teacher could be barred from teaching for supporting the Batley Grammar School teacher over the Mohammed cartoons.
'There is no blasphemy law in England, nor should there ever be again.'
Social media users agreed with the union's statement, with one saying: 'Where are all the teachers backing him up? Should be ashamed of themselves.'
Another said: '@GavinWilliamson I'm a teacher. The profession is being intimidated. The people in charge of education acquiesce to the demands of a religion.'
A third said: 'He should not be fighting to keep his job, this is a clear case of the tail wagging the dog. The people at the top need to stand up, grow a pair and tell everyone that they will not be cowed or intimidated in this way.'
The fitness meeting could result in a referral to a Fitness to Practise Panel following the MMU student's comments claiming he would be willing to show the picture of Mohammed in class, he was told.
The head of department told him it could be a breach of Teachers' Standards - which include upholding 'public trust in the profession'.
The concern 'specifically relates to the Prophet Mohammed' due to 'particular sensitivities' around drawings of him, the student was told.
The student teacher called the response 'ludicrous and humiliating'.
An MMU spokesman told MailOnline: 'Manchester Metropolitan University has always supported and championed freedom of speech. We provide an academic environment in which debate and the sharing of views is encouraged.
'However, there is a difference between the expectations on students within an academic environment on a University campus and the expectations once our students move into a professional practice environment, such as a primary school.
'We look at all cases on their individual merits and in knowledge of the full context around a particular issue, and then take a course of action that is relevant and most suitable to deal with that specific issue.
'In this instance, it was thought best to have an initial discussion with the student about the potential impact in a primary school environment of the suggestion that he would be happy to share imagery which would be upsetting to people of a particular faith.
'We believe the discussion with the student was positive and constructive and we await further feedback from him before deciding whether any further steps are required.'
It comes after the row over Batley deepened this month as Imam Adil Shahzad, who travelled to Batley from Bradford to join the protests, insisted he wants the teacher dismissed.
LAST NIGHT Dr Mercedes Penalba-Sotorrio of Manchester Metropolitan University gave an exquisite talk on the Spanish Civil War at a crowded event at Ashton-under-Lyne Central Library. Ashtonhas been the scene of several such events since the unveiling of a Blue Plaque on behalf of a local lad, James Keogh, who died in the hills of Aragon in 1938 fighting for the freedom of Spaniards on the 25th, November 2011.
Dr. Mercedes Sotorrio gave a very interesting detailed account of the struggle to defend democracy in Spain of the 1930s. She described the contribution made by working-class volunteers such as James Keogh, a tailor and the son of a local binman.* But James Keogh, as she showed in her talk last night was one of a vast number of northern workingmen, who were so inspired that they fought in many battles on the Spanish peninsula, throughout the war. People went from Ireland and as she pointed out fought for both sides.
She referred particularly to the Battle of the Ebro which occurred between July and November 1938. Fought on the banks of the Ebro; the longest river in Spain, it became a slaughter house for the republic. It was a folly described so well by Antony Beevor the military historian in his book 'The BATTLE for SPAIN':
'To continue the battle in such circumstances had no military justification at all, especially when the Republic was so vulnerable there was no hope of achieving the original purpose of the offensive. But instead of withdrawing with their best troops in good order to fight again, the republican command continued to send more men across the Ebro. And all this was because Negrin believed that the eyes of Europe were upon them and he could not acknowledge a defeat. Once again, political and propaganda considerations led to yet another self-inflicted disaster.'
Dr. Sotorrio said: 'Some 35,000 people went to Spain to fight with the volunteers, mostly, but not only, in the International Brigades and some 10,000 died in the conflicts'. She agreed during the question time which followed that the Soviet Union, like the Fascist Axis powers, 'had its own agenda'; which sometimes contrasted with that of the Spanish Republic.
There was some criticism during the questions about the non-intervention of the British and French governments in the Spanish Civil War, and Dr. Sotorrio said 'it seemed that some of the British public had more understanding of the likely danger presented by Fascism to Europe'. There were also queries about the role and relevance of British Gibraltar to the conflict. In the early stages of the war the British authorities on Gibraltar had tended to assist the supporters of General Franco rather than the legally elected Spanish Republic. Some Spaniards who supported the Republic, who sought refuge in Gib. were sent back to Spain and imprisoned by Franco's supprters, and a Republican ship that sought British protection was threatened by the British that if it didn't leave the port of Gibraltar the authorities would illuminate it so that it would by vulnerable to nationalist bombers at night.
Meanwhile, although it wasn't mentioned last night, in 1937, it is worth mentioning that during the Spanish Civil War, the British Governor of Gibraltar was successful in obtaining permission from Franco to continue the Hunt.[23]
The tradition of the Royal Calpe Hunt continued for more than a
century. The last Hunt took place on 4 April 1939. It could not be
resumed the following autumn due to the outbreak of the Second World
War. Although the horses and the pack were maintained in the hope that
the Hunt would resume, and the Hunt Committee remained active until
1973, the Second World War brought the end of the Royal Calpe Hunt.[4][5][7]
After the questions to Dr Mercedes Penalba-Sotorrio, the archivist who organised the event thanked the speaker and expressed his delight at the turn-out having originally worried that perhaps the subject was not sufficiently local.
JOIN us for one of our regular Green Gatherings. Due to the sudden death of our Greater Manchester Mayoral candidate, Deyika Nzeribe, the event will combine a focus on housing with a chance to remember Deyika. After some thought we felt that this event should go ahead as Deyika was passionate about providing good quality housing for all.
We will be discussing the future of housing in Manchester and Greater Manchester. as well as celebrating the life of Deyika We want to hear ideas from you.
What will happen?
There will be speakers with a question and answer session on the topic of housing
Speakers include:
Dr Roz Fox
Roz is a Lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University where she teaches on the undergraduate Public Service degree and Masters programme in Public Administration
Roz is also the academic lead of the university wide Social Housing Innovation, Research and Enterprise (SHIRE) network that provides research, consultancy and support to housing associations and their customers across the North West and Cheshire.
Charlotte Allen
Is a member of Steady State Manchester. She helped draw up Steady State's paper ‘Housing in the Viable Economy’ which will shortly be available on our website. She is also a member of Greater Manchester Housing Action.
She trained as an architect and town planner and worked in London and Lancashire before going to Mozambique, where she lived for nearly 30 years, working in urban and rural development.
Following this there will be a conversation around the life of Deyike Nzeribe. We will talk about the projects he was involved with, what he wanted to achieve and how we can pay tribute to him.
Expect: free flowing ideas, a relaxed open atomsphere, biscuits, a chance to have conversations about housing.
Don't expect: long speeches and quizzes on obscure policy points.
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