Despatches from a mother who started late (and is running to catch up)

Hundreds at education rally

Parents, children and teachers from schools all over Edinburgh gathered in the Council City Chambers to protest at planned education budget cuts. We chanted, sang and shouted. Posed for photos. And talked to the press.

Reporters, camera crew and police watched as small children chanted "No more cuts". Council officials took pictures of us from upstairs windows. Drummers kept up a soundtrack. Parents hoisted kids up onto their shoulders for them to get a better view.

"If this was France,we would sue the council," said one parent. "No way would people just put up with this."

Up until last week Edinburgh Council was planning 3% cuts to the education budget. Then, in a piece of interesting timing, it climbed down from that position. Instead of the announced figure, our schools would suffer 'only' a 1% cutback. Lucky us.

Call me cynical, but it's hard not to see the scaling back as a deliberate political manoeuvre. The sort of move that might have been planned all along to make the cuts more palatable.

The sort of timing that makes a 1% cut to over-stretched budgets actually start to look like a good deal. I suspect the council was planning on 1% cuts all along, but started with the threat of three times as much at that.

That way we would all breathe a (misplaced) sigh of relief when they climbed down and the council would look, yes, almost generous. Sometimes I wonder why I bother paying my council tax. The council doesn't seem bothered about honouring its side of the deal and providing my kids with a decent education.

Failing to deliver on their commitments

With inflation running at around 2%, cutting the Edinburgh education budget by 1% means that - in real terms of what the money can buy - it's set to fall by 3%. It's important not to forget that inflation will eat away at the budget, even without politicians tampering with it.

Even without any cuts, the existing budget will be worth less this time next year than it is now. Simply because of inflation stripping away purchasing power.

We deserve better

Add the cuts into the equation, and our schools will be even more dilapidated, teachers even more over-worked, supplies even scarcer.

The proposed cut-backs go to a council vote tomorrow.

Parents hold rally against Edinburgh School Cuts - Evening News Edinburgh

Posted 10 February 2010 08:46

Edinburgh

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