howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
not always as good as that andrew, heard today that the problem has spread to elms vale road.
correct keith the landlords are having a field day at the taxpayers expense.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,927
spreading,,,,,,,,help,,,,,,,,,,
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
The various posts on here from local Folkestone Road members are quite informative.
Going back to my point on integration, I'll make the following consideration.
If families have decided to settle in Britain, but, even after a decade or more, still teach their children the mother-tongue of their (parents') country of origin, in this case Slovak, this must out of necessity lead to social problems.
The reason being, when these children turn 5 and start going to an English school, they will NOT know English, but only their parents' mother-tongue. This will inevitably have a very negative effect on their education, and most probably on the education of many English-speaking children within the classroom.
Teachers will either have to leave the speakers of a different language behind in the non-comprehension of the day's lesson, or stop, explain individually to each of these in slow motion and pigeon English what they cannot understand, and in so doing hold up all the rest of the class, who may even end up themselves speaking pigeon English as a result.
My belief is, this is wrong, it is unfair both on the children whose parents only teach them their (parents') mother-tongue, and on the English children with whom. later on in life, they will share the same classroom.
Does local Government have any idea on how to affront this social problem and bring about integration as required by British Law? In fact there are laws on this mater.
I can testify that what I have written is correct, many children in Folkestone Road are being taught only their parents' mother-tongue. I assume that when they learn English at school, it is through much increased hardships for them and the other children in the class.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
All children of new labour Alexander
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
hang on a mo,these eastern europeans gezzers are working arnt they,well good for them at least they scrounging benifits.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
alex is right here though i have to say things are different with czech children they seem to pick up the language very quickly unlike their parents,
a few years back when we had problems with kids running amok i went out and remonstrated with them and because they spoke good english a rapport was established.
they understood why i was annoyed and i got to understand why they were out late at night making a noise, not their fault.
we all got on well after that.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Howard has made a point there, about children playing on the street, at least I think that's what he's referring to.
In the past I have pointed out to the Council, when they came around last year seeking views from local residents on this area on any problems it may present, that Slovak children are always on the main Folkestone Road, they do not seem to have access to public play areas here, or simply do not make use of any that may be around further afield.
To my knowledge, this is bad for their health and for their safety, owing to factors of highway pollution and the risk of accidents.
The other day on Belgrave Road, I saw two Slovak children playing football in the middle of the road, their ball went underneath a passing car coming up the slope, the driver stopped and looked at them with a stern face, and had to do his best to hold the breaks while one child retrieved the ball from beneath the bumper.
This is no good, it happens regularly, I assume, and is something for the local Council to look in to.
I also see young Slovaks in their early 20s sometimes speeding along Folkestone Road and Malvern Road, in big cars, doing dangerous turns from Saint John's Road at high speed, usually several cars, something like showing off.
My concern for the small Slovak children is that they are not being allowed access to the English language even if born here, that this is damaging to their future chances to integrate in our society, and will effect their possibilities to skills and training further down the road.
I think this should be a case for social workers, although I will admit not being well versed in the Law on this matter.
Do DDC have any guidelines from the Communities Secretary on children's rights and their parents' obligations in assuring unrestricted access to the English language as mother-tongue for all children born in the UK?
I know there are laws guaranteeing Celtic in Scotland and Welsh in Wales, but this is not the case of Slovak, however.
People cannot just move to Britain and make a law for themselves and deny their children access to the English language as mother-tongue.
Guest 664- Registered: 23 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,039
Parts of Folkestone Road are a pretty scary ghetto. It's a long road, with each section having a different character and demographic. I only head in the away-from-town direction to catch a train, and escape.
Whether the ghetto is the scariest thing about the area however is a moot point. The locals have made a pretty good job of dragging it down without any imported help - cf my earlier post.
So how do we solve the area's problems? Moving somewhere better seems the only solution. But sometimes, amid all the noise, violence, aggression, tension, rubbish, pollution, segregation and alienation, you see a ray of hope that points the way forward:
An old guy who makes it his mission to go around picking up litter, apparently for the laudable and altruistic motive of smartening up his manor.
We need to enfranchise others to take action for their community.
Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
I remember Keith,Shiela and Roger were active with The Priory Forum in the past with considerable success, does this forum still work it's magic? Judging by nearly all the proceeding postings there would appear to be an element of concern about the Folkestone Road and it's environs and strong leadership from our Councils and Councillors is required.
I do expect sabre rattling to ensue but nothing will ultimately be done, it never is.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Or we could just send them back ,if we quit the EU
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Many could have a British passport, Keith, if resident for at least 5 years, or born in Britain.
This was one point in my previous posts, that many children and youngsters and young adults here are speaking only their mother-tongue not ours as first language, and I'm not too sure how this effects their future work prospects.
Will they know how to contribute towards their own life and towards the greater good of our Nation? Are they benefits-dependent by choice or are they working?
As residents who have chosen to settle among us, they should communicate more with us, and let us know. If they are working, then good and fine, if not, we should be helping them find employment.
All this is unknown to us mother-tongue English-speaking citizens, because of lack of communication, but we have the right to know.
Hence I'm not making statements I can't prove, but would like to know.
Do local councillors of this Ward communicate with these residents, and does local Government think that it is in the children's best interests to learn only their parents' language from small on and not the language of the country they chose to settle in, or are born in?
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
If they have British nationality while being resident in this Country, then the Nation(ality) they should live for is British, not any other.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
alex,the word you are looking for is diversaty.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,927
Quite a lot here;
so let's put in my bit;
KEN;
With regard to priory forum, it done the job at the time, but in more recent years
don't hear much from them, i left some years ago after leaving the council so others will /can answer that one.
ALL;
The priory forum in those years did a lot of work in this area, holding meetings
with these groups, also inviting them to meetings to explain to help to show
why they came to the UK to help everyone get a better understanding.
I also(against the wishes of the labour party at county, district, and local level)
held a public meeting on the subject in the height of the problems
in the packed clarendon and westbury hall
with the M.P., Heads of the council, police etc
sadly migrant helplne refused to attend.
but a lot was spoken at the meeting and lots of issues ironed out.
also at the tme jack straw also visited priory forum as the then home office minister.
Thats just a taster of things that went on at that time.
So let's move on to today,
Unfortunatly a large number of he children on the Folkestone road don't attend
school, and are in the street most of the day.
now, lets be be fair to the education authorities, there are problems with
communication, dosh, interpreters etc etc
so there is a lot that needs to be done there before things get sorted.
ANDREW
There are a number of non uk person's congregate in and around the folkestone road, but intimidating, not to me, its there way of life, maybe migrant helpline talking to them might help the situation.
ALEXANDER;
On intergration, you will find around the priory ward there are a number of differing views, some born and bred UK residents have no interest in intergration, and in fact work in the opposite direction
of course this is a choice thing, but this then cannot be blamed on immigrants not wanting to intergrate(although many dont)
KEITH B;
Of course the same old cry of SEND THEM ALL HOME we are all long past, and i can see no signs of ANY GOVT going down that road.
So, we are where we are, and need to deal with it.
but it will take a multi agency approach to solve it
sadly, i don't see that happening
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i always wonder what the function of migrant helpline actually is, i was told a long while back that they were to help incomers integrate.
if so it hasn't worked.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Keith s, same old labour, every body before the wishes of the many
Laws can be reversed Alexander,
(if resident for at least 5 years, or born in Britain )
A dog can be borne in a stable, still doesn't make it a horse
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
on the subject of integration 5 years ago a youth club was started at the community centre near to me.
naturally the local slovak kids wanted to join so they were given forms to be signed by their parents giving permission to join.
not one form was ever handed in.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I live on the Folkestone Road and I'm one of the (District) Councillors for the ward.
I walk up and down the road, two, three or more times a week and drive up and down it a few times a day and it breaks my heart and makes me damned annoyed to see just how awful some people live.
The amount of rubbish that is just strewn all over the floor, the mattresses, furniture, broken toys, dirty nappies - all have been reported to DDC and many departments there and they and outside agencies (Police and Social Services) are working on all the issues I raise with them.
Howard knows, he gets a copy of many of the emails and photos I send.
Part of the problem is the make-up of the properties - how the old, large family homes have been allowed to be turned into little tiny boxes for the less well off, vulnerable and less able.
Some houses have been turned into HMOs (Houses of Multiple Occupancy), but I'm sure they house many more people than they are registered for, which then causes a problem with the rubbish.
Some if not most, of these badly managed houses, have some very small children living in them and for many, it must be like a slum - inside and out.
The Priory Forum is (amongst other things) trying to organise a meeting/gathering with all sorts of nationalities of local people to try to create a greater understanding of each other, but also point out what is needed of them.
Noise is also another big concern that causes real problems late in the evening, sometimes as late as 1am.
There are also too many businesses in Folkestone Road, that are funded by KCC (so our money) and looking after various types of "vulnerable" people - homeless men, homeless youngsters, ex-prisoners, people with learning disabilities etc.
There's too many for one street and too many tiny flats, too many people who don't give a stuff about where they live and how they live.
I am trying very hard to change all this, but it is not easy and is taking far too long.
I'm not sure what is meant by ordinary people, but ordinary people are not happy about things: the mess, waste and litter, the noise and the fact that we don't seem to have enough "decent" people living here.
We do need more community involvement, but with such a transient population, it is very difficult.
Roger
Guest 756- Registered: 6 Jun 2012
- Posts: 727
Sounds like you need both agency and community involvement, working thro' a solution together is often more productive and effective. Make sure you stress that this is Not a One Hit cures all issue.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
roger has contacted all agencies on this one, the situation is getting desperate with many older people too nervous to leave their homes.
babies and young children are living in these insanitary conditions, no doubt social services will tread carefully so as not to offend sensibilities.