Tony Rabbit

I deliberately was not specific on forum. Should they choose to take advice if I am introduced to them is a matter for them in confidence. It is very common for small retailers to get stuck in a rut. You live in the shop all day and don't notice small things developing slowly over a period of time until the turnover declines and wonder why. Step outside first and make comparisons with similar businesses that are successful and note what seems to be right as soon as you step inside. Walk back into your own business as a customer and sense what you 'feel'. Take a deep breath and shake yourself by the scruff of the neck. It takes a lot to admit you've let things slip but if you don't, turnover will continue to decline to sub-critical and you've wasted 20 years of your life. Quote Katy T, "who could help them revamp their shop? Assuming they wanted to, of course." "Assuming they wanted to" - they have no option if they are to survive. I strongly support local trading and shall make the community gesture if they so desire.

I hope the dog was given an ID implant (electronic tag) before it was returned.

Would not like to see this shop close. It is not my 'local' but I use it frequently. Seriously I think he ought to consider his retail floor (layout, stock presentation, overdiversity). It is now overdue for a well thoughtout 'makeover'. In no major sense has it changed for the past 20years except he has just kept piling in low volume low profit items to the detriment of good lines which do not sell because they are hidden by the obscure items. Too muddled, too dark. A makeover in his sense would not take further investment as such only thought and time to move around and make good what he has got. Presentation Pleases Profit.

Need an Anne Summers to keep ED buzzing.

Dear Ed. I think that this property was probably 'Charlton House'. It was the larger of the properties purchased with the land. It was a leasehold which was one of the last leases to expire. I think it was pulled down in the 1930's but would have to search land records to determine absolutely. This link may be useful to you and you could also contact 'FOPYP' 'Friends of Peckhan Rye Park' on the same link. http://www.foprp.org.uk/#/becoming-a-park/4543697137 Regards.

Thank you 'traveller1'. Your prime comment para.1 that "You don't talk to me. I will talk to you if I want to" attitude was one of the main comments / points / criticisms raised at the Parents Forum (minutes of which are suppressed).

Psychology and Life: (copyright acknowleged). One of the most effective demonstrations of how easily prejudiced attitudes may be formed and how arbitrary and illogical they can be comes from the class of a third-grade school-teacher in Riceville, Iowa. The teacher, Jane Elliott, wanted to provide her students from this all-white rural community with the experience of prejudice and discrimination in order to draw from it the implications of its seductive appeal and devastating consequences. To do so, she devised a most remarkable experiment, more compelling than any done by professional psychologists. http://www.uiowa.edu/~poroi/seminars/2004-5/bloom/poroi_paper.pdf 1968 Blue Eyes / Brown Eyes Teaching Experiment in Racism. Two decades after Jane quit teaching in Riceville, wounds in this rural pocket of America are raw when it comes to her. Time hasn?t healed these wounds; lesions in Riceville have been festering so long that today they?re toxic. "Oh, Great Spirit, keep me from ever judging a man until I have walked a mile in his moccasins."

There is no smoke without fire. I am most surprised that this topic was not taken up by the press sooner. There was a very heated debate on this forum previously which amounted to a conflagration that was extinguished and removed by the Administrator. The minutes of a parents forum held at the school after the publication of the subject poster (attended by more than 80 parents), which raised serious concerns about key issues at the school, were not allowed to be published, neither were the key issues at that debate allowed to be discussed at a later meeting. (Parents who attended the meeting received an e-mail informing them of this). If they had been so published then maybe it would be realised that there is no racial issue. The main issues allegedly amounted collectively to concerns of a lack of esteme in the school due to an alleged failure in communication at all levels by and the alleged overbearing attitude to parents by the senior administration. Interested parents were actively attempting to confront these issues to raise standards and others perception of the school to drive it forward, albeit with much verbal force, into the 21st century. This poster has only served to divert attention from the alleged main issues and concerns of parents at the school that are challenging the present administration to up their game. In respect of the poster therefore and matters since then I might take the view that Darwin represents a free thinking parent who is being surrounded, threatened and suppressed.

I'm really pleased to have received some posts on Goose Green which came out of special measures recently. Formally known as Grove Vale School before the makeover it seemed almost for ever to have been the under dog in Dulwich. To have turned round and compete for the leadership of best school in Dulwich so quickly can not be due alone to the additional amounts of funding thrown at the school. Even from the limited number of posts on this forum and from local opinion it must have taken a great deal of effort from their new management, governors, students and parents to pull together as a team to achieve this outstanding result. This success, built on teamwork, should be an inspiration to other schools that ALL parts of a team must stay related and pull together otherwise things will get pulled apart. I haven't heard much about Heber. I don't think they went so far as special measures but they certainly have upped their game and have a waiting list for admissions. Can anyone give any better information please?

Dorothy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well, that went well then. > > Hope you got whatever you were looking for on this > thread Tony. NO It seemed to get entrenched at Goodrich despite attempts to move it on. It seems I've been the only one to post anything positive about Goodrich. It would have been more pleasant and more in my line of thought to hear how the other schools have progressed after their 'makeovers'. I think I should have left off in my original post "while others are giving cause for concern". However it does lean towarded proving the fact that only scandle sells newspapers and tv soaps and perhaps makes EDF popular as well.

Thank you duchess for trying to pull this back on its intended path. Two days ago I posted: I made this original post. I was rather hoping that we could fly the flag and blow golden trumpets for those schools, Goose Green, Heber and Rye Oak who now seem to be progressing extremely well after a long period as the underdogs. However I was also interested in the forum's opinion of any schools available to Dulwich residents which were not performing perhaps as well as previous. I seemed to have inadvertantly opened a can of worms in respect of alleged issues at Goodrich. However this post now seems to be firmly entrenched discussing Goodrich. If the forum intends to follow Goodrich we must fairly seek a balance and blow the golden trumpets for what Goodrich has achieved to improve its status in what was a neglected run down Victorian building i.e. New offices and reception area, new kitchens (fully refurbished with new equipment), new reception area (toilets, playground, equipment etc), new toilets with disabled facilities, most classrooms fully carpeted, new IT equipment (children and staff) and network and servers, new security (cameras and locks), all classrooms with interactive white boards, new books for library and classes, large screen A/V in upper hall, children's hands on gardening, new sports equipment, ongoing extension and improvements to the PDC, breakfast club, many after school clubs, language tuition, development courses for staff, etc.. We must not forget the support many parents give the school and a huge thanks to FOG. I have observed that Goodrich has been a building site for the past two years while all internal and external work was taking place and the academic restructuring occurring. This must have had an effect on the children having to use temporary classrooms on occasions, walking halfway round the building to find a toilet, dirt and noise from the contractors, SMT engrossed in the organisation of the building work when they would have preferred (I am sure) to get on with their proper school job. If the school needs to be critercised it is probably their lack of communication and autocratic attitude. A few odd lines dispersed in the weekly news letter I feel is not sufficient for the 21st century and most parents. Should be better use of the web site. Printed illustrated brochure with a professional presentation highlighting the long successful history of the school AND A CLEAR STATEMENT OF THE VISION OF THE SCHOOL AND THE WAY FORWARD. GOODRICH. IN THE 21st CENTURY YOU MUST BE THE FIRST ONE TO FLY YOUR FLAG FORWARD AND BLOW THE TRUMPETS IN YOUR OWN CAUSE AND LET'S DO IT AS EXPECTED FROM A PROFESSIONAL BODY - PROFESSIONALLY. The result of pathetic communication with the school is obvious from the responses in this forum. No doubt the EDF will now respond.

Thank you Emily for reminding me about "'invitation' (pictures of Playmobil people!)". I saw this and have looked at it again and I am still not perverted enough to see the threat. I see it as depicting a childrens' game 'The Farmer's in his Den', the farmer's got a dog, the farmer's got a friend etc etc. A not unexpected playscene to advertise an event at a Primary school. Did the paranoiac person who complained think that they were the one in the middle being threatened? If someone does feel as though they are the one in the middle being threatened what reason do they have for perverting something into what it seems was not?

Dorothy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Tony Rabbit, Emily, Havana: > > Are any of you a Governor at Goodrich? NO!

I made this original post. I was rather hoping that we could fly the flag and blow golden trumpets for those schools, Goose Green, Heber and Rye Oak who now seem to be progressing extremely well after a long period as the underdogs. However I was also interested in the forum's opinion of any schools available to Dulwich residents which were not performing perhaps as well as previous. I seemed to have inadvertantly opened a can of worms in respect of alleged issues at Goodrich. However this post now seems to be firmly entrenched discussing Goodrich. I feel sorry for James B. who obviously is standing on one foot as regards the issues there. It would have been most helpful to all, now that this discussion has evolved thus far, in particular to James B, to be in possession of the minutes of the most recent 'Parent's Forum' held at Goodrich which had an extraordinarily high turnout of parents representing more than 10% of the school. (normally these meetings only attract about 14 parents (Governing Body figures)). The official reason for withholding the minutes is stated: "In addition and unfortunately, you will notice that there are no minutes from our meeting as promised. Governors took advice on the circulation of these minutes linked to a problem raised regarding the advertising and invitation to the forum. At this time, we have been advised not to circulate the minutes. Jim Robinson Parent Governor & Vice Chair For and on behalf of the Goodrich Governing Body" If I were an investigative journalist I might use the word suppressed. What does the forum think?

From Maplin (nearest store Forest Hill). LABLE REMOVER part no: N63AN ?4.39. LABLE REMOVER part no: AP98G ?6.49. Recommend both use it professionally.

oilworker 3 February. Soemeone once told me the late Dowager Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother used to visit Dulwich Park each year to view the rhododendrons?? Does anyone know about this or is it simply a (sub)urban myth?? Thank you oilworker for mentioning this. Yes! The Queen's Mother did visit Dulwich Park every year up to the late 70's. There used to be an annual gardening competition that was entered by East Dulwich and West Dulwich police stations (together with other garden venues). East Dulwich police station was then a converted house situated in Crystal Palace Road which sported two small gardens, one on each side of the access path. It was tended by local officers who used to borrow space in the greenhouses at Peckham Rye Park to propagate their plants ready for planting. Local residents also made contributions. The Queen's Mother used to stop over and take tea and sandwiches in the ED police station canteen (which was no more than a large wooden hut in the rear yard spruced up for the occasion). She never did say why she liked the old place so much. She was quite often late in leaving and very charming and very well informed company. She would eventually leave for West Dulwich police station in Thurlow Park Road (which used to have a very large garden and several allotments to the rear). She would always insist that the journey between be via Dulwich Park, entering at College Gate and leaving the park opposite Dulwich Gallery. Rhododendrons were a great favorite of Queen Victoria and therefore very fashionable during the period of her reign. Dulwich Park is very well planted with Rhododendrons and also a favorite of the Queen's Mother. She was a very keen gardener. You can read more about her gardening interests on http://www.backyardgardener.com/article/green/918.htm Hope this helps. Regards.

The boats are free at 1AM but don't be the one who gets pushed out to the island with no oars.

katie1997 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Tony Rabbit Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Playing my drums at 3am so that all of Dulwich > can > > hear. > > I didn't hear them. > > Can I have my money back please? You must be a bass player. They're all as deaf as hell.

Havana (see above) has hit the mark with her observation which echoes many sentiments I have gathered from outside this forum. The problem is do we stay or do we move school? or might it be a case of 'the grass is not greener......'

Hi Mel. Daytime or evening? Your catering or catered for? Got a couple of ideas for daytime you can try but need to know more.

Hi Alec. I was leaving it to EDF to aim is comments. Specifically I was interested in opinions of State Primary schools and schools that receive state funding (ie church foundations).

-- moved topic --

Why not ED? Are our schools not good enough if so where do they fail?

The BBC website on its own is worth the money. Dig deep and see what it can offer. Oh! by the way - you can watch all EIGHT BBC TV programmes LIVE on their web site in addition to i-player and BBC archive.

Playing my drums at 3am so that all of Dulwich can hear.