The Judge and the Race Case

Judge Finestein has earned himself some notoriety today for his outburst of common sense – or as the National Union of Teachers would have it “out of date” comments.

A judge who said a legal case against a 10-year-old boy over alleged racism was “political correctness gone mad” has been criticised by a teaching union.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) said Judge Jonathan Finestein was “out of date” in his attitude.

The boy from Irlam, Greater Manchester, appeared at Salford Youth Court accused of racially abusing a fellow pupil.

But Judge Finestein adjourned the case, saying the boys would have got “a good clouting” in his day.

On adjourning the case until 20 April, he asked prosecutors to reconsider whether the case was in the public interest.

I listened to this being discussed on Jeremy Vine’s show this afternoon. The NUT (is it me or is that acronym somewhat apt?) spokesperson raised one strawman argument after another – likening it to the cases of Stephen Lawrence and Anthony Walker (where does Vine dig these idiots up?). Now, no one has been murdered here. Two kids were doing what kids in playgrounds have been doing for generations – indulging in name-calling. Yes, it’s hurtful. Yes, it should be dealt with effectively and promptly by the school authorities. But to bring in the police and prosecute through the courts is a massive over-reaction. This is what Judge Finestein was railing against.

The NUT object to his choice of words… Feck me! Just for once we have a judge using language that resonates with ordinary people – as the majority of Jeremy Vine’s callers agreeing with him tended to confirm. It is the NUT that is out of touch.

Listening to one inane politically correct cliché after another about “institutionalised racism” when all that was needed was for the school to deal with the matter, made me want to throw something at the radio. I didn’t because it’s a nice radio and I don’t want to have to buy a new one… 

Perhaps most pointed of the NUT spokesperson’s comments was when he admitted that he didn’t have all the facts pertaining to the case. Indeed. Judge Finestein does. Which is why when he says:

“This is political correctness gone mad. It’s crazy. Nobody is more against racist abuse than me but these are boys in a playground. This is nonsense.”

I’m more inclined to believe him than the NUT.

Now playing: BostonRock & Roll Band

1 Comment

  1. I was going to blog about this when I first heard about it, but you beat me to it and probably put it better as well. It’s always good to hear a judge talking common sense, though part of me pities the teachers because they’re probably so tied up in legal red tape that they may be unable to punish the pupils any other way. But this is using an expensive sledgehammer to crack a nut.

    Still, some people in the NUT have common sense:-
    http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,,1748953,00.html
    To all the people who think religon should play a bigger part in life: name me one war or conflict which *didn’t* involve religon.

    (Sorry for the rant. I’ll get off my soapbox now.)

    Cheers.

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