School head begs for a final chance (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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School head begs for a final chance
12:20pm Thursday 22nd October 2009 in
THE head teacher of a school facing closure has hit back at claims that she is to blame for its failings.
Speaking at a crisis meeting to discuss how Chineham Park Primary school in Shakespeare Road, Popley can move forward, Gwen Clifford told parents: “I’m not prepared to be made a scapegoat for this school.”
Mrs Clifford (right), who has been in charge since 2002, added: “Chineham Park Primary School now is a much better school than it has ever been. When I came here, the windows were falling out of the building and, internally, it was atrocious.
“In the seven years I have been head, I have stuck with this school through think and thin. What you see outside for your community, I have worked my socks off to achieve for your children and for Popley.”
About 40 parents gathered in the school hall on Monday evening, joining teachers and Popley councillors to come up with ways to save the school.
Standards began to fall in 2002, and in January this year, Ofsted inspectors graded it as “inadequate”, putting it into special measures.
The Ofsted report stated: “The overall effectiveness of the school is inadequate because leadership and management do not have the capacity to make the necessary improvements quickly enough.” The inspectors also noted: “Overall, leadership and management of the school are having too little effect, with the result that standards are too low and pupils are making insufficient progress in their work.”
Although standards improved in the months following the damning Ofsted report, Hampshire County Council decided it was not enough to keep the school open and, last week, education chief Councillor David Kirk set in motion a consultation process over the possible closure of the school.
But at Monday’s public meeting, Mrs Clifford was adamant the blame for the crisis does not lie with her.
She told the meeting: “We were put into special measures in January because, at the time, I had few staff on the ground to support me. I can’t run a school by myself.
“Everything I have done in this school I have done for the community and to benefit your children.”
Some parents have criticised Mrs Clifford over her leadership, but she asked them to put aside their feelings to work together. She said: “I don’t care if you hate me or love me but we need to work to save this school. Don’t take your children away. Give us a chance and support us.
“We have been slowly raising standards. Is Chineham Park Primary School the worst performing school in Basingstoke? The answer is no.”
Just like head teacher Gwen Clifford, the parents of Chineham Park Primary School pupils have come out fighting as they try to save it from closure.
Leading the campaign, mother Sharon Lunnon made an emotional plea to parents to keep their children in the school and help fight the process that could see it close down next August.
Speaking to parents at Monday night’s public meeting, she said: “I’m asking you to support the school and fight with us. I know as a parent it might be tempting to take your child out now and find another school, but the more people who do that, the less chance the school has of being saved.”
For more on this story see Thursday's Gazette.
Comments(74)
ChinehamIan
says...
12:30pm Thu 22 Oct 09
BasingBloke
says...
12:51pm Thu 22 Oct 09
PopleyRebel
says...
1:24pm Thu 22 Oct 09
“We need an Inquiry”
Why are writing on 3/4 headlines when one called Chineham Park School would do.
ChinehamIan
says...
1:42pm Thu 22 Oct 09
"“Chineham Park Primary School now is a much better school than it has ever been. When I came here, the windows were falling out of the building and, internally, it was atrocious."
What planet is this head on ? If it is so much better now, why on earth is it on special measures and why is the school only 50% utilised in its pupil numbers ?
HCC have a lot to answer for here.
1) Why have they allowed a school to fail for 7 years ?
2) Why have they allowed a head to be in charge of a failing school for 7 years ?
BasingBloke
says...
1:43pm Thu 22 Oct 09
Cairns
says...
1:44pm Thu 22 Oct 09
About 40 parents attended the closure meeting I know parents may have more than one child in the school but the turn out doesnt say a great deal for the remainder regarding whether they wish this school to remain.
Would the head be pleading for a second chance because she sees issues with securing a position elsewhere with the ofsted report like chinehams on her CV.
Whether it's her fault or not it doesn't look good for her furture.
BasingBloke
says...
1:50pm Thu 22 Oct 09
i was thinking the same. like many?
ChinehamIan
says...
2:10pm Thu 22 Oct 09
BasingBloke
says...
2:34pm Thu 22 Oct 09
as well as the 'problem pupils' you mention in a prior article not to go there either eh? your not alone.and id expect staff of other local schools, who value their school's stats, to secretly have a very similar view in taking in those pupils to
JacquesMeahof
says...
3:19pm Thu 22 Oct 09
I thought that is was common practice to move failures and troublemakers into better jobs in order to get rid of them.
BasingBloke
says...
3:27pm Thu 22 Oct 09
PopleyRebel
says...
3:30pm Thu 22 Oct 09
Special Measures are a lifeline for Schools and the success rate is very positive,
(Only if the recommended measures are put in place)
Therefore, let’s have an inquiry as to what went wrong at Chineham Park?
farsolutions
says...
5:51pm Thu 22 Oct 09
PopleyRebel
says...
6:30pm Thu 22 Oct 09
Why wasn’t the school put on special measure before 2009?
Why only give the School months on special measure?
We need an inquiry
Sharon1906
says...
8:15pm Thu 22 Oct 09
BasingBloke wrote:I am disgusted with people taking this attitude, think how the children at the school feel about this when they read such things ! This is just another reason why it would be hard for our children to move to other schools because so called 'adults ' have this perception of them and children pick up on it . They are all lovely children at Chineham Park, some have more issues than others and some achieve more than others .... ooh sounds like every school in the country, does it not ?!
chinehamIan said"I sure hope she doesn't get a job at my childrens school !" as well as the 'problem pupils' you mention in a prior article not to go there either eh? your not alone.and id expect staff of other local schools, who value their school's stats, to secretly have a very similar view in taking in those pupils to
This school has not been failing for 7 years if it were I would not be wanting my children to stay there and I am fed up of being accused of being a bad parent for wanting to do so as I have been on this website in the past week.
The number of parents who attended was approx 40 but we do have families with 2/3/4 children in the school so I didn't expect many more than that. It would have been nice to see some of the people who have so much to say on here at the meeting also ?
The school has made Improvements since January and an interim inspection in July was satisfactory, only now County have moved the goal post and gone to consultation despite saying in January we had 18 months - 2 years .. seems like a hidden agenda here to me . cutbacks? Land for sale? who knows but I do know that it is at the expense of my children.
Think about the children in Year 5 currently who will have to change school twice in what would be a 12 month period ?!
Instead of arguing about who and whats to blame lets pull together and save a school thats long been part of our community you dotn just get rid of something because its not working as it should be you fix it !!
commonasmuck2
says...
9:22pm Thu 22 Oct 09
teacher101
says...
10:09pm Thu 22 Oct 09
The children were running in and out of the classroom, swinging on coat pegs in the hall and throwing beanbag chairs around. Needless to say not much teaching took place.
I am so sick of people such as councillor Kirk blaming heads and teachers when standards are low. Do they ever consider the area the school is in. Or the backgrounds some of these children come from. Obviously schools like North Waltham, Old Basing or Kempshott will all get outstanding offsted reports with out much effort from the teachers or head. I am just saying how it is.
It is not the children of Chineham Park s fault, most definitely not the head s or teachers. It is about time some parents educated their chidren on how to behave. Then teachers would be able to spend a lot more time on actually teaching. Rather than spending 90% of their time asking children to listen,sit down,stop talking,stop fighting, shouting out, throwing things, the list goes on...
You have my full support Gwen Clifford and the teachers of Chineham Park Primary.
It is about time teachers and heads were recognised for the hours of hard work and more often than not the abuse and bad behaviour they have to endure. Especially in the more deprived areas. It is always so unfair on the children that are well behaved and do want to learn.
Jo Walke
says...
10:19pm Thu 22 Oct 09
From what I can gather Ofsted, in their ONLY inspection since January, has now given a 'satisfactory' report albeit that improvements still need to be made.
The impression could be taken from this letter that a longer period of time was expected to be available to the school in which to undertake necessary remedies.
With the placement of a new interim executive board, creation of a PTA and various staff that have been brought on board it seems that the school is making fresh headway to address the further points raised - such things cannot be achieved overnight and do need sufficient time to fully impliment.
With regard to the surplus places I for one am surprised that this has been brought into play now.
Only three months ago HCC approved a plan that not only stated that the authority saw a need for 1-2 new primary schools in Basingstoke but also that surplus places would be addressed post 2011!
HCC policy also lends to the belief that a primary school would not necessarily be looked at for closure until pupil numbers reached 60 - Chineham Park is obviously above this figure.
As we know there is to be a lot of building to follow in the Popley area which will result in the increased need for places. Whilst there may currently be a surplus of places there it is quite possible that the situation could be reversed in a short amount of time. It is also worth noting that with figures as at Jan 2009 Chineham Park was not the school in the area with the highest surplus of places - indeed it had reduced its surplus from 2008.
I am not convinced that now is the time to look at closing this school.
There do seem to have been issues with obtaining staff placement but throughout concern is with those responsible for providing the children with an education. No child is ever perfect but to class the pupils attending Chineham Park as backward or parents of them as not decent is, putting it politely, outrageous!!
Sharon Lunnon has stood up, voiced not only her feelings but those of other persons on this matter and in a manner to which she should be proud.
PopleyRebel
says...
10:42pm Thu 22 Oct 09
It would interesting to compare the support/time given to Chineham Park School with other School on special Measure.
BasingBloke
says...
8:43am Fri 23 Oct 09
george potten
says...
2:42pm Fri 23 Oct 09
Sharon1906
says...
4:20pm Fri 23 Oct 09
I'm sure there are children with learning and behaviour issues in every school we are no different, these children are the minority! Dont believe everything you read in the press!!!!
PopleyRebel
says...
4:40pm Fri 23 Oct 09
Just pulled this off spidersweb, I think it say it all.
-------------------
After considering the facts there’s a strong possibility HHC had already decided to close the School and the introductions of Special Measure was them (HCC) covering all bases.
However, what has embarrassed Cllr David Kirk (HCC) is that after being on Special Measure for 6 months Chineham Park School showed signs of improvement, (the last thing Kirk and HCC wanted to hear)
Therefore, action was needed, as more time on Special Measure Chineham Park School would improve even more.
Chineham Park School needed more time on Special Measure, sadly however HCC (Cllr David Kirk) was running out of time as closing the School was on their agenda.
We need an inquiry, the fact demand an inquiry, where’s our MP Maria Miller the Shadow spokesperson for Schools, if Chineham Park School had a different postcode Maria Miller would be shouting from her soapbox, inquiry, inquiry.
It’s a disgrace
BasingBloke
says...
5:14pm Fri 23 Oct 09
vernonbutcher
says...
7:22pm Fri 23 Oct 09
BasingBloke
says...
7:52pm Fri 23 Oct 09
the school needs a culture change, at leas to get it on par with other schools in popley and hopefully striding for even better than them in the future
ChinehamIan
says...
8:41pm Fri 23 Oct 09
FACT : She has been both physically and verbally abused by pupils
That means there are problem children in this school FACT. These pupils CANNOT be allowed to move into other schools in the area - it will simply spread the problem and drag down the other good schools.
NOT all the pupils are this bad, that I will agree with.
All this aside.... this school HAS been failing since 2002, this school HAS has the same head teacher. She should be sacked, no question about it. What CPP needs is a "decent" head teacher who can turn this school around and also turn around the behaviour of the problem children - it can be done.
There should be an inquiry as to how HCC has allowed this to happen.
Closing this school, is NOT the answer. I support the school - but whilst the head is still there it is impossible - and there needs to be an inquiry into how this has happened.
HCC...hang your heads in shame.
GC31
says...
10:59pm Fri 23 Oct 09
a.stevens
says...
10:49am Sat 24 Oct 09
JUST TAKE A MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT THIS.
george potten
says...
8:16am Mon 26 Oct 09
To the school you gave my kids a good start in life as with john hunt, As it has been stated it is county that admitted they let the school down and they should pay for it by taking away THEIR JOBS not the school
PopleyRebel
says...
8:56am Mon 26 Oct 09
We need an inquiry.
Has anyone seen or heard from “Maria Miller” our MP.
george potten
says...
2:48pm Mon 26 Oct 09
YES YOU ARE RIGHT THEY HAVE NOT COME OUT UNTILL NOW TO SAY THAT THE SCHOOL IS FAILING ONLY THE FIRST REPORT MY THE INSPECTORS. Funny how word gets around and the speculators move in(did any of you see the chopper flying above the school on sunday afternoon, was it taking photos to see how many houses it could build on it. again in the paper monday i see that sentinel want a lot of land for free in order for the building of the islands regeneration but be carefull it is not the land but the open play areas they are taking away no wonder our kids get into trouble wandering around trying to play in an area. the poets have now lost even after i quote we have learnt by our mistakes. now this rings a bell when county say this about chineham school how come every one learnes after the horse has bolted.
PopleyRebel
says...
3:39pm Mon 26 Oct 09
(Westminster or HCC) and if as I suspect it was HCC then we need to be reassured that the Measure taken by HCC were special, therefore, we need an inquiry, in the short term however, we need Maria Miller (our MP) to break her silence on the closure.
Come on Maria Miller MP do you back the closure?????
ChinehamIan
says...
4:05pm Mon 26 Oct 09
er.co.uk/type9.asp?i
d=63&type=9
Has anyone asked for her feedback ?
PopleyRebel
says...
4:27pm Mon 26 Oct 09
Maria Miller MP
It been reported that Chineham Park school Popley is under threat of closure,
Therefore, can you reassure me and the people of Popley that HCC have done all in their power to support the school, furthermore, does this go against you parties policy on school,” failing school will be supported”
Is this a Government decision or local, in other words, Westminster or HCC?
And on what bases are they considering closing the school
I look forward to your reply
ChinehamIan
says...
4:40pm Mon 26 Oct 09
Look forward to seeing the response...if you get one !
PopleyRebel
says...
4:58pm Mon 26 Oct 09
PopleyRebel
says...
11:48pm Mon 26 Oct 09
She praised business for their support in the community, this week it was Tesco’s turn with their Tesco for Schools scheme.
As MP she needs to get her priorities in order, there’s a school in her constituency facing closure, so how does Maria Miller see that???
george potten
says...
8:07am Tue 27 Oct 09
i must have gone past that read, after what tesco said and did to the poets support not on your life tescowill only do what tey feel can get brownie points at the time. i did note it was tesco that appologised to our M.P but still refuses to do the same to the poets afte many many letters and also many people across the town turning their backs on them. i hope that trend keeps going untill we get what the people of popley want it again undermines our kids by the words said and the false statments made about our police and the M.P. IT DOSE NOT HELP OUR SCHOOL WITH WHAT TESCOS SAID. AND I WONDER WAS THERE ANY SAY IN H.C.C DECISION TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL ON WHAT TESCO PUT ABOUT. Our school is not failing it is county that have failed
Sharon1906
says...
8:12am Tue 27 Oct 09
PopleyRebel
says...
9:36am Tue 27 Oct 09
It’s my understanding that she would have be informed about the closure, therefore, had time to speak to all concerned and to put her views.
Jo Walke
says...
10:31am Tue 27 Oct 09
Sharon1906
says...
10:36am Tue 27 Oct 09
PopleyRebel
says...
12:31pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Furthermore, her position as Shadow Spokesperson for Schools and Families would dictate her involvement.
We need an inquiry before it’s too late.
Sharon1906
says...
12:46pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Jo Walke
says...
1:02pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Great Binfields has already been ear-marked (as has Four Lanes in the first instance) to take children resulting from the ongoing building at Taylor's farm.
If Great Binfields was removed from the figures - using HCC figures as at Sept 09 - this would reduce the surplus figures by only 24.
However, I note that StBedes is included within HCC surplus places. This Catholic school covers parishes of Tadley & Hook also and as it is a voluntary aide school it is responsible for its own admissions - and perhaps does not follow HCC admissions policy?!!
(at sept09, if removed, this would be a reduction of 57places)
PopleyRebel
says...
2:21pm Tue 27 Oct 09
Furthermore, Maria Miller MP has distanced herself from the decision, therefore, questions must be asked as to her involvement.
As for the Special Measure, Were they that “Special” ???
Sharon1906
says...
12:12am Wed 28 Oct 09
PopleyRebel wrote:Special ?? They didn't even exist !
Sharon, an inquiry would look in to the facts leading up to the closure, also HCC would be asked to produce evidence that they did all in their powers to support the school. Furthermore, Maria Miller MP has distanced herself from the decision, therefore, questions must be asked as to her involvement. As for the Special Measure, Were they that “Special” ???
To my knowledge the only help they got was to dispand the Governing body in May and replace it with an IEB in June, only to not even give that IEB a chance to do anything and annouce consultation to close in Sept ! How can that be right ?!
I have emailed Maria Miller again and stated that I expected more from our elected MP on the situation so I await a further response from her on the matter . I have also now requested an inquiry from an independant source, what the outcome , if any, will be I have no idea . If anyone can help in any way or has any useful information please email me sharon.lunnon@ntlwor
ld.com
Thankyou .
ChinehamIan
says...
10:58am Wed 28 Oct 09
PopleyRebel
says...
5:15pm Wed 28 Oct 09
By the tone of her questions I am even more convinced that HCC has failed this school, I also believe HCC was just going through the motions leading up to closure.
As for Maria Miller the jury is still out as the closure of any school in Basingstoke would need her input.
Jo Walke
says...
8:27pm Wed 28 Oct 09
' FOR THE MOST PART, the support, which has been welcomed by the school, has been effective'
It does beg the question - what about the remaining parts? - does it not?
The other issue of surplus places in the area cannot have been helped by HCC's extension at Marnel. It seems StBedes is to be expanded also!
ChinehamIan
says...
8:33pm Wed 28 Oct 09
ChinehamIan
says...
9:06pm Wed 28 Oct 09
PopleyRebel
says...
9:27pm Wed 28 Oct 09
Sharon1906
says...
7:53am Thu 29 Oct 09
ChinehamIan wrote:Excuse me ...but I dont believe I have said anything 'offensive' about anyone personnally, please elaborate. I appreciate everyone and anyones support in this matter . I am not in the habit of spending my time on the internet making comments about people. I am actually as well as working full time, spending all my spare time doing what I can to fight this school closure not just for my children, but all the other children at the school present and future !
Nice to be known as an "internet troll"...I am actually supporting your cause Mrs Lunnon...so no need to be so offensive on your Facebook site along with Cllr McCormick. That will not get you the support required to save CPP.
What other people say is nothing to do with me as we have seen on here everyone has their own opinion.
ChinehamIan
says...
9:53am Thu 29 Oct 09
Sharon1906
says...
5:57pm Thu 29 Oct 09
ChinehamIan wrote:I do appreciate you signing the petition .. Thankyou !
I do not appreciate being referred to as an "internet troll" or other offensive comments on your Facebook site. By the way, I have signed your petition...no thanks required.
But as I said earlier, I did not say anything about you or anyone else for that matter and I do not appreciate you saying on a public forum that I did !
If you have any further issues with me I would appreciate you emailing me sharon.lunnon@ntlwor
ld.com.
PopleyRebel
says...
6:38pm Thu 29 Oct 09
We have come a long way and all the support shown must have some bearing on those who are considering closing this School.
Sharon1906
says...
8:25pm Thu 29 Oct 09
PopleyRebel wrote:Couldn't agree more I am currently compiling a long list of questions and issues we have been putting together and researching over the past few weeks to put to Cllr Kirk at the public Meeting. If anyone has anything they would like me to put forward or can think of any ideas please let me know on here or my email address is above .Or please feel free to attend the meeting Monday 9th Nov 6pm at the school .
We don’t want to lose sight of the fact that we are trying to save Chineham Park School and if there are private issue then they should be treated as private. We have come a long way and all the support shown must have some bearing on those who are considering closing this School.
ChinehamIan
says...
9:52am Fri 30 Oct 09
http://petitions.num
ber10.gov.uk/
No harm in trying....
PopleyRebel
says...
11:16am Fri 30 Oct 09
my apologies for the delay in posting Maria Miller’s reply, this down to my son working away, hopefully it will be sorted on Monday.
ChinehamIan
says...
3:53pm Fri 30 Oct 09
PopleyRebel
says...
6:25pm Fri 30 Oct 09
Education authority Devon County Council has put an action plan and advisers in place for heads, governors and teachers at a cost of about £25,000 for each school.
----------------
Does this compare with the support Chineham Park received???
Jo Walke
says...
7:26pm Fri 30 Oct 09
It is also referred to in the monitoring letter dated July 2009.
Does anyone have a copy of this document?
PopleyRebel
says...
9:42pm Fri 30 Oct 09
--------------------
---------------
I think the questions asked by Maria Miller raises more questions than answers, as one would have thought being our MP she would have been involved in the closure of the school.
One of her questions and I quote,” why closure has now become an option for consideration” un-quote, therefore, is she saying it was never an option? it’s my understanding that the authorities submitted an action plan for the school and if closure was "NOT" part of that action plan then serious question must be asked.
Jo Walke
says...
11:10pm Fri 30 Oct 09
"there is clear scope for the closure of Chineham Park Primary School and the local authority could well decide to consult on this option. If such a course of action is pursued, and the subsequent decision made that the school will close, then the expected closure date will be August 2010."
There are a few quotes taken from this action plan in the above paperwork - again I ask has anyone got a copy of the action plan?
PopleyRebel
says...
12:44am Sat 31 Oct 09
It is inconceivable that our MP would “NOT” be involved in the closure of this School, furthermore, why is she challenging HCC by asking the question,
“Why closure is now an option” when it always was an option (scope) for closure.
Its time for Maria Miller to put the record straight, was she involved in talks over the closure???
We need an Inquiry before the school is closed, if Maria Miller has led us a merry dance, she should stand down, “it’s a disgrace”
PS Maria Miller MP Read the action plan it must be on record.
Jo Walke
says...
3:24pm Sat 31 Oct 09
As will local councillors (including county councillor), other local schools and Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council.
PopleyRebel
says...
12:33pm Sun 1 Nov 09
If we are talking fairness then surely the people you have referred to should have been involved before the option/scope of closure was a decided, furthermore, I’m still finding it hard to understand why our MP was not involved or at the very least became involved as the school has been failing for years.
Surely this makes nonsense/sham of any politician who is claiming that kid education is paramount.
We need an inquiry.
PopleyRebel
says...
12:31am Wed 4 Nov 09
Maria Miller MP
Member of Parliament for Basingstoke
House of Commons
London SW 1 A OAA
Tel: 020 - 7219 5749
Fax: 020 - 7219 5722
Our ref: MMl1379
20 October 2009
Thank you for your emailed letter of 9 October regarding the future of
Chineham Park Primary School.
Every school is a very special place for the children, parents and staff. I have
visited Chineham Park, met staff and children, and seen first hand their energy
and enthusiasm.
However, I have read the reports undertaken by OFSTED and it is clear that
Chineham Park has struggled over a prolonged period of time. I have written to
ask Hampshire County Council to explain why their support for the school
has not achieved the improvements required; why significant under
achievement amongst pupils has continued, as OFSTED has identified, for
almost 7 years; and why closure has now become an option for consideration.
I am also meeting the Headteacher in the next couple of weeks to discuss the
situation.
As Member of Parliament for Basingstoke I see it as my role to help ensure the
Local Education Authority does its job in securing for the children in my
constituency the best possible education. I want every child in Basingstoke to be
able to have the education that they need to achieve their true potential in life,
and more. Strong achievement at Primary School is critical in ensuring that
children have the basic skills required to access the curriculum at secondary
school.
Thank you for taking the time to write to me on this important issue.
ChinehamIan
says...
8:48am Wed 4 Nov 09
She has lost my vote next May.
ChinehamIan
says...
8:49am Wed 4 Nov 09
PopleyRebel
says...
6:11pm Wed 4 Nov 09
(1) “Why significant under achievement amongst pupils has continued, as OFSTED has identified, for almost 7 years;”
(2) As Member of Parliament for Basingstoke I see it as my role to help ensure the
Local Education Authority does its job in securing for the children in my
constituency the best possible education.
(3) Every school is a very special place for the children, parents and staff. I have
visited Chineham Park, met staff and children, and seen first hand their energy
and enthusiasm
(4) I have written to ask Hampshire County Council to explain why their support for the school has not achieved the improvements required; why significant under
--------------------
--------
Maria Miller was elected in 2005 and it’s now 2009 therefore, out off the 7 years from quote (1) she has been our MP for 4 years therefore, that makes a contradiction off quote (2) as for quote (3) after visiting the school she was NOT aware that the school was failing. Quote (4) is a classic, I call it passing the buck.
We need an inquiry.
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Town Crier says...
12:24pm Thu 22 Oct 09
You can't blame the buildings, the staff come and go, all children are born equal, so who's to blame then?