Ben was so happy starting school... now he's in tears

Sep 29 2008 by Kenneth Speirs, Paisley Daily Express

BEN Riggens is only three feet tall and a shy young man – but determined all the same.

And he has shown exactly what he’s made of by writing to all 40 members of Renfrewshire Council, pleading with them not to close the school he loves.

Little did Ben know when he started South Primary in August that, rather than concentrating on reading, writing and numbers, he would become the face of a David and Goliath fight.

Ben and his little friends at the school don’t want to see it close. They don’t want to move to another school – and they don’t want to say goodbye to their teachers.

Renfrewshire Council is holding a consultation exercise into the possible closure of South Primary after they said it was two-thirds empty and costs much more to educate children there than at any other school.

Education chiefs say pupils at South will be sent to other schools if it closes.

Shocked parents are furious and have already organised themselves into an action group that has so far proved itself vocal and effective.

Now Ben, with the help of mum Pauline, 27, has penned his heartfelt plea, asking councillors to do all they can to save his school.

He writes: “I love my school and have made new friends, Mason, Aiden and Jack. Today I learned the letter W and my teacher, Mrs King, helped me work on my numbers.

“I have sent you a picture of me on my first day at school. My whole family were so proud and tell me I look really smart in my South School uniform.

My mum and dad have told me that you want to close my school next year. This makes me very sad as I will miss my teacher and all of my friends.

Friends

“I really do not want to go to another school. I love my school. I have made new friends. I love my friends. I have a great teacher, Mrs King.”

And he adds: “Please don't close my school.”

So far, Ben has received one letter in reply – from the leader of the opposition Labour group on the council, Iain McMillan.

He wrote: “Thanks, Ben, for your email.

“I know you are worried about your school.

“Can I tell you that lots of people want to save your school, they know it is a good school full of good kids and great teachers.

“I will do my very best to keep the school open for you and all your friends.

“I will keep in touch with you.”

Derek Mackay, leader of the SNP/Lib-Dem-led council told the Paisley Daily Express he had received Ben’s letter.

But all the council boss would say was: “His comments will be taken note of as part of the consultation process.”

Since Renfrewshire Council announced the plan to pull the shutters down on the school the Paisley Daily Express has been working to support the campaign and there has been a huge groundswell of opinion against the closure bid.

Parents, south end residents, and opposition councillors have all said they will do everything they can to stop the closure.

Many of the shops in Neilston Road, where South Primary is located, have posters up in their windows, calling on the council to back down.

Parents even erected a pair of banners in the school grounds, emblazoned with the slogan “Save Our School”.

But council bosses ordered them to be removed and they were pulled down by the school janitor.

Ben’s mum Pauline, who is treasurer of the Parent Teacher Council at South Primary, said: “We have been in touch with other schools that have been threatened with closure and we’ve been finding out what they did to save their schools.

“We are also going to launch a yellow ribbon campaign – we’ll attach them to the school gates, and sell them too. We also want to do a balloon launch.”

The consultation will start in November and a report is expected to be put before councillors in December.

A final decision on the future of South Primary will be taken shortly after that.