Stop bending over backwards for Dale Farm gipsies

Excuses, excuses. Evicting them was going to be racist, and now it will affect their children's education.

The eviction at Dale Farm could force dozens of children out of education, their parents believe.

Thus report Sky News. I wonder how the locals will feel? You know, the ones who obey the law and pay their taxes?

There are 110 children on the register at the local Crays Hill Primary school. Of those, 107 are traveller children.

I think we can sense how the local people feel. But the gipsy mothers are seriously concerned about their children's education. Aren't they?

The school admits there is already an issue with low attendance levels.

I seem to recall government talk of increasing sanctions against parents whose children don't attend school. How is the truancy being handled here? The school say:

The parents endeavour to get their children into school, letting the school know when this isn't possible due to travelling.

My emphasis. In other words, they connive when these parents - suddenly so concerned by their children's education - choose to remove them from school:

The school will always keep places open for pupils when they are travelling rather than taking them off the roll.

When I last looked, it was illegal not to send your children to school. Why is it different for these people?

Yet all of a sudden these families who were choosing for their children not to be properly educated are now voicing fears that their children will grow up illiterate if they are forced back on the road. Forced? They've been taking off of their own accord during term times. And don't they like to call themselves travellers? When it suits them, apparently.

Anyway, Basildon Council Leader Tony Ball says: "Parents have been offered bricks and mortar accommodation near the school".

Enough with the special pleading. There are laws. These people should obey them.