News


Plant visit FRIENDS


of Aylesford


Church with a burning desire to see Allington Incinerator have been offered a rare op- portunity to visit the plant. The trip, from10amto noon


on Wednesday, May 15, will include a presentation and a guided tour. Tickets cost £5 for friends


and £6 for non-members, but places are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Tomake a reser- vation, call Anita on 01622 719589.


Scouts call


BLACKLANDS Scouts are looking for boys and girls aged five to 14 to boost their ranks. They have vacancies in


Beavers (five to eight), Cubs (eight to 10 years), and Scouts (10 to 14). The group, which meets in


Mill Street, EastMalling, says those interested (or their par- ents) should email leader Elaine Greenwood at elaine- greenwood19@gmail.com.


downsmail.co.uk


Cake ban head tells of abuse – and support


A HEADTEACHER, who took a stand against children bringing sweets and cakes to class on their birthdays, has told of the online abuse she has been subjected to. Wateringbury C of E Primary


School’s Chasey Crawford-Usher hit the headlines lastmonth when trolls branded her the “most mis- erable head in Britain”. The beleaguered teacher, who


says she was acting in the best in- terests of herpupils,was rockedby the negativity levelled against her. “The amount of rudeness and


name-calling online was actually very overwhelming,” she told DownsMail. “I even had a GP criticiseme by


saying that the ban was ‘too con- trolling’, but as these children grow into their teens and go on to be parents themselves one day, I want themto question ifwhat they are eating is good for them. “I was very shocked at the


amount of media coverage, but I think it sparked a debate because I’m turning over a tradition, even though I see it as common sense.” Mrs Crawford-Usher (pictured)


said shewas not trying to “ban the specialness of birthdays” butpush- ing for other ways to celebrate,


such as singing and decorations. “I think schools have a responsi-


bility to promote the health and well-being of all pupils, but if schools are nodifferent to shops or home, children assume that is nor- mal life. “I also want to make it an even


playing field for the parents, so they don’t feel pressure fromtheir children to buy sweets andcake for 30 other children in the class. We have at least one birthday a week here.” Despite the level of condemna-


tion,MrsCrawford-Usher also had plenty of support, not least from parents inWateringbury. She said: “An anonymous group


ofparents got together andsentme a bouquet of flowers to say ‘keep going andwe think you’re great’. “AndI knowthe children respect


the fact that I care thatmuch about them, and not justwhat they get in tests.”


Stonemasons Est. 1973


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10 Malling April 2019


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