Click for bigger.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Woman, 24, ditches billionaire husband, 85, after 3 months’ marriage because he's 'sex mad '
When a blonde in her 20s marries an 84-year-old billionaire most people would think her life wouldn’t be more demanding than fetching him the odd glass of hot milk. But then Joe Hardy is hardly your average octogenarian. And now fed-up wife Kristin, 22, and Joe have divorced after just three months together… because of his insatiable demands for round-the-clock sex.
“He wanted sex almost all the time, but I’m just not that sort of girl,” says Kristin of her Viagra-loving husband. “And Joe used to get very frustrated as I had to keep saying no to him. I just could not believe what he wanted me to do. He’d lean over while we were watching TV and grope me. That’s not how married couples behave.”
But then Joe had always been clear about exactly what he expected from his third wife… and even drew up a list. He required her to let him have a “feel of t*t” whenever he wanted, French-kiss him constantly and parade around the house in sexy underwear.
“I knew people were calling me a gold-digger, but it wasn’t like that,” she says. “Joe might have been in his 80s but he had the energy of someone 40 years younger. What started out as a friendship and some fun developed into something more deep. But although I was more than 60 years younger than him, truth be told I found it hard to keep up.” She moans: “But it wasn’t romantic. He just handed me the ring and said ‘here y’are’.”
Kristin, who signed a pre-nuptial agreement, is adamant that she was in love with Hardy, now 85, not his money. “I loved Joe,” says Kristin, now 24. “I did not marry him for his money. People were calling me a gold-digger but that could not be further from the truth. I married for love and it is as simple as that.’
The final straw came when Joe allegedly demanded that she let a nanny look after her son, full-time. Kristin immediately moved back in with her mum. But the next day her husband sent her a sexual contract, listing what she would have to do if she came back. “Joe said I never allowed him a ‘feel of a t*t’, our sex life was ‘non-existent’ and that would all have to change. But the breaking point was him demanding again that a nanny look after Matthew so I could spend more time with him. My son meant more to be than anything. You could keep all the designer handbags, shoes and dresses. I just wasn’t interested and refused to go back.”
“He wanted sex almost all the time, but I’m just not that sort of girl,” says Kristin of her Viagra-loving husband. “And Joe used to get very frustrated as I had to keep saying no to him. I just could not believe what he wanted me to do. He’d lean over while we were watching TV and grope me. That’s not how married couples behave.”
But then Joe had always been clear about exactly what he expected from his third wife… and even drew up a list. He required her to let him have a “feel of t*t” whenever he wanted, French-kiss him constantly and parade around the house in sexy underwear.
“I knew people were calling me a gold-digger, but it wasn’t like that,” she says. “Joe might have been in his 80s but he had the energy of someone 40 years younger. What started out as a friendship and some fun developed into something more deep. But although I was more than 60 years younger than him, truth be told I found it hard to keep up.” She moans: “But it wasn’t romantic. He just handed me the ring and said ‘here y’are’.”
Kristin, who signed a pre-nuptial agreement, is adamant that she was in love with Hardy, now 85, not his money. “I loved Joe,” says Kristin, now 24. “I did not marry him for his money. People were calling me a gold-digger but that could not be further from the truth. I married for love and it is as simple as that.’
The final straw came when Joe allegedly demanded that she let a nanny look after her son, full-time. Kristin immediately moved back in with her mum. But the next day her husband sent her a sexual contract, listing what she would have to do if she came back. “Joe said I never allowed him a ‘feel of a t*t’, our sex life was ‘non-existent’ and that would all have to change. But the breaking point was him demanding again that a nanny look after Matthew so I could spend more time with him. My son meant more to be than anything. You could keep all the designer handbags, shoes and dresses. I just wasn’t interested and refused to go back.”
Screaming fans flee as storm topples stage
A thunderstorm has left one person dead and at least 15 wounded after it caused a stage to collapse at a music festival in Canada.
Thousands of fans were camping at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, east of Edmonton, when strong winds and heavy rain hit on Saturday. Many screamed and ran for cover as the stage suddenly came crashing down.
Camrose Police Chief Darrell Kambeitz said 15 of those injured were taken to hospitals.
Update: This video now shows the correct incident.
Cheers for the info Gamma Goblin!
"The concert at Big Valley Jamboree was delayed and the concert bowl was being cleared when a small portion of the main stage collapsed," Mr Kambeitz said. He went on that reports of dozens of people being trapped at the site were not true.
Nashville musician Billy Currington had been performing before the structure collapsed.
A member of his band was pulled from the wreckage with a badly injured and bloodied arm.
Thousands of fans were camping at the Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, east of Edmonton, when strong winds and heavy rain hit on Saturday. Many screamed and ran for cover as the stage suddenly came crashing down.
Camrose Police Chief Darrell Kambeitz said 15 of those injured were taken to hospitals.
Update: This video now shows the correct incident.
Cheers for the info Gamma Goblin!
"The concert at Big Valley Jamboree was delayed and the concert bowl was being cleared when a small portion of the main stage collapsed," Mr Kambeitz said. He went on that reports of dozens of people being trapped at the site were not true.
Nashville musician Billy Currington had been performing before the structure collapsed.
A member of his band was pulled from the wreckage with a badly injured and bloodied arm.
'Psycho' pet serial killer stalks Australian suburbs
Animals are being killed and maimed by a "demented psychopath'' on the Central Coast, sparking fears the crimes will escalate. In the past two weeks three mutilated kangaroos, two beheaded parrots, several savaged rabbits and what is thought to be a decapitated dog or sheep have been found.
The animals were dumped in water or at the water's edge at separate sites at Point Clare and Avoca Lagoon. A dead turtle with a noose around its neck was also found off a pier at Saratoga last week.
Concerned local police have assigned an officer to collate the incidents and investigate links. Brisbane Water crime co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Vivienne Crawford said many of the animal carcasses had been disposed of before they could be examined for clues.
Criminologist Dr John Clarke said the history of serial killers was littered with examples of men who began by torturing animals. "We don't know why, but the homicidal triad is animal cruelty, setting fires and bed-wetting after the age of about nine,'' he said. "Animal dismemberment teaches the killer how to cut up and dispose of bodies.
"This person may well be a psychopath. If it's an adult, he's probably torturing humans at the same time. The police should look at other crime in the area, because animal cruelty also has huge links to sexual homicide and domestic violence. It's about power and control.''
Gosford Mayor Chris Holstein said he was concerned someone in the community was carrying out horrific acts of cruelty. "Whoever is doing it is an evil, demented psychopath and must be caught and made to bear the full weight of the law,'' he said.
The animals were dumped in water or at the water's edge at separate sites at Point Clare and Avoca Lagoon. A dead turtle with a noose around its neck was also found off a pier at Saratoga last week.
Concerned local police have assigned an officer to collate the incidents and investigate links. Brisbane Water crime co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Vivienne Crawford said many of the animal carcasses had been disposed of before they could be examined for clues.
Criminologist Dr John Clarke said the history of serial killers was littered with examples of men who began by torturing animals. "We don't know why, but the homicidal triad is animal cruelty, setting fires and bed-wetting after the age of about nine,'' he said. "Animal dismemberment teaches the killer how to cut up and dispose of bodies.
"This person may well be a psychopath. If it's an adult, he's probably torturing humans at the same time. The police should look at other crime in the area, because animal cruelty also has huge links to sexual homicide and domestic violence. It's about power and control.''
Gosford Mayor Chris Holstein said he was concerned someone in the community was carrying out horrific acts of cruelty. "Whoever is doing it is an evil, demented psychopath and must be caught and made to bear the full weight of the law,'' he said.
Steve Hackett's wife stakes claim to Genesis songs
Rock stars beware. A legal case involving the divorce of the former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett and his Brazilian wife could decide how creative assets are split.
Hackett is facing a multi-million-pound legal action by his former wife over rights to some of the rock band’s most famous songs. Hackett and his ex-wife, Kim Poor, a jewellery designer and artist who has designed award-winning album covers, were divorced last year after 32 years of marriage.
Poor has now issued High Court proceedings saying she is entitled to revenue from his share of classic Genesis songs from the 1970s. Her claim could amount to millions of pounds.
The case will be watched closely by musicians, authors, actors and artists who may be planning to divorce. Ayesha Vardag, a leading divorce lawyer, said it would help to clarify how the English courts treat the proceeds of past and future “intellectual property” accrued during a marriage.
Hackett was lead guitarist with Genesis at the height of its fame before leaving to go solo in 1977. The legal dispute centres on a firm which Hackett formed between 1977 and 2006 and which owns the copyright to his recordings and compositions. According to the High Court writ, Hackett signed over all the rights in his work to the company, Stephen Hackett Ltd. All future rights to the copyright and all royalties due to him from Genesis songs were paid into the company.
In March 2006, the writ alleges, Hackett confirmed that he would be employed by the company for the next decade and it would receive the benefits of his activities. Poor argues that Hackett has since revoked his instructions and asked for the royalties to be paid direct to him in breach of their agreement. Hackett’s lawyers say he has the right to receive the cash directly.
Hackett is facing a multi-million-pound legal action by his former wife over rights to some of the rock band’s most famous songs. Hackett and his ex-wife, Kim Poor, a jewellery designer and artist who has designed award-winning album covers, were divorced last year after 32 years of marriage.
Poor has now issued High Court proceedings saying she is entitled to revenue from his share of classic Genesis songs from the 1970s. Her claim could amount to millions of pounds.
The case will be watched closely by musicians, authors, actors and artists who may be planning to divorce. Ayesha Vardag, a leading divorce lawyer, said it would help to clarify how the English courts treat the proceeds of past and future “intellectual property” accrued during a marriage.
Hackett was lead guitarist with Genesis at the height of its fame before leaving to go solo in 1977. The legal dispute centres on a firm which Hackett formed between 1977 and 2006 and which owns the copyright to his recordings and compositions. According to the High Court writ, Hackett signed over all the rights in his work to the company, Stephen Hackett Ltd. All future rights to the copyright and all royalties due to him from Genesis songs were paid into the company.
In March 2006, the writ alleges, Hackett confirmed that he would be employed by the company for the next decade and it would receive the benefits of his activities. Poor argues that Hackett has since revoked his instructions and asked for the royalties to be paid direct to him in breach of their agreement. Hackett’s lawyers say he has the right to receive the cash directly.
Pilot gets lost in the sky
A blundering small-town pilot nearly caused a disaster over Kennedy Airport when he steered his single-engine plane for a landing in front of a Boeing 747 and forced controllers to reroute other airliners out of his meandering path. Hundreds of lives were endangered around noon on Saturday because 69-year-old John Prendergast of Sterling, Va., couldn't find his way to Republic Airport in Farmingdale, LI.
"I don't know what he's doing - he's going everywhere," sputtered a controller as he radioed warnings of an "unknown aircraft" to passenger jets. Lost, Prendergast made several 360-degree turns east of Kennedy before he finally appeared to find his bearings - and was escorted to Republic by an NYPD helicopter sent to chase him down.
Prendergast - a retired Navy pilot whose name was revealed by law-enforcement sources - should have been in radio contact with controllers. Prendergast took off Saturday morning from Martinsburg, W.Va., said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters.
Click for bigger.
He was flying a two-seat RV-7A experimental plane, which records show he built himself. As he neared New York, Prendergast headed up the Jersey Shore, slightly inland, Peters said. Prendergast's plan - which was not filed with air controllers - was to cross from Colts Neck, NJ, over water to Robert Moses State Park, then head north and west to Republic. But Prendergast hit Long Island further to the west, flying over Long Beach, which is just east of Kennedy.
Then, said Peters, the meandering pilot headed further north - and turned around as if he were going to land with the big jets on Kennedy Runway 22L. A Taiwanese Eva Air 747 - heading to New York from Atlanta - at one point flew over Prendergast's plane and had to abort its landing. "At least twice, he interfered with aircraft that were attempting to land at Kennedy while they were on final approach," Peters said.
The bungling pilot, evidently realizing he was lost, flew several complete circles before finally heading east toward Republic - chased by the chopper that finally raised him on an emergency radio frequency, sources said. Prendergast has not been charged with any crime, but FAA officials are investigating.
"I don't know what he's doing - he's going everywhere," sputtered a controller as he radioed warnings of an "unknown aircraft" to passenger jets. Lost, Prendergast made several 360-degree turns east of Kennedy before he finally appeared to find his bearings - and was escorted to Republic by an NYPD helicopter sent to chase him down.
Prendergast - a retired Navy pilot whose name was revealed by law-enforcement sources - should have been in radio contact with controllers. Prendergast took off Saturday morning from Martinsburg, W.Va., said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Jim Peters.
Click for bigger.
He was flying a two-seat RV-7A experimental plane, which records show he built himself. As he neared New York, Prendergast headed up the Jersey Shore, slightly inland, Peters said. Prendergast's plan - which was not filed with air controllers - was to cross from Colts Neck, NJ, over water to Robert Moses State Park, then head north and west to Republic. But Prendergast hit Long Island further to the west, flying over Long Beach, which is just east of Kennedy.
Then, said Peters, the meandering pilot headed further north - and turned around as if he were going to land with the big jets on Kennedy Runway 22L. A Taiwanese Eva Air 747 - heading to New York from Atlanta - at one point flew over Prendergast's plane and had to abort its landing. "At least twice, he interfered with aircraft that were attempting to land at Kennedy while they were on final approach," Peters said.
The bungling pilot, evidently realizing he was lost, flew several complete circles before finally heading east toward Republic - chased by the chopper that finally raised him on an emergency radio frequency, sources said. Prendergast has not been charged with any crime, but FAA officials are investigating.
Man believed pizza slice was left behind to harass others
The most unusual St. Paul police report in Wednesday's stack of reports had only seven words in the public narrative section: "Report of a suspicious piece of pizza." Sgt. Paul Schnell, police spokesman, filled in the baffling details:
Police were called to the 1300 block of Desoto Street on Monday at 8 p.m. by a 43-year-old man who demanded a report be taken.
The man had found a piece of pizza that was three-quarters eaten, with bite marks in it, by a fence. He felt it had been left with the intent to harass, he told police.
The officer noted it was a regular cheese pizza, traditional hand tossed crust, with pepperoni topping. The officer checked the area and didn't find any more pizza or evidence related to the incident.
Police were called to the 1300 block of Desoto Street on Monday at 8 p.m. by a 43-year-old man who demanded a report be taken.
The man had found a piece of pizza that was three-quarters eaten, with bite marks in it, by a fence. He felt it had been left with the intent to harass, he told police.
The officer noted it was a regular cheese pizza, traditional hand tossed crust, with pepperoni topping. The officer checked the area and didn't find any more pizza or evidence related to the incident.
Action man Vladimir Putin dives world's deepest lake
Vladimir Putin has dived to the bottom of the world's deepest lake in Siberia, aboard a mini-submarine.
The Russian prime minister descended 1,400m (4,600ft) in a four-and-a-half hour mission to inspect crystals containing natural gas.
Mr Putin said it was a very special feeling and he had not seen anything like it before.
The mission is likely to add to the 56-year-old's carefully cultivated image as a man of action.
However, as he emerged after the dive, Mr Putin quickly played down reporters' suggestions that his next challenge would be to travel in space.
"There is enough work on earth," he said.
The Russian prime minister descended 1,400m (4,600ft) in a four-and-a-half hour mission to inspect crystals containing natural gas.
Mr Putin said it was a very special feeling and he had not seen anything like it before.
The mission is likely to add to the 56-year-old's carefully cultivated image as a man of action.
However, as he emerged after the dive, Mr Putin quickly played down reporters' suggestions that his next challenge would be to travel in space.
"There is enough work on earth," he said.
Praying man let his daughter die
A US jury has found a man guilty of killing his sick 11-year-old daughter by praying for her recovery rather than seeking medical care. The man, Dale Neumann, told a court in the state of Wisconsin he believed God could heal his daughter.
She died of a treatable disease - undiagnosed diabetes - at home in rural Wisconsin in March last year, as people surrounded her and prayed. Neumann's wife, Leilani Neumann, was convicted earlier this year. The couple, who were both convicted of second-degree reckless homicide, face up to 25 years in prison when they are sentenced in October.
A lawyer representing Dale Neumann said he would appeal. During the trial, medical experts told the court that Neumann's daughter could have survived if she had received treatment, including insulin and fluids, before she stopped breathing.
On Thursday Neumann, who is 47 and studied in the past to be a Pentecostal minister, said he thought God would heal his daughter. "If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God," he said. "I am not believing what he said he would do." He also said he thought his daughter had had flu or a fever, and that he had not realised how ill she was.
Neumann's lawyer said he had been convinced that his "faith healing" was working, and that he had committed no crime. The prosecution argued that Neumann had minimised his daughter's illness and that he had allowed her to die as a selfish act of faith.
They said the girl should have been taken to hospital because she was unable to walk, talk, eat or drink. Instead, an ambulance was only called once the girl had stopped breathing.
She died of a treatable disease - undiagnosed diabetes - at home in rural Wisconsin in March last year, as people surrounded her and prayed. Neumann's wife, Leilani Neumann, was convicted earlier this year. The couple, who were both convicted of second-degree reckless homicide, face up to 25 years in prison when they are sentenced in October.
A lawyer representing Dale Neumann said he would appeal. During the trial, medical experts told the court that Neumann's daughter could have survived if she had received treatment, including insulin and fluids, before she stopped breathing.
On Thursday Neumann, who is 47 and studied in the past to be a Pentecostal minister, said he thought God would heal his daughter. "If I go to the doctor, I am putting the doctor before God," he said. "I am not believing what he said he would do." He also said he thought his daughter had had flu or a fever, and that he had not realised how ill she was.
Neumann's lawyer said he had been convinced that his "faith healing" was working, and that he had committed no crime. The prosecution argued that Neumann had minimised his daughter's illness and that he had allowed her to die as a selfish act of faith.
They said the girl should have been taken to hospital because she was unable to walk, talk, eat or drink. Instead, an ambulance was only called once the girl had stopped breathing.
Giant screens at crash sites to end 'rubbernecking' danger
"Rubbernecking" - when motorists slow down to view accidents, occasionally with disastrous results - could become increasingly rare under plans for a national roll-out of giant safety screens that can be erected around crash scenes within minutes.
Rubbernecking can cause further accidents as distracted motorists collide with vehicles around them. But experts also believe that increased use of the screens will reduce congestion, particularly at peak times, by ensuring that drivers continue at their normal speed.
Pilot schemes trying the 75m-long "incident screens" on the M25 and M1 motorways have been successful and the Highways Agency plans to make them available at accident hot spots across the country. "Trials on the motorway network show that using the screens prevents road users from being distracted by the scene of an incident," a Highways Agency spokesman said. "This means drivers concentrate on the road ahead, and so improves safety and reduces congestion, particularly when incidents occur at peak times."
He added: "The success of the trials means that we hope to increase the use of screens at incidents across some of the busiest sections of our network."
The screens, which can be attached to central reservations or stand alone are carried on trailers. Erected in less than 20 minutes, they are fitted with holes that allow wind to pass through them so they do not blow over. The intention is to use the screens at accident sites that will take at least two hours to clear.
Motoring organisations gave news that the screens would soon be used on most parts of Britain's motorways a cautious welcome. "Anything that reduces congestion and prevents accidents has got be applauded," said an RAC spokesman. "Yet as very few people have ever driven past one, it is difficult to judge what driver reactions will be."
Rubbernecking can cause further accidents as distracted motorists collide with vehicles around them. But experts also believe that increased use of the screens will reduce congestion, particularly at peak times, by ensuring that drivers continue at their normal speed.
Pilot schemes trying the 75m-long "incident screens" on the M25 and M1 motorways have been successful and the Highways Agency plans to make them available at accident hot spots across the country. "Trials on the motorway network show that using the screens prevents road users from being distracted by the scene of an incident," a Highways Agency spokesman said. "This means drivers concentrate on the road ahead, and so improves safety and reduces congestion, particularly when incidents occur at peak times."
He added: "The success of the trials means that we hope to increase the use of screens at incidents across some of the busiest sections of our network."
The screens, which can be attached to central reservations or stand alone are carried on trailers. Erected in less than 20 minutes, they are fitted with holes that allow wind to pass through them so they do not blow over. The intention is to use the screens at accident sites that will take at least two hours to clear.
Motoring organisations gave news that the screens would soon be used on most parts of Britain's motorways a cautious welcome. "Anything that reduces congestion and prevents accidents has got be applauded," said an RAC spokesman. "Yet as very few people have ever driven past one, it is difficult to judge what driver reactions will be."
Joy of text messages as student gets PhD
Caroline Tagg has become the first person in Britain to get a degree in text messaging. The 33-year-old student was awarded a PhD in English from Birmingham University for her 80,000-word thesis on the study of SMS text messaging language.
For her research, Caroline read 11,000 text messages containing 190,000 words, sent by 235 people.
For three years she studied spelling, grammar and abbreviations used in social and business texts. The average text has 17.5 words.
She said: “I undertook the investigation because there is a great moral panic about the damage texting is having on the written language as well as the effect on children, who use text more than adults.”
But she found texting is good for you: “It is a creative form of communicating with each other. It is not bad grammar to text or a bad use of the English language.”
Tutor Professor Sue Hunston, who admits she can’t text, said: “Every stage of the English language has been studied. Now Caroline has studied its use in texts.”
For her research, Caroline read 11,000 text messages containing 190,000 words, sent by 235 people.
For three years she studied spelling, grammar and abbreviations used in social and business texts. The average text has 17.5 words.
She said: “I undertook the investigation because there is a great moral panic about the damage texting is having on the written language as well as the effect on children, who use text more than adults.”
But she found texting is good for you: “It is a creative form of communicating with each other. It is not bad grammar to text or a bad use of the English language.”
Tutor Professor Sue Hunston, who admits she can’t text, said: “Every stage of the English language has been studied. Now Caroline has studied its use in texts.”
Street attacker wore T-shirt with name and date of birth printed on it
Thug Dean Bailey had to own up to a vicious city centre attack – because he had his name and date of birth emblazoned on his T-shirt. He was proudly showing off his age on the back of his top because it was his 21st birthday on September 7.
After a night out drinking in Nottingham, he kicked and stamped on mechanic John Scuthern outside Costa coffee, in Friar Lane.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Mr Scuthern suffered damage to his eye socket and a cut close to his eye.
Bailey had been in the Walkabout bar, in Friar Lane, and wrongly believed Mr Scuthern was the same man who had attacked him earlier. The court heard there was no evidence of this – and Mr Scuthern and his friends gave a different version of events.
"He [Bailey] was wearing a white T-shirt with his name and date of birth emblazoned across the back of it," said Jon Fountain, prosecuting. "Mr Scuthern spent two days in hospital as a result of the injuries he received. It has caused his family and himself some distress and they are far more cautious when in the city centre."
The judge said that because of Bailey's previous good character and guilty plea, he would impose a 40-week sentence, suspended for a year." Bailey, who admitted wounding, will be subject to a two-month curfew and tagging. He must also pay Mr Scuthern £300 compensation.
After a night out drinking in Nottingham, he kicked and stamped on mechanic John Scuthern outside Costa coffee, in Friar Lane.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Mr Scuthern suffered damage to his eye socket and a cut close to his eye.
Bailey had been in the Walkabout bar, in Friar Lane, and wrongly believed Mr Scuthern was the same man who had attacked him earlier. The court heard there was no evidence of this – and Mr Scuthern and his friends gave a different version of events.
"He [Bailey] was wearing a white T-shirt with his name and date of birth emblazoned across the back of it," said Jon Fountain, prosecuting. "Mr Scuthern spent two days in hospital as a result of the injuries he received. It has caused his family and himself some distress and they are far more cautious when in the city centre."
The judge said that because of Bailey's previous good character and guilty plea, he would impose a 40-week sentence, suspended for a year." Bailey, who admitted wounding, will be subject to a two-month curfew and tagging. He must also pay Mr Scuthern £300 compensation.
Pupils start school still in nappies
School nurses are receiving special training to deal with increasing numbers of pupils who are still in nappies.
A growing number of parents are failing to potty train their children before sending them to primary school. Some parents have made it a low priority because they are too busy, while others have a more relaxed attitude and are happy to "wait until the child is ready", according to teachers.
Some schools and nurseries refuse to take children who are still in nappies but councils now advise that they could be contravening the Disability Discrimination Act by doing so. Local authorities are drawing up "nappy changing policies" to establish new procedures while staff in schools are being trained to deal with the problem.
The charity Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (Eric) runs at least one course a month to give school nurses advice about how to deal with late starters who turn up to school in nappies, as well as children with medical issues. Training sessions for teachers are also under discussion.
"With primary schools, toilet training is a real issue at the moment," said Natasha Collins, education and training coordinator. "There is no hard and fast rule about potty training, parents can only do it when their child is ready. Historically, they really did almost force the children, whether it was the right time for them or not. I do think nowadays, parents seem to be a little more laid back and open to listening to their children, so that could be a reason for it."
Most children are potty trained between the ages of two and three. Although some schools and nurseries do not take children still in nappies, local authorities now warn that they could be breaking the law. Any admission policy that sets a blanket standard of continence or requires parents to come and change a child, or leaves a child in a soiled nappy while they wait, could be considered discriminatory or even a form of abuse.
A growing number of parents are failing to potty train their children before sending them to primary school. Some parents have made it a low priority because they are too busy, while others have a more relaxed attitude and are happy to "wait until the child is ready", according to teachers.
Some schools and nurseries refuse to take children who are still in nappies but councils now advise that they could be contravening the Disability Discrimination Act by doing so. Local authorities are drawing up "nappy changing policies" to establish new procedures while staff in schools are being trained to deal with the problem.
The charity Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (Eric) runs at least one course a month to give school nurses advice about how to deal with late starters who turn up to school in nappies, as well as children with medical issues. Training sessions for teachers are also under discussion.
"With primary schools, toilet training is a real issue at the moment," said Natasha Collins, education and training coordinator. "There is no hard and fast rule about potty training, parents can only do it when their child is ready. Historically, they really did almost force the children, whether it was the right time for them or not. I do think nowadays, parents seem to be a little more laid back and open to listening to their children, so that could be a reason for it."
Most children are potty trained between the ages of two and three. Although some schools and nurseries do not take children still in nappies, local authorities now warn that they could be breaking the law. Any admission policy that sets a blanket standard of continence or requires parents to come and change a child, or leaves a child in a soiled nappy while they wait, could be considered discriminatory or even a form of abuse.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)