Video blog on clueless Wikipedia contributors

Posted on 23rd August, 2009 by

I’ve had a camcorder since last Christmas, which I used to shoot footage of the Palestine rally in January. I had intended to use it to do video blogs and perhaps interviews, but haven’t got round to it until now. Well, last week I posted a 20-minute video blog (in three sections as YouTube doesn’t accept videos over 10 minutes long) on clueless Wikipedia contributors.

You see, I authored a page on my old school, or rather the building in which it was situated, and despite having posted a number of articles about my experiences there (many of them negative), kept the Wikipedia entry factual and posted whatever I could find from Google about the history of the building. Some guy (or perhaps woman, since they never gave us more than a nickname) thought it was relevant to tell the world that the main author of the page was an “Islamist blogger”. I thought it was irrelevant, particularly as I did not use Wikipedia to attack the school or anyone associated with it.

Anyway, it starts here and you can see my (currently rather empty) YouTube channel here, insha Allah.

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  • Salama

    I’ll break the news to you… Wikipedia is infested with Zionists. They don’t allow an article for Eric Hufschmid (the most prominent living anti-Zionist writer) and they don’t allow his name to be listed on the 9/11 truth seekers list.

  • Codf1977

    I wanted to reply to some of your comments in your video.

    Firstly, my truck load of salt comment was referring to your views in general, not just on the Kesgrave Hall article.

    It is clear that you don’t like criticism of any kind to your views and take an instant and most of the times irrational dislike to others when they don’t agree with you.

    How, when or where I first met you are not relevant, what I will say is that my feelings towards you are not born out of feelings towards your religion per se. I am NOT an Islamophobe, or for that matter an anti-Semite, Zionist, pro or anti Christian. I do feel that you, your actions and your blog however does Islam a disservice and for want of a better phrase, brings the religion into disrepute.

    I have read this blog for some time and feel now is the time to stand up to some of your rosy views of life.

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    If you had wanted to do that, you could have done it here at any time. It is here that the views you disagree with are posted. Not at Wikipedia where I stuck to the facts.

    You say you’re not an Islamophobe, but you linked to “Shaikh YerMami” who is a long-standing Jihad Watch commenter and is definitely an Islamophobe, and referenced Melanie Phillips in the Spectator, which was not really about me anyway but about Ben White of Fulrcum who told me about his review of Patrick Sookhdeo’s book. Your claim that my blog brings Islam itself into disrepute doesn’t stack up.

    I find your attack disturbing because I have no clue who you are or what your reasons are for attacking me. I do not mind discussing things with people who disagree with me as long as they play fair, which you don’t.

  • Codf1977

    Don’t worry I do intend to post here from now on.

    Correct I am not an Islamophobe; the choice of links to Shaikh YerMami (what a lovely name) and the Spectator were there to show that you have notoriety and nothing more, well perhaps also to show that your views are well off main stream.

    Over the time I have been researching you I have come across lots of stuff, including very recently an article from one of your ex-teachers who has some very interesting insights into you.

    A question perhaps for other readers of this blog - Is IndgoJo / Matthew Smith worthy of his own Wikipedia page ? If so I am very happy to create one.

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    An article by one of my ex-teachers?! Is it available?

  • Codf1977

    Yes it was a comment to a blog, but I can’t find the link in my history. If I find it again I will post the link.

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    Think of some salient words from the comment and Google it.

    However, I’ve tried that with various versions of my name and ‘kesgrave’ and have had no luck.

    What was the teacher’s name or nickname?

  • Codf1977

    Thank you for the computer lesion, I am, as you can tell totally stupid.

    If you Google for “Muslim convert Matthew Smith indigo jo” you may get some ware (you will have to look at more than the first page of results)

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    OK … I found it. It’s here.

    I have no idea who it is that wrote it, but the bit about me requiring injections or anti-psychotics is a flat-out lie. The only medication I received was thyroid supplements, and they came (and still come) in tablet form.

    I intend to comment further over there, insha Allah. I don’t believe that was a teacher who wrote that.

  • Codf1977

    Thanks for clearing those two small inaccuracies up along with the accusation you lived in South Norwood where as you actually lived in Croydon (for those not familiar with South London they are about 2 miles apart).

    However I take it the rest of the article has a basis in fact then?

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    The bit about my having to be sedated is a pretty big inaccuracy, actually, and the rest of it is just a whole lot of pop psychological garbage. If I really was psychotic or paranoid schizophrenic, you’d have thought I would have been admitted at some point in the past 15 years, but I haven’t, and have never been in trouble with the law either.

    No idea who he is, and I do know that he’s from KHS because there are some things in the comment which only someone who knew me will know, but a lot of it is exaggerations and nonsense.

  • Codf1977

    You would know a fair bit about “exaggerations and nonsense” ! - thought you said it was not written by a teacher.

    As for your claim about beeing commited if you were “psychotic or paranoid schizophrenic”, you would hope so, but given the NHS I don’t think you could be sure. My advice is if you are in doubt go and have yourself checked out.

  • Codf1977

    I hope your conspicuous absence on this blog for the last 5 days, is not as a result of you following my advice and seeking a medical opinion and that opinion being that you are infract a “psychotic or paranoid schizophrenic” resulting in your immediate committal under the Mental Health Act. Because that would be a shame as it would deprive me of an opportunity to rebuff your preaching.

    Anyway enough of my jesting, that is not the purpose of this comment.

    Following my earlier comment (number 2) - Does anyone have any opinion on should IndgoJo / Matthew Smith have his own Wikipedia page ?

  • M Risbrook

    I have been reliably informed by a former student of Kesgrave Hall School, that the head teacher Michael Geoffrey Smith was an Islamophobe. This was one reason why the school did not teach Islam in its RE course. Another reason was having an RE teacher who knew little about Islam herself.

  • KHS Old Boy

    M Risbrook, I would have to disagree, I did go to the school, and WAS taught about Islam in RE lessions, along with other non-Christian religions.

    I have no idea if Mr Smith was an Islamophobe, all I can say is I saw no evidence of it, IF he was.

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    Codf1977: no, the reason is that I’ve been fasting, I’ve not been up to strength and haven’t really had anything to write. It’s that simple.

    M Risbrook: I have no idea if he was an Islamophobe or not. The school didn’t teach other religions, full stop; it only taught Christianity with a bit of Jewish background info. The RE teacher was a pretty strong Christian - Scottish and probably Presbyterian - who once got angry because, during a drama class, a boy who was acting shouted “Christ!” during a play. I do remember that one particular member of staff was an Islamophobe, but that was well before I was Muslim, but his prejudiced comments (Muslims live like pigs, “all Muslims should be shot”, “they’re Arabs, they’ve got no brains” etc) were shocking to me at the time all the same. As I said in my KH sex scandal article, racism was pretty commonplace. There was one boy who had a Muslim name, but I don’t recall that member of staff being openly prejudiced towards him.

  • Codf1977

    Indigo Jo - Nice to see you are back.

  • KHS Old Boy

    I hate to disagree with you Indigo Jo but that same “Christian - Scottish and probably Presbyterian” RE teacher definitely thought me about Islam, maybe she did not for your year group, but she did for mine.

  • Codf1977

    So then, let’s do some de-bunking here :

    M Risbrook – you appear to be misinformed about the head teacher – it would appear that there is no evidence to conclude he was an Islamophobe. Whatever you think about Indigo Jo, his Islamophobia-radar tends towards false positives, so if he is not sure then it is likely he was not.

    Indigo Jo, you say elseware on this blog (KHS Sex Scandal page) that you only started at the school in year 8 (thus missing year 7)? If so how can you say for sure that they did not teach it when you missed Year 7? Unless you are saying that you asked all your class mates on your first day “Hay guys have they taught us about Islam in RE yet ?” and they all said “No”.

    Therefore you should not say something like “The school didn’t teach other religions, full stop” unless you are 100% sure that is the case and since you yourself did not attend the school for every school year 7 through to 13, everyone will have to conclude that you are not able to speak from a position of total authority.

    At best all you can say is “For the time I was at the school I do not recall receiving teaching on religions other than Christianity and some Jewish background”

    I also suspect that if you took a poll of UK adults who were in secondary education at the time you were, you would find that 80%+ would agree with the statement “In my school I do not receive teaching on religions other than Christianity and Judaism” so it would seem to be a problem with the curriculum and syllabuses of the time and NOT your school.

  • M Risbrook

    The RE teacher was a pretty strong Christian - Scottish and probably Presbyterian

    I was informed by the former student that the RE teacher was a very strict Glaswegian lady with a short temper who was a Captain of the Salvation Army.

    M Risbrook – you appear to be misinformed about the head teacher – it would appear that there is no evidence to conclude he was an Islamophobe.

    The information that the head teacher was an Islamophobe was obtained via a private conversation between the former student and the head teacher. I am taking the student’s word for it that it is correct and true as I have never knowingly met or conversed with Michael Geoffrey Smith.

    I also suspect that if you took a poll of UK adults who were in secondary education at the time you were, you would find that 80%+ would agree with the statement “In my school I do not receive teaching on religions other than Christianity and Judaism” so it would seem to be a problem with the curriculum and syllabuses of the time and NOT your school.

    State secondary schools have had to teach Islam in RE lessons during Y7 to Y9 since 1988 as part of the National Curriculum. I have been informed that Kesgrave Hall School did not adhere to the National Curriculum (which is why it offered separate sciences and didn’t teach certain subjects) so may not have taught about Islam in RE lessons. I know for sure that some conservative and traditional independent schools were teaching very little (and much less than state schools) about Islam in Y7 to Y9 in the early 1990s.

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    OK, well, perhaps she taught the year 7 (or first year as they were called then) boys about Islam. I vividly remember being taught about Hinduism in Catholic school in Y7, the year before I started at KHS, but I don’t recall learning about any religion besides Christianity for the two years the Scottish lady taught me RE.

    I suspect I know who M Risbrook’s contact was and he is more likely to have heard MGS’s views on Islam than I was, since I had no Islamic background nor any interest in Islam for most of the time I was at the school.

  • M Risbrook

    I suspect I know who M Risbrook’s contact was and he is more likely to have heard MGS’s views on Islam than I was

    Maybe he asked the right person the right questions.

    I would certainly be inclined to ask questions about religion if I had to attend a school that had no official connection with a particular religious institution, yet forced its students to attend church services; hold particular beliefs; etc.

    since I had no Islamic background nor any interest in Islam for most of the time I was at the school.

    Perhaps your lack of interest in or awareness of Islam is why you failed to ask the right questions.

    Out of interest, were there any students at Kesgrave Hall School who followed religions other than Trinitarian Christianity? If so, then were their religious needs accommodated?

  • Codf1977

    M Risbrook :”The information that the head teacher was an Islamophobe was obtained via a private conversation between the former student and the head teacher. I am taking the student’s word for it that it is correct and true as I have never knowingly met or conversed with Michael Geoffrey Smith”

    When I first read your comments I was going to make the point that as it was a private conversation, surely then you should keep it private not posted for the world to see. If you are going to make such an accusation why keep the most important details about who made the accusation hidden. One answer, and to me the most lightly is to try to avoid questioning.

    However it then struck me, why would it just come up in conversation that the “RE teacher was a very strict Glaswegian lady with a short temper” unless you were :

    a) writing someone’s autobiography

    b) in fact posting “on behalf of someone else” who is relaying you the comments “real time”. (if this is the case let him post)

    c) you are in fact someone else, who went to the school perhaps a class mate of Indigo Jo – acting as a “Shill”.

    d) you are in fact Mathew Smith.

    Support for the fact the case is either c or d being correct is evidenced by IndigoJo happening to “suspect I know who M Risbrook’s contact was” which seems very suspect.

    So then time for one or both of you to come clean – which is it ? or does every post by M Risbrook have to come with a health warning.

  • Codf1977

    M Risbrook :”Out of interest, were there any students at Kesgrave Hall School who followed religions other than Trinitarian Christianity? If so, then were their religious needs accommodated?”

    More evidence that you are in fact Matthew Smith, for someone who knew the “RE teacher was a very strict Glaswegian lady with a short temper” you would know that answer - it is just a ploy so IndigoJo gets to comeback and denounce the school more.

  • M Risbrook

    I have only met one former student of Kesgrave Hall School and have never knowingly met any of its staff. The only information I have about Kesgrave Hall School (apart from its whereabouts) are from one former student and what is published on the internet. The reason I know that the RE teacher was a very strict Glaswegian lady with a short temper is because the former student mentioned her as being a particularly bad teacher. I know next to nothing about most of the other staff and their names would mean nothing to me.

    There is surprisingly little information about Kesgrave Hall School published on the internet and a high proportion of it is written by the owner of this blog, who I believe, also wrote the article in Wikipedia. I have no idea what his motives are for wanting to write about his school. I didn’t enjoy much of my time at school but this hasn’t provoked me to want to write much about it as an adult. It’s all dead and buried history now.

  • Codf1977

    M Risbrook : I still believe there is something you are not telling us. It seems to me very strange that in this conversation with an ex-pupil, you would discuss the RE teacher’s teaching ability, the “drama class” incident , the head teacher’s alleged Islamophobia and that allegedly “Kesgrave Hall School did not adhere to the National Curriculum” all to me looks like either you are Matthew Smith, someone who went to the school or someone shilling for Matthew Smith.

    There is something not right here that is for sure.

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    @Codf1977: As I said, I believe M Risbrook’s contact is someone who was in my form (fifth form or year 11 of 1992-3). Hence, he would know some of the things I know. If his contact is who I think he is, he arrived at KHS in the summer of 1990, so he would have lived through most of the same things I did, although we usually weren’t in the same dorm after the 3rd year.

    @ M Risbrook: Most of the boys at KHS were not really religious and sat through Sunday morning mass and RE because they had to. There were four Jews and a few Catholics, and like I said before, one with a Muslim name although I’m not sure how religious he was. There was some accommodation, such as that the Catholics got to go to their own church on Saturday evening while most boys went to the C of E church, originally in one of the Bealings villages but later in Kesgrave. With the exception of some of the Catholics, I don’t believe any of the other boys requested, or got, accommodation. There was a vegetarian table.

  • M Risbrook

    It seems to me very strange that in this conversation with an ex-pupil, you would discuss the RE teacher’s teaching ability

    I don’t see what is so strange about this. I told the former student about some appalling teachers I had at school including one who was a raving Marxist.

    the “drama class” incident

    I know nothing about this.

    the head teacher’s alleged Islamophobia

    I’m just taking the former student’s word for it.

    and that allegedly “Kesgrave Hall School did not adhere to the National Curriculum”

    Various pieces of information provided by the former student reveals that Kesgrave Hall School did not comply with the National Curriculum. One such factor was the rather poor computer facilities. I have no first hand experience of the computer facilities of Kesgrave Hall School but I’m 99% convinced that they would have been deemed very substandard in a state school at the time. Kesgrave Hall School did not have timetabled ICT lessons and neither did it offer an ICT GCSE to all who wanted it. These were requirements of the National Curriculum during the early 1990s.

  • Codf1977

    I notice that neither of you have come out and denied my suggestion !

    I find it hard to believe that independently M Risbrook can know 2 people from a school that “in its entire history it had fewer pupils than many schools have in one year”.(IndigoJo 14 August 2009) and to now find out that they were in the same year, where if the school had 52 pupils at a time (Wikipedia article on school) there could have been on average no more than 7.5 pupils per year. The odds on that are staggeringly small as to make it a virtual impossibility.

  • KHS Old Boy

    M Risbrook:

    I was informed by the former student that the RE teacher was a very strict Glaswegian lady with a short temper who was a Captain of the Salvation Army.

    I think that’s right, when I copied Indigo Jo’s words I had a feeling it was not correct, though now you mention it, it rings bells, though I did not know she was a Captain.

    Codf1977:

    here if the school had 52 pupils at a time (Wikipedia article on school) there could have been on average no more than 7.5 pupils per year.

    Hate to point out a mistaken assumption, but not all pupil’s stayed to do A-Levels, so in reality the first 5 forms were bigger - about 8-10 per year when I was there.

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    Codf1977: he doesn’t know two pupils, he knows one, as he stated quite clearly in his last but one comment.

    And no, I am not M Risbrook.

    I assumed that the Scottish teacher was Presbyterian because her response when someone said “Christ” marked her out as a Protestant, and Presbyterians are the main Protestant denomination in Scotland. Many Scots are Catholics, but they tend to say things like “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” a lot, rather than get offended by it.

  • KHS Old Boy

    Indigo Jo :

    Many Scots are Catholics, but they tend to say things like “Jesus, Mary and Joseph” a lot, rather than get offended by it.

    That’s Catholic-o-phobia! no on second thoughts it is based on observation :-)

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    KHSOB: My mother’s family is Irish and Catholic, and I used to hear phrases like that all the time.

  • Codf1977

    Indigo Jo : “he [M Risbrook] doesn’t know two pupils, he knows one, as he stated quite clearly in his last but one comment.”

    Ok then this is geting confusing - he knows you correct? - so that is 1 and he claims to know another, who you think was in your year - so that is 2. Unless you and this other person are one in the same?

    So which is it ?

    Indigo Jo : “And no, I am not M Risbrook.” - I am still to be convinced there is not a strong link between the two posters that has not been disclosed.

  • Codf1977

    KHS Old Boy :”Hate to point out a mistaken assumption, but not all pupil’s stayed to do A-Levels, so in reality the first 5 forms were bigger - about 8-10 per year when I was there

    I am so sorry a whole extra .5 of a boy, a half-whit per form if you like.

  • Anon

    Indigo Jo,

    Hmmmm, you’re very likely being stalked by a paranoid schizophrenic (Cod1977). Do be careful, I am worried for you now and I don’t even know you. Cod1977 will no doubt claim that M Risbrook, you and I are one and the same person :-)

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    Anon: Yeah, I’m kind of getting the impression that these two individuals are arguing me round in circles for fun. They don’t get it: M Risbrook knows one KHS old boy personally. He has commented on the blog of one other. That still means he only knows one, since the two of us have never met.

  • M Risbrook

    I will clarify things. I have only met ONE individual who has seen the inside of Kesgrave Hall School.

  • Codf1977

    You do not have actually have to met anyone to “know” them. M Risbrook – If you post on Matthew Smith’s blog you can safely be said to know him. I have never used the phrase “personally” or “met”, just know.

    I am not trying to argue andy one in circles for fun or otherwise, just trying to get to the truth of allegations made by people.

    It seems that both Indigo Jo/ Matthew Smith and lately M Risbrook are very quick to make allegations about people but when questioned about them, rather than give straight coherent answers, they try and dodge the question, or change the subject or otherwise avoid answering the question.

    So in a moment reminiscent of Paxman’s interview of Michel Howard, I will ask a straight forward question and let’s see if they answer them with a straight forward answer.

    Firstly to IndigoJo, this question was first asked by Old Boy in the Sex Scandal thread, he did not really push you for the answer, but I will:

    “Why was KHS in no position to help you? and what makes you think Mr Smith knew that when you started?“

    Secondly to M Risbrook :

    What was said to your contact that made him think that the same Mr Smith was a Islamophobe?

    I await the answers.

  • KHS Old Boy

    Indigo Jo :

    I’m kind of getting the impression that these two individuals are arguing me round in circles for fun

    I hope, I am not being tarred with the same brush as this Codf1977. Please don’t misunderstand my questions; they are born out of a genuine wish to understand why KHS failed for you. I only asked the question for a second time in case you missed it the first time.

    I feel at this point I should point out to Codf1977, that I know more than one poster to this blog, having met IndigoJo and several other posters at the school.

    Codf1977:

    I am so sorry a whole extra .5 of a boy, a half-whit per form if you like.

    Be careful as a less well mannered person might say “Takes one to know one”, but I would never say that.

    Anon:

    Cod1977 will no doubt claim that M Risbrook, you and I are one and the same person :-)

    Ohh :-( – I want to join the club.

  • M Risbrook

    What was said to your contact that made him think that the same Mr Smith was a Islamophobe?

    The information was obtained via a private conversation between Michael Geoffrey Smith and a former student of Kesgrave Hall School. This former student will only reveal the contents of the conversation to a select few people and does not wish that any information is placed into the public domain.

  • Codf1977

    M Risbrook : “The information was obtained via a private conversation between Michael Geoffrey Smith and a former student of Kesgrave Hall School. This former student will only reveal the contents of the conversation to a select few people and does not wish that any information is placed into the public domain.”

    Well thank you for at least having the decency to post some response, however, you might as well have not bothered.

    The answer you give leaves only one possible conclusion, that, either you or the “former student” to which you refer is a liar.

    I will outline the reasons for that conclusion:

    If as you say “This former student will only reveal the contents of the conversation to a select few people and does not wish that any information is placed into the public domain.” then why post what you did in the first place. By refusing to post anymore detail, the reader will be left to conclude that either you or the “former student” has something to hide. By not letting the readers of this blog know what was said, they are unable to determine, if the head teacher was, as you accuse, an Islamophobe or a victim of, a insecure, maybe paranoid Muslim who was unable to determine if comments made were in fact a sign of an Islamophobe.

    Now, I credit you with not being stupid and as such you will have known that is exactly the impression your response would generate in the minds of the readership, so I am then forced to ask “So why did he/she still post it?”. To that I am forced to conclude, because either what was said, on refection, would not be seen by the readers as conclusive evidence of an Islamophobe or that it was made up in the first place, either way you or the “former student” is liying.

  • M Risbrook

    Codf1977

    If you can supply an email address then I will inform the former student of Kesgrave Hall School to contact you as I have his email address. He may be forthcoming.

  • Codf1977

    M Risbrook : “If you can supply an email address then I will inform the former student of Kesgrave Hall School to contact you as I have his email address. He may be forthcoming.”

    Thank you for that offer, I am willing to supply an e-mail address for you to pass on to the ex-pupil, but to save time, can you confirm that he will be willing to discuss the matter with me ?

    Any e-mail he does send me, would of cause be confidential and would not be re-posted here (or for that matter anyware else), of cause in the interest of balance, I would post a confirmation to this thread that I had received some correspondence from him.

  • Codf1977

    M Risbrook : on November 15th, 2007 at 12:31 am you wrote : “I was in contact with someone who attended the school during the early 1990s. He has a bitter grudge towards Michael Smith and regrets that he didn’t viciously assault him and his bitch of a daughter.”

    I assume that this is this the same person who you refer to when you said on September 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pm “ I have been reliably informed by a former student of Kesgrave Hall School, that the head teacher Michael Geoffrey Smith was an Islamophobe. “

    That being the case, anything he says it totally discredited (by your own words) and his word about anything in relation to the head teacher or the school is far, far from reliable and cannot be trusted.

    I will repeat my claim I made on September 8th, 2009 at 4:25 pm : “ you appear to be misinformed about the head teacher – it would appear that there is no evidence to conclude he was an Islamophobe.“

  • Codf1977

    IndigoJo, 10 days ago I asked you :

    “Why was KHS in no position to help you? and what makes you think Mr Smith knew that when you started? “

    You have seemed fit not to answer that, lets face it, very simple question. Shall we all conclude that like M Risbrook’s “Contact” you to have a “bitter grudge” towards the Head and as such, your words on this school and it’s staff are totally discredited ?

  • M Risbrook

    I managed to contact the former student who clearly informed me he has many grudges towards Michael Geoffrey Smith because of his attitude, behaviour as a head teacher, and the distress he caused, not only to the former student, but to many other students of Kesgrave Hall School as well - none of which I know or have been in contact with.

    Another former student of Kesgrave Hall School called S. Peirson :

    I was a “student” there between 1983 & 1986. I was interviewed by the then Headmaster, Mr. Sheppperd, though when I started the school, Mr. “Muff” Smith had taken the job! Think I would have prefered Mr Shepperd! As I understand it, I was a maladjusted person, who failed to “fit in” whether in social or educational circumstances. I think “they” might have been right. Before KHS, I failed to excell in school, even though my IQ suggested otherwise, I was pretty much a loner, who found making friends a big problem, and I was a future criminal………………. unless I received the correct education. Hence the 3 year sentence to Kesgrave!!!!!!! I did a runner not long after my sixteenth birthday. NO-ONE, asked why! No social worker ever came and asked why I did a runner, even though it was those bastards that deemed that school an acceptable place for me to attend. It was the only place offered. Muff Smith can rot in hell, every time I smell cigar smoke, I think of him! If I ever see Mr. Telford again, I will punch him in the face, He did that to me when I was 14! Mr. Simpson, well he was just a twat who figured he was bigger. There were decent staff, Mr and Mrs Kenworthy, the House Parents, Mr. Johnson, a House carer, Mrs. Brunning, Secretary, Mrs. Goodwin, geography, Miss Stegman, biology. There are other staff who were ok too, its just my memories are clouded by all the grief I got from the other staff, who were meant to care!

    As this individual finished before the former student I have discussed matters with started, then I am inclined to believe there is some (or possibly lots of) truth to what he says about Michael Geoffrey Smith.

  • Codf1977

    M Risbrook “As this individual finished before the former student I have discussed matters with started, then I am inclined to believe there is some (or possibly lots of) truth to what he says about Michael Geoffrey Smith.”

    I have no doubt that as with most schools, some pupils left not happy with their time there or feeling let down and blaming others including staff. This is especially the case with a school where the intake is from pupils who have already been identified as having issues with education.

    My point is, and still remains, that no one has posted evidence that Michael Geoffrey Smith, is or was an Islamophobe or that knew KHS in no position to help IndigoJo when IndigoJo started.

  • M Risbrook

    no one has posted evidence

    What do you consider to constitute evidence in this situation? The private meeting where Islam was discussed was not tape recorded although another meeting with Michael Geoffrey Smith was.

  • KHS Old Boy

    I have a vague recollection of Stuart and can’t directly comment on what he says about the experience at the hands of the members of staff he mentions. However reading through what he does say, it strikes me that really his issues are not with the school or Mike Smith but with the LEA that placed him there.

    He says:

    Before KHS, I failed to excell in school, even though my IQ suggested otherwise, I was pretty much a loner, who found making friends a big problem

    With my 2009 eyes I can see that a small boarding school is not the place to send someone fitting that description.

    He goes on to say:

    I did a runner not long after my sixteenth birthday. NO-ONE, asked why! No social worker ever came and asked why I did a runner, even though it was those bastards that deemed that school an acceptable place for me to attend. It was the only place offered.

    This shows how Stuart was further failed by his local LEA, when I was placed at the school, I was offered and visited a number of other schools (I wish I could remember the names but I can’t).

    I don’t think the school was perfect in every way, and I don’t want to make light of the experiences of others, there are undoubtedly alumni that fell though the system, and Stuart is undoubtedly one of them, our very own IndigoJo may be another. It is very easy to blame the school or Mr Smith, when in reality I do think the vast majority of the blame lies else ware in the education system (or thinking) of the late 1980’s . I do feel that the successes of the school far outnumber those it did not or could not help.

  • Codf1977

    M Risbrook : “What do you consider to constitute evidence in this situation?”

    A good starting point would be to tell us what was said in this “private meeting” that showed the head was an Islamophobe. That way the readership can make up their own minds.

  • M Risbrook

    However reading through what he does say, it strikes me that really his issues are not with the school or Mike Smith but with the LEA that placed him there.

    It is plausible to say that the LEA is at the root of the problem if the student considers the school to be unsuitable and fails to meet their needs.

    As I understand it, I was a maladjusted person, who failed to “fit in” whether in social or educational circumstances. I think “they” might have been right. Before KHS, I failed to excell in school, even though my IQ suggested otherwise, I was pretty much a loner, who found making friends a big problem, and I was a future criminal………………. unless I received the correct education.

    It is possible that he could have Asperger syndrome. There is anecdotal evidence that children with Asperger syndrome (that wasn’t known about in the British education system until 1995) in the 1980s were misdiagnosed as having behavioural problems and sent to residential schools that did not meet their needs and they were regularly bullied and victimised by the staff.

    I did a runner not long after my sixteenth birthday. NO-ONE, asked why! No social worker ever came and asked why I did a runner, even though it was those bastards that deemed that school an acceptable place for me to attend.

    I find it worrying that the LEA did not perform regular checks on the progress and the welfare of individual students they sent to the school. An event like escaping from the school should certainly have prompted an inquiry by the LEA with the student themself attending. The former student of Kesgrave Hall School I am in contact with claimed that his LEA did not check on his progress at all and was even unaware that he had taken a GCSE before Y11.

  • KHS Old Boy

    M Risbrook:

    I find it worrying that the LEA did not perform regular checks on the progress and the welfare of individual students they sent to the school. An event like escaping from the school should certainly have prompted an inquiry by the LEA with the student themself attending. The former student of Kesgrave Hall School I am in contact with claimed that his LEA did not check on his progress at all and was even unaware that he had taken a GCSE before Y11.

    Now you come to mention it, I am not so sure that my LEA paid that much attention to what was going on to me once placed.

  • Codf1977

    IndigoJo, almost 3 weeks ago I asked you :

    “Why was KHS in no position to help you? and what makes you think Mr Smith knew that when you started?“

    Why have you not answered this simple question? Is it because you have no reason and have been just lying ?

    The longer you go without answering this very simple question the more discredited you appear.

  • Codf1977

    CODF1997 (August 29th, 2009 at 3:38 pm) : “A question perhaps for other readers of this blog - Is IndgoJo / Matthew Smith worthy of his own Wikipedia page ? If so I am very happy to create one.” - I would like to thank the readership of this blog that helped with the page, it is now up (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MatthewYusufSmith).

    IndigoJo – Over a month ago I asked : “ Why was KHS in no position to help you? and what makes you think Mr Smith knew that when you started?” – we are still waiting your answer.

  • willcobbett

    I went to Stoke High School in Ipswich between 1979 and 85 and we were endlessly, drably, monotonously, suicidally taught all about Moslems, Sikhs Buddhists and Communists (which was treated as a religion, which I guess would have pleased the Jewish Guy and his Gentile Sidekick), and that the world is just a great big onion, we’d be happier in a coffee coloured world blah blah blah.

    KH school - a private establishment perchance?

  • Mike Ayling

    This fella who claimes to be an ex KHS member of staff is actualy on facebook. Like many he only has guts when behind a computer and dosnt answer reasonable questions. Now I dont realy like that Mat Smith sais but this other fella has also talked a bit of crap to

  • Phil Sweetman

    Hello All, This is the first time I’ve read this strand since it was in its infancy. I am not here to talk about Matt’s politics etc. - just the school. I attended KHS ‘88-‘92 and I’m aware of how gravely sour the atmosphere was there. I know these guys, (Codf1977) & (Indigo Jo). I can think of no better way of illustrating (with a very crude example provided to me by Codf. over the last few months/years, (which is it this time, Matt? :)) of the type of sustained, malignant, personal encroachment that the place represented in the macrocosm; but which it also forced to flourish in the microcosm, i.e. on a ‘one to one’, or ‘one to whatever number’, basis. The reason I say ‘One to whatever number’, is that also, in the meantime, somebody anonymous has appeared to cloddily show themselves up by having a go at Matt, but nevertheless over-reaching themselves with psuedo (quasi??)-medical terminology; I think M. Risbrook, has said that these type of schools, for SEN were “not Prisons”, that we all had a choice of whether or not to attend; however this is untrue. I know that in my case I was subjected to a court wardship, which I immediately set to work trying to use to my advantage to try and get things changed, in other words I was always planning to go “on my toes!” which really puts the wind up ‘em when you’re a court ward! Now, as i’ve said, I know these two fellas from the school. I remember how they fell out just before one of them left (Codf1977), and how bloody silly it all seemed to to me. I remember Matt Smith as a kid, and he was traumatised. I’m not a shrink, and don’t pretend to be, but we all pick up by osmosis, and I believe traumatised would be a good word to use; one that is worthy of a child; and not some hysterical Gutter- Headline, pop-diagnosis. Also, the name of his thyroid meds were similar sounding to “Thorazine”, (some sort of liquid cosh I think), so that’s where that little joke comes in, probably. See ya, and thanks to Lee Ellis, Gareth Flower, Troy etc. for their contributions.

  • http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/ Indigo Jo

    Phil, my medication was (and is) thyroxine, which is the substance the thyroid gland produces if it’s active. Mine isn’t. Thorazine is a tranquiliser. Different chemical entirely.

    Someone reminded me a few years ago that Richardson (deputy head & later head) had repeatedly told us “the door is open, you can leave whenever you want”, but there were reasons we couldn’t leave other than that the school would have prevented us (this was true for me as well).

    Also, I wasn’t traumatised when I got to KHS. I’d had my share of difficulties at school but nothing like what I encountered at KHS.

  • Phil Sweetman

    Right, before you grab the wrong end of the stick, I was trying to illustrate the way that some people will leap on something (in this case the name of your medication, which I’m aware of) and twist it to a ludicrous extent, i.e. maintaining that you had to be “controlled” by “injections” of “Thorazine”, or similar that was said. And as for whether you were “Traumatised” or not, per se, you certainly were something. Just find “Paranoid Schizophrenic” a little far-fetched. Whoever has written all those things has revealed more about themselves than they have you.

  • Phil Sweetman

    Sorry, ~I should point out that the “injections of Thorazine” thing was something that was said at the time, rather than by ‘Anonymous’.