THEY say that ignorance is bliss. Nowhere was this better demonstrated than at the special education and training committee meeting at Blackburn Town Hall on May 24.

At this meeting, a decision of utmost importance, affecting the most vulnerable members of our society was made and no doubt council members then went home in the cosy, if misguided, knowledge that yet another day's work had been done.

So, what was this decision? Council members voted that Blackamoor Special School and Dame Evelyn Fox Special School should be amalgamated.

"So what?" you might say. "What's the problem?"

The problems are manifold - perhaps too many to illustrate in this letter. However, the problem of paramount importance is that Blackamoor School caters for very different children than does Dame Evelyn Fox. They are all "special" in their own way but very, very different. Did the council elicit any comments, ask any questions from the supporters present at this meeting? No. Why not, you might wonder. What happened to freedom of speech?

Well it wasn't in existence that night, far from it. The very people who had something meaningful to say were gagged and who, you might ask, did the council question? The very people who have formulated this new policy.

Biased? Yes. Honest? No!

So what now? Well, councillors, you may have won the battle but not yet the war. Yes, you may be following "government policy" like sheep but you still have a fight on your hands from the very people who actually know what they are talking about - the parents of these special children.

Our voices may not have been heard on that evening, but heard they will be, and what loud voices we have!

MRS KAS RANDALL, Sunnyside Avenue, Wilpshire, Blackburn.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.