It is with great concern that the this week Observer reports racism is still happening in our schools.
The General Teaching Council (GTC) rightly condemned the actions of Edgware teacher Adeniyi Kolade, who called a pupil an offensive word in reference to the child's race.
We praise the school and the head-teacher for dealing with this incident immediately and not sweeping in under the carpet. Behaviour such as Mr Kolade's will only serve to aggravate ethnic tensions which could lead to racial violence in our schools.
His conduct fell short of the standard expected of a registered teacher - a person parents place their trust in to protect their children.
Instead Mr Kolade seriously demeaned and undermined a young and impressionable child and showed no remorse at the hearing.
We hope Mr Kolade will accept that his actions were wrong and complete training in diversity awareness, as advised by the GTC.
Cruel death of an idealist
THE EMOTIONAL memories of Gayle Williams' friends showed that despite her short time working at a Harrow school she managed to leave a lasting impression.
The charity worker, brutally murdered on her way to Afghanistan, was remembered for her humour and big heart. It is always shocking when a defenceless person is killed, but more so when they are killed trying to help those less fortunate.
Gayle was there to help disabled children. The reasons for her murder may never be fully known, but it is a small comfort to her friends and family that she died doing something she was passionate about.
The war in Afghanistan seems to touch more people in the borough as it runs into its seventh year; soldiers from the Territorial Army Centre in Kingsbury have gone to serve there.
Whatever people's opinions on the war, most residents will hope for a quick end to this conflict.
