We face austerity, privatisation, and toxic influence. But we are growing, and cannot be beaten
It’s not ‘class reductionist’ to talk about educational inequality
This pandemic has shown that economic injustice is structural, especially in education — but do we need a corporate-sponsored ‘old boys’ network in reverse’ or do we need to ditch the pearl-clutching postmodernists and talk about good old working-class solidarity, asks ROBERT POOLE
OLD SCHOOL TIE: Elite institutions like Eton provide their former pupils with a powerful upper-class network
In a revealing speech, Trump’s economic adviser has exposed the actual strategy behind the tariff policy: forcing other countries to provide financial support for US world hegemony, reports MARC VANDEPITTE
Activist Angie Zelter has been arrested more than a hundred times. She’s not stopping now, writes LINDA PENTZ GUNTER
Natalia Marques looks at last week's ruling that Khalil can be deported and its implications
We are not here to advocate for the arms industry or its CEOs, writes STEVE HANDFORD, and that means we must take a stand against the government’s spending on war
As Labour mimics Tory welfare cuts while ignoring crumbling schools, educators must collectively resist the government's priorities and fight for an inclusive, creative system that values all children, writes NEU president SARAH KILPATRICK
Although our sector is hearing better things from the current government, the recognition that what we do is education in its own right, rather than just childcare, is still not reflected in policy, writes LUCY COLEMAN
AS I wrote this the countdown was on to the big bang return to school on Monday March 8. Only time will tell what this will do to the R rate; though once again we see history repeating itself with education workers, unions and scientists warning against an un-phased return.
The papers, other than this esteemed organ, are of course preparing the way for the return by once again filling their pages with attacks on teachers, including a hit piece on yours truly in the Mail on Sunday. Though their description of me as a Lenin-spouting NEU activist actually is fairly accurate — which must be a first for that paper.
With all the talk of catch-up it was good to see that Rishi Sunak’s Budget this week, focused on Covid recovery, gave such prominence to education. Except, of course, it didn’t. There has been no additional funding for schools announced beyond what was promised last year.
There is some money for catch-up resources to the tune of almost £4 million. This apparently will be in the form of downloadable, printable materials (teachers up and down the land are now shivering at the effect this will have on their photocopying budgets).
This of course is being put out to tender so the money will probably go to the Education Secretary’s dog walker or a Tory Party donor.
Catch-up it seems is about attacking the terms and conditions of teachers and other education workers with talk of changing the term dates, summer schools and longer school days. The elephant in the room of course is the fact that working-class pupils were at a disadvantage before the pandemic.
If we really want to be talking about catch-up then we should really be talking about the obscene role of private schools in society with their grip over not only top university places but also most of the top jobs in society.
More from this author
The NEU’s annual conference promises heated debate, with motions on international politics, curriculum reform and union amalgamation likely to provoke strong reactions and challenge the status quo, writes Education for Tomorrow editor ROBERT POOLE
The series unveils uncomfortable truths about youth alienation and online radicalisation — but the real crisis lies in austerity and the absence of class consciousness in addressing young people’s disillusionment, says teacher ROBERT POOLE
From colonialism to the Troubles, the story of England’s first colony is one of exploitation, resistance, and solidarity — and one we should fight to ensure is told, writes teacher ROBERT POOLE
As the government moves to rein in academy freedoms, former darling of conservative education reform Katharine Birbalsingh cries ‘Marxism.’ Education columnist ROBERT POOLE examines how academisation has failed our children while enriching executives and empowering ideologues at the expense of democratic accountability
