We face austerity, privatisation, and toxic influence. But we are growing, and cannot be beaten
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A ‘new normal’ should mean a new deal for education
As NEU’s annual conference begins, union rep ROBERT POOLE writes that we can’t rely on politicians in Whitehall to give us a national education service — we need to fight for it with our new-found strength
Schoolkids
Trump’s economic adviser has exposed the actual strategy: forcing other countries to provide financial support for US world hegemony
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
Educators must fight for an inclusive, creative system that values all children
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
THIS YEAR’S NEU conference is set to be a very different affair to those we are used to — rather than being hosted in Manchester it will take place virtually. But then doesn’t everything?
In fact just as I am starting to get used to life in lockdown on Plague Island it seems like things are starting to ease up and dare I say it — return to normal. Pretty much every adult I know has either now had the vaccine or had Covid-19.
I suspect a very significant number of young people have too, due to the reckless way (intentionally so?) in which school reopenings were handled over and over again.
I’ve decided that as we’ve recently marked the anniversary of the lockdown I am going to use this opportunity to reflect on this past year. Personally speaking my experience of the pandemic has been a lucky one. I know it isn’t the same for everyone.
I’m lucky to have my family to spend time with, a stable job and to live next to some beautiful nature. Can we keep the good bits and lose the bad?
I miss holidays and I can’t visit my mum who lives abroad which is hard but other than that... I really don’t want to go “back to normal.”
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
