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Thursday, 31 July 2008
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
N U T conference 2008 The Easter miracle
I thoroughly enjoyed NUT conference. Bill Greenshields’ presidential address was inspiring with its emphasis on the class basis of British society and his more-or-less unflappable demeanour made for a well-organised conference. Sometimes his avuncular chairmanship put me in mind of an uncle from my youth, Joe I think his name was.
The way the conference worked, the Executive Priority motion meant most calls for action were ruled out of order. This gives the National Executive an enormous opportunity to display flexibility. With an apparent left numerical majority on the Exec (depending on how you calculate these things) they must prove to be our flexible friends and not the government’s.
On Sunday on the tram there was a lot of talk about the Jerry Glazier Easter Miracle where Jerry apparently saw the light on the road to Damascus and ended up agreeing with Martin Powell-Davies on the need to link action on class size, workload and pay together.
After the Classroom Teacher http://www.classroomteacher.org.uk discussion on Sunday I look forward to April 24th and recruiting new activists from the first-time strikers who will be involved. The classroom teacher flyer will be available for people to download and print out
The WSTA delegation had a gender balance of 7:2 which reflects the gender balance of the union. Other delegations can do likewise and perhaps the National Executive too.
We recorded our thoughts on the conference blog http://wsta1.org.uk from which you will see that two first-time delegates who are supply teachers were moved to see the consideration the union is giving to their plight.
The way the conference worked, the Executive Priority motion meant most calls for action were ruled out of order. This gives the National Executive an enormous opportunity to display flexibility. With an apparent left numerical majority on the Exec (depending on how you calculate these things) they must prove to be our flexible friends and not the government’s.
On Sunday on the tram there was a lot of talk about the Jerry Glazier Easter Miracle where Jerry apparently saw the light on the road to Damascus and ended up agreeing with Martin Powell-Davies on the need to link action on class size, workload and pay together.
After the Classroom Teacher http://www.classroomteacher.org.uk discussion on Sunday I look forward to April 24th and recruiting new activists from the first-time strikers who will be involved. The classroom teacher flyer will be available for people to download and print out
The WSTA delegation had a gender balance of 7:2 which reflects the gender balance of the union. Other delegations can do likewise and perhaps the National Executive too.
We recorded our thoughts on the conference blog http://wsta1.org.uk from which you will see that two first-time delegates who are supply teachers were moved to see the consideration the union is giving to their plight.
Monday, 10 March 2008
The campaign against Academies
(Preview of my article for London Progressive Journal)
The campaign against Academies
The standard response of politicians of all stripes to criticism is to say the criticism is based on data is out of date and the issues referred to have been addressed. The Academies issue is no exception. Any politician these days will admit that the Academies program was a shambles and many of the sponsors were shysters but now the whole act has been cleaned up. In West Sussex, for example, instead of some second-hand car salesman they have the services of an educational body with a “proven track record” and the Local Authority is itself involved in the bid.
The reality is that the educational body in question is the Woodard Corporation which has a “proven track record” of running elitist religious schools. When a meeting of 150 parents and teachers was held to discuss the academy bid they contemptuously refused to send anybody to speak to them. They would sooner take advice from their servants than from parents or teachers.
The Local Authority may have a representative on the governing body but the unelected Woodard Corporation will have as many as it wants.
If you have concerns about your local school you can hold the local authority to account. The religious foundations are answerable only to the Almighty and the private companies are only answerable to their shareholders.
Far from being benevolent institutions aiming to help the community, the sponsors get the control of a 20 million pound school for 2 million pounds. They can (and do) then use this patronage to hire consultants of their choice at a fee of their choosing and to opt for educational suppliers of their choice – money no object.
Unusually all of the educational unions are united on this issue. There is an anti-academies alliance which you can contact. If an academy is proposed in your area (and it will be) give them a ring on 07528 201 697 or email office@antiacademies.org.uk
Their website is http://www.antiacademies.org.uk/index.php
Terry Teacher
The campaign against Academies
The standard response of politicians of all stripes to criticism is to say the criticism is based on data is out of date and the issues referred to have been addressed. The Academies issue is no exception. Any politician these days will admit that the Academies program was a shambles and many of the sponsors were shysters but now the whole act has been cleaned up. In West Sussex, for example, instead of some second-hand car salesman they have the services of an educational body with a “proven track record” and the Local Authority is itself involved in the bid.
The reality is that the educational body in question is the Woodard Corporation which has a “proven track record” of running elitist religious schools. When a meeting of 150 parents and teachers was held to discuss the academy bid they contemptuously refused to send anybody to speak to them. They would sooner take advice from their servants than from parents or teachers.
The Local Authority may have a representative on the governing body but the unelected Woodard Corporation will have as many as it wants.
If you have concerns about your local school you can hold the local authority to account. The religious foundations are answerable only to the Almighty and the private companies are only answerable to their shareholders.
Far from being benevolent institutions aiming to help the community, the sponsors get the control of a 20 million pound school for 2 million pounds. They can (and do) then use this patronage to hire consultants of their choice at a fee of their choosing and to opt for educational suppliers of their choice – money no object.
Unusually all of the educational unions are united on this issue. There is an anti-academies alliance which you can contact. If an academy is proposed in your area (and it will be) give them a ring on 07528 201 697 or email office@antiacademies.org.uk
Their website is http://www.antiacademies.org.uk/index.php
Terry Teacher
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Florida Republican Guard
from http://derekmcmillan1951.blogspot.com
The Americans want free elections in Cuba and they are sending over Jeb Bush and the Florida Republican Guard to supervise them.
(Two jokes for the price of one)
The Americans want free elections in Cuba and they are sending over Jeb Bush and the Florida Republican Guard to supervise them.
(Two jokes for the price of one)
Friday, 8 February 2008
Woodard Corporation contempt for teachers and parents
150 to 200 parents and teachers crammed into Worthing Assembly Hall on Thursday to discuss the proposed academies at three schools - Boundstone, King's Manor and Littlehampton.
The Local Authority had the good manners to send a spokesman who was listened to in polite silence.
Woodard Corporation - the power behind the academy bid - contemptuously refused to send anybody to talk to parents and teachers. That exemplifies their high and mighty approach and is the reason parents and teachers are up in arms.
The Local Authority had the good manners to send a spokesman who was listened to in polite silence.
Woodard Corporation - the power behind the academy bid - contemptuously refused to send anybody to talk to parents and teachers. That exemplifies their high and mighty approach and is the reason parents and teachers are up in arms.
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Woodard Corporation: Mainly Christian Ethos?
Pinched from a correspondent on the TES website:
I've seen that bit in the Bible saying a man shouldn't lie with another man and many people have quoted it like it is the be all and end all of morality. Gay people don't choose to be gay, but damn it they shouldn't be made to feel lower than anyone else about something they have no control over.
If I'm going to hell, who's coming with me? Do these holy words apply to anyone?
DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.
Quite a few people going to Hell then, or shall we just disregard the whole thing as a bunch of rules written 2000 years ago?
I've seen that bit in the Bible saying a man shouldn't lie with another man and many people have quoted it like it is the be all and end all of morality. Gay people don't choose to be gay, but damn it they shouldn't be made to feel lower than anyone else about something they have no control over.
If I'm going to hell, who's coming with me? Do these holy words apply to anyone?
DEUTERONOMY 22:13-21
If it is discovered that a bride is not a virgin, the Bible demands that she be executed by stoning immediately.
DEUTERONOMY 22:22
If a married person has sex with someone else's husband or wife, the Bible commands that both adulterers be stoned to death.
MARK 10:1-12
Divorce is strictly forbidden in both Testaments, as is remarriage of anyone who has been divorced.
LEVITICUS 18:19
The Bible forbids a married couple from having sexual intercourse during a woman's period. If they disobey, both shall be executed.
MARK 12:18-27
If a man dies childless, his widow is ordered by biblical law to have intercourse with each of his brothers in turn until she bears her deceased husband a male heir.
DEUTERONOMY 25:11-12
If a man gets into a fight with another man and his wife seeks to rescue her husband by grabbing the enemy's genitals, her hand shall be cut off and no pity shall be shown her.
Quite a few people going to Hell then, or shall we just disregard the whole thing as a bunch of rules written 2000 years ago?
Monday, 28 January 2008
McDonalds A levels
From the WSTA weblog
We have news that McDonalds are introducing their own A levels and we have an exclusive preview of the paper:
Is McDonalds?
a) a vicious anti-union low wage employer?
b) a fast track to a heart attack?
c) fun in a bun?
d) animal cruelty incarnate
If your answer was (c) congratulations you now have a Mc A
level.
(before the Millionaire McLawyers get on the McPhone this is
a joke of course)
We have news that McDonalds are introducing their own A levels and we have an exclusive preview of the paper:
Is McDonalds?
a) a vicious anti-union low wage employer?
b) a fast track to a heart attack?
c) fun in a bun?
d) animal cruelty incarnate
If your answer was (c) congratulations you now have a Mc A
level.
(before the Millionaire McLawyers get on the McPhone this is
a joke of course)
Thursday, 24 January 2008
Woodard Corporation wages class War in Sussex
Teachers are up in arms about the proposal for the unelected Woodard Corporation to take over three schools in West Sussex.
The stated aim of the Woodard Corporation is Class War. Its founder Nathaniel Woodard explicitly sought to educate the middle classes to keep the working classes in their place
'... till the Church educates and trains up the middle classes, she can never effectually educate the poor'
One hesitates to think what sort of admission policy these far-right Christians might have. Teaching on controversial issues like gay marriage, abortion or God forbid women priests would be a nightmare.
However they are not having it all their own way. The following press statement from the West Sussex Teachers Association suggests opposition is growing:
Teachers in West Sussex are planning a campaign against proposals to turn three of the County's secondary schools into Academies, starting with a Public Meeting on Thursday 7 February at 7.30pm in the Assembly Rooms, Worthing. Dave Thomas, local Secretary for the National Union of Teachers, said:
We are opposed to Academies in West Sussex because:
they undermine democratically controlled Local Authorities,
they put schools in the hands of unaccountable sponsors,
they threaten teachers' pay and working conditions,
they will introduce three more schools of a faith character, with minimal consultation and a reduction in parents' choice.
At a meeting of West Sussex NUT held on Wed 16th Jan, the following motion was passed unanimously:
'WSTA is opposed to the establishment of Academies in West Sussex. It further deplores the lack of consultation by the Woodard Corporation and WSCC with the staff and their representatives in the schools concerned, namely, Boundstone CC, Kings Manor CC and Littlehampton CC.'
The meeting was attended by NUT members from all three schools and from other schools throughout West Sussex.
The public meeting is open to parents, teachers, support staff and others with an interest in state education to allow them an opportunity to air their concerns.
The stated aim of the Woodard Corporation is Class War. Its founder Nathaniel Woodard explicitly sought to educate the middle classes to keep the working classes in their place
'... till the Church educates and trains up the middle classes, she can never effectually educate the poor'
One hesitates to think what sort of admission policy these far-right Christians might have. Teaching on controversial issues like gay marriage, abortion or God forbid women priests would be a nightmare.
However they are not having it all their own way. The following press statement from the West Sussex Teachers Association suggests opposition is growing:
Teachers in West Sussex are planning a campaign against proposals to turn three of the County's secondary schools into Academies, starting with a Public Meeting on Thursday 7 February at 7.30pm in the Assembly Rooms, Worthing. Dave Thomas, local Secretary for the National Union of Teachers, said:
We are opposed to Academies in West Sussex because:
they undermine democratically controlled Local Authorities,
they put schools in the hands of unaccountable sponsors,
they threaten teachers' pay and working conditions,
they will introduce three more schools of a faith character, with minimal consultation and a reduction in parents' choice.
At a meeting of West Sussex NUT held on Wed 16th Jan, the following motion was passed unanimously:
'WSTA is opposed to the establishment of Academies in West Sussex. It further deplores the lack of consultation by the Woodard Corporation and WSCC with the staff and their representatives in the schools concerned, namely, Boundstone CC, Kings Manor CC and Littlehampton CC.'
The meeting was attended by NUT members from all three schools and from other schools throughout West Sussex.
The public meeting is open to parents, teachers, support staff and others with an interest in state education to allow them an opportunity to air their concerns.
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