It is a sick government, in terms of depravity rather than wellbeing, that uses the nation's children as pawns in a political game with the not-particularly militant teaching unions. The suggestion that parents could help keep schools open while teachers strike, a perverse idea by Education Secretary, Michael Gove, is perhaps the most dispiriting of all the divisive ideas coming from this government.
He is proof there is a bit of Thatcher in all of today's Conservative party. Is this a surprise? Not at all. Many of today's Tory parliamentarians were fresh-faced recruits during the days of Thatcher and soon after. Thatcherism drips across the Conservative party, perhaps more so than during her own time in power.
I grew up in the 1980s when teaching strikes happened occasionally. We would be given work to do at home. We loved it because it gave us a day off school. And however much inconvenience this may cause parents, they should be sticking with the teachers, not being encouraged to campaign against them.
'Big Society' was David Cameron's big idea for public participation in social affairs. It is something he talks about because it sounds nice, but parents and children being politicised in a struggle between teachers and government is not my idea of the 'Big Society' in action.
It makes me glad I am not a child in today's nasty society (which sounds more realistic than this 'Big Society' nonsense). I would not want to be the one beaten up on the playground by other children, blamed for keeping the school open by classmates who hoped they would be getting an unscheduled holiday. I would not want to be the one who the teachers give less assistance to in the classroom because their parents undermined their industrial action. Some militant teachers may be temped by this, mark my words.
The truth is, despite my use of the word 'militant' above, teachers are generally not that militant at all. They are not known for striking. The ATL (Association of Teachers and Lecturers) is a union definitely not renowned for striking, so you can be sure if they have downed tools, then they are not happy.
If last minute talks could avert a strike this Thursday, even at this late stage, nobody would be more happier than the teachers themselves. After all, they go into teaching because of a wish to help and develop young people. It certainly is not for the money, or the abuse they have to take from those they try to do their best for.
The lack of militancy from the teachers makes the fighting talk by Gove all the more exasperating. I would say roll on the next cabinet reshuffle, but the pool of Thatcher's children is hardly likely to produce anyone more sympathetic to society's educators.
Monday 27 June 2011
Friday 10 June 2011
Why is it taking an Archbishop to oppose the Tories?
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, is doing what all decent religious figures would be expected to do - rightfully slam the government for the impact their policies are having on the most needy in society.
David Cameron is accusing the Archbishop of expressing political views. There is no question that some of the Archbishop's comments about voter expectations are political, however it is right that a senior religious figure should be speaking up on behalf of those in society less able to participate and articulate their frustrations.
Dr. Williams is the closest thing Mr. Cameron has to an opposition at the moment. Ed Miliband is likeable, but at this week's Prime Minister's Questions, he yet again failed to land as much as a decent strike on the Prime Minister. This is despite a difficult week with justice and NHS reforms and some rather sloppy work by ministers.
And the large bulk of the print media are completely geared to keeping the Tories in power. How Labour are ever able to win elections with such a major chunk of the media constantly against them is a miracle in itself. It is interesting how after a couple of (what should have been) very uncomfortable days for the Prime Minister, the Daily Telegraph has typically intervened with a diversionary tale about the role of Ed Balls in a campaign to remove Tony Blair from Number 10 following the 2005 election.
Timing is everything when it comes to weathering a storm. How much help can one political party get, and what does it say for democracy?
Interestingly, phone hacking is in the news again. It makes you wonder how little of the information newspapers receive is acquired legally. Maybe we should be slower to sympathise with the press the next time they unite to whinge about superinjunctions.
It is taking an Archbishop to oppose the Tories because nobody else is up to doing so. I wonder how many others will follow my lead and receive their news bulletins from the Archbishop of Canterbury in future.
David Cameron is accusing the Archbishop of expressing political views. There is no question that some of the Archbishop's comments about voter expectations are political, however it is right that a senior religious figure should be speaking up on behalf of those in society less able to participate and articulate their frustrations.
Dr. Williams is the closest thing Mr. Cameron has to an opposition at the moment. Ed Miliband is likeable, but at this week's Prime Minister's Questions, he yet again failed to land as much as a decent strike on the Prime Minister. This is despite a difficult week with justice and NHS reforms and some rather sloppy work by ministers.
And the large bulk of the print media are completely geared to keeping the Tories in power. How Labour are ever able to win elections with such a major chunk of the media constantly against them is a miracle in itself. It is interesting how after a couple of (what should have been) very uncomfortable days for the Prime Minister, the Daily Telegraph has typically intervened with a diversionary tale about the role of Ed Balls in a campaign to remove Tony Blair from Number 10 following the 2005 election.
Timing is everything when it comes to weathering a storm. How much help can one political party get, and what does it say for democracy?
Interestingly, phone hacking is in the news again. It makes you wonder how little of the information newspapers receive is acquired legally. Maybe we should be slower to sympathise with the press the next time they unite to whinge about superinjunctions.
It is taking an Archbishop to oppose the Tories because nobody else is up to doing so. I wonder how many others will follow my lead and receive their news bulletins from the Archbishop of Canterbury in future.
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