An article by Solomon Hughes in the Morning Star recently concentrated on the influence of the Blairite Progress group on
Labour`s policies, with mentions of Tristram Hunt featuring strongly. Speaking at their rally, Hunt declared himself
"delighted to be with Progress", and although his "jokes" may not have gone down
well, his policies for education certainly will have.
That means, of course, that under a Labour
government, teachers cannot expect very much in the way of improvement. Whilst
understanding, to some extent, that his appointment had much to do with meeting
the Gove challenge at the despatch box, it is evident that now he must be moved
on. He clearly was taken in by all of Gove`s nonsense about assessment changes
being necessary because results were so good; he still fails to acknowledge that
teaching now is better than ever, and teachers must be told to work less, not
criticised for poor discipline, or whatever. Ofsted, and heads who fear the
inspection regime, have managed to force sixty hours of work a week out of
teachers, a situation which inevitably will lead to recruitment problems, and
future standards. Has Hunt attacked this ludicrous state of affairs? Of course
not! His own idiotic suggestions for re-licensing and a teachers` oath are
testimony to the fact that Labour would do well to replace him before the
election with someone with knowledge and experience of the state sector, who can
empathise with the teaching profession. Labour cannot pretend the problems with
pay and pensions do not exist, or that the decrease in social mobility is not
part of the education remit. How long will the so-called "top" universities be
allowed to take the majority of their students from private
schools?
With Progress behind him, Hunt may think he has
bigger fish to fry; Labour needs someone in the post who realises nothing is
more important than the education of our children, and that equality of
opportunity is still a principle worth defending!
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