I would like to express my disgust at the remarks made by Peter Smith, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, when he dismissed the recommendations of the Macpherson report into the Stephen Lawrence murder by saying that it is “too easy to be politically correct” (TES, February 26). To be so arrogant about a report which highlighted the sickening level of racism in society is both callous and insulting.
As a teacher I am very conscious of the need to educate children and unlike Mr Smith I believe that social concerns do come first - in fact, concern with society’s problems was the very reason I became a teacher.
In a week when even the tabloid press lent its support to the Macpherson report, I find it baffling that it is a union leader who is the one undermining the recommendations made in the report.
I am a member of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, but Peter Smith certainly does not reflect my opinion.
Mrs K Rainey Malmesbury Road Small Heath, Birmingham
