I wonder if those responsible for the recent propaganda emanating from the National Union of Teachers share the same planet as the rest of us, because the “Betrayal” material issued last week plumbed the depths.
First of all, cards on the table: I work in education, am not a member of a teaching union and believe the interests of all those who work in education is best served when representative bodies work together and in concert. I was saddened when the NUT disenfranchised its membership from talks on reshaping the school workforce but recognise that a democratic organisation has to have the freedom to choose its own path.
That freedom always comes at a price - in this case it was the largest teaching union absenting itself from the discussions on key issues for
teachers and support staff. Whatever the NUTs reasons, it is now behaving
like a spoilt brat which, if it was a student, would be excluded from
school.
As far as I can see, the other 3 teachers unions, both headteaching
unions, 3 unions representing support staff, Local Government of all
political persuasions, central Government and the Welsh Assembly are all
sat round the table thrashing out the future of education while the NUT
stands with its nose pressed against the window, occasionally shouting
abuse.
Directly attacking organisations it claims to want to establish
`professional unity’ with is either stupidity or hypocrisy but for the
sake of the entire teaching profession I hope that the NUT reconsiders the
negative wrecking propaganda before it causes irreparable harm. The
working conditions of union members improves via the difficult but
unavoidable path of effective representation, negotiation and measured
argument - it seems to me the only people benefiting from the current
stance of a big teaching union are those who wish to see partnership and
constructive dialogue between employers and education workers fail.
Salvatore Smith
420 Norbury House
Droitwich
Worcs.
--------------
May I appeal to your readers for help with my research? I am studying for a BA at Suffolk College.Part of my study involves a research project.The theme I have chosen for my research is the ways in which organised play activities at lunchtimes for years 3 and 4 children impacts upon their learning in the afternoon.
I would like to hear from any school who has developed any scheme of clubs or activities that are run at lunchtimes,whether or not these were designed to have an impact on classroom behaviour.
Many thanks.
Ken Douglas
co Woodhall C. P. School,
Mayflower Way,
Sudbury,
Suffolk,
CO10 1ST
-----------------
May I appeal to your readers for help with my research? I am studying for a BA at Suffolk College.Part of my study involves a research project.The theme I have chosen for my research is the ways in which organised play activities at lunchtimes for years 3 and 4 children impacts upon their learning in the afternoon.
I would like to hear from any school who has developed any scheme of clubs or activities that are run at lunchtimes,whether or not these were designed to have an impact on classroom behaviour.
Ken Douglas
co Woodhall C. P. School,
Mayflower Way,
Sudbury,
Suffolk,
CO10 1ST
------------------nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;
