Reluctant as I am to disagree with the inspirational Fred Jarvis, who was one of the leaders of the National Campaign for Education in the 1960s, I feel he is wrong to imply that the wider NUT membership is not interested in international issues (“Left with no purpose: unionists, get involved”, TES, 27 April). The union has always been outward-looking.

I am sure he would agree that in the face of ideological attacks from a government bent on privatising education, we need a new national campaign (anewnationalcampaignforeducation.wordpress.com) to debate whether we want a fragmented, privatised, selective system or a comprehensive, collaborative one.

Michael Davern, London.