AN OPEN CONFERENCE of Left-Wing Teachers in London on 20 November could hardly be more timely in view of the Government's cuts in education and the recent offensive of the ruling class on 'educational standards'.
On the one hand there is schools, teachers and materials. On the other hand the ruling class is mounting a major campaign on what is being taught and how. The general war cry is 'Back to the Three Rs'. In all this the Labour Government is playing its full part. It wades in to Implement the cuts, while carlacnan 'great debate' on the schools, on behalf of the CBI & Co. Ltd.
The post-war honeymoon between the progressive tionalists and the bulk of the capitalist class is at an end. On 20 *Breaking the Power of Teachers', and went on to 'deciding what is taught in schools is a political act'. But while the writers in the financial press recognise this, there are others who do not. From the trade union and Labour bureaucracy there come only confused bleatings. They either pretend that there is no ideological crisis, and like the National Union of Teachers meekly ask to be allowed to 'get on with it", or they grovel before *he Chi's demand for more sultaole todder tor me tactones When it comes to the educational cut-backs, these same slashing of budgets for nimsel Haunches Wit Financial Times carried an article headlined say that worthles content themselves with fiery words and little or nc action. They keep proclaiming that the cuts are unacceptable -but they do little to organise resistance. That is why, more than ever, there is a burning need to force the authorities to take on the 20,000 unemployed teachers; to inject a massive sum of money for new schools and equipment. More than ever there is a need to fight over what and how school students are taught; insisting on the right to bring up in schools such issues as unemployment, the struggles in Africa and Ireland, the right of women to work, and the question of homosexuality.
Both the "ideological" prime importance, and both issues will be discussed at the Open Conference. If the conference can agree that the only way begin organise the dissatisified teachers is by seeking maximum unity in action irrespective of disagreements on other conference accepts that ongoing political debate and discuss ion has to be a central ingredient of such unity in action, then progress will have been made.
For further information about the Conference, to be held at Sir William Collins School, London NW1, contact Dave Picton, 221 Westcombe Hill, SE3 (01-858 4942).
J. FERRY. and the 'economic' issues are now of growing and it the series of reverses by votes to 126,972.
wingers by the broad Lent the abusive and tyrannical attitudes The workers are clear that they on black and women workers as the weakest and section of the Grunwick marked by widespread and effective sion to hold the AGAS changes nothing fundamentally, and dismisses the management claim that they could sort out the whole dispute within a week The strike will probably go on for another few weeks. Until we have won our demands there is no question of going back to work.