challenge this winter. 1ле cutbacks the Tories have made in public school meals, teaching materials abs, spending threaten nursery education.
Many classroom teachers also feel angry about the sell out over the last pay claim where the heads, men, received a packet and the lowest paid, often women, got a pittance.
asked Wanda Maciuszko, teacher in Waltham Forest, to see how two journals, Socialist Teacher and Rank and File Teacher, shaped up to this challenge.
journals in teaching that both cover similar ground is I think a sad reflection of the lack of unity that exists among the left in teaching and this needs to be tackled urgently.
Rank and File Teacher provides many useful facts . and guidelines about the cuts and the current salary situation. Its policy of campaigning for ElS a week rise for all teachers seems much fairer than the executive's position which seeks to increase differentials.
Spenders Ihe centre spread on fory cuts puts paid to the myth of Britain being one of the biggest welfare spenders in the EEC or that the spending cuts will save money.
In conclusion it states So cuts in the education services are short-sightand reactionary. As such they should be opposed by all trade unionists. It is in their interests and in ine terests or ne country .
Socialist Challenge 1 November 1979 NUT Socialist Teacher answer some more basic questions about the cuts. that 'thou Tories now re-shaping hot just a scaling down of education'. Not only do we need to fight the cuts but we also need to look at the philosophy behind them.
Socialist Teacher is available Archie Langley Rd, Harrow, Middx.
Rank and File can be obtained London N4.
In attacking education, re-introducing direct grant schools, and discouraging progressive developments in education, the Tories are attacking the principle of equal opportunity that was the hallmark of the sixties.
to explain the kind of education we want, not just defend what exists. As Tony Graham states: attempts over the last five years the organised left has had to face up to the fact that The editorial argues a line on education (euphemism for a intend strategic analysis) is not an optional luxury.
discussion on tactics. Is the unofficial action that Rank Faulds, 265a Seven Sisters Rd, comprehensive Socialist teachers need to be able 'Increasingly I think there neecs to be more The and • Fle puts Education well forward always feasible? It's vital to oppose the right wing domination of the union by challenging them elections but that requires a minimal was unity between Rank and File and the Socialist Teachers Alliance.
Midlands conference on Attack pont unity. Hopefully we'll be able to build on that in London this month.
The issue of racism is tackled by both journals. Rank and File Teacher takes up the case of a Birmingham who being victimised because she was convicted of an on an anti-racist picket. Socialist Teacher publishes a profile of Anita Bhalla, which is a powerful indictment of the racist education system we as teachers perpetuate.
Less blatant racism is also a cause for concern. Why is so much money being spent on disruptive units to control the large numbers of black kids that inhabit them? Why are so many black children being suspended from school in areas like Haringey just before exams?
Dinners In campaigning to defend school dinners, socialist teachers need to OilE effects on working mothers. Women and outsideteaching need to be on the attack as as defending existing rights. Rank and File provides an excellent example of how to do this in the article on maternity rights. It's vital that the issnes of racism and sexism become a central part of anti-cuts campaigns.
There are many other informative and thought provoking articles in both journals. For me the most optimistic Power sharing in a Spanish School, which gives an account of a school where a lot of the ideas of socialist teachers have actually g been put into practice.