Teenage Israeli soldiers deceived by Netanyahu's lies

Teenage Israeli soldiers on the news today, sitting in tanks, firing shells into civilian areas where they know they are mostly killing women and children. And they are laughing about it. Netanyahu responds to any criticisms of his lunacy by calling it "anti-semitism".

Everyday Fiction

Today I think Everyday Fiction is the best thing since sliced bread. Can anyone guess from this that they have just accepted a story from me. Look out family and friends I will be insisting you read it.

https://www.facebook.com/everydayfiction

Something wicked this way comes

I will not have it said that the upper classes are eccentric. Some of
them are completely barking.

According to the i newspaper, David Tredinnich, the Conservative MP for
Bosworth has recommended Astrology as an option for NHS patients. Given
that the queues for treatment stretch from here to eternity, enlisting
the aid of Hogwarts may be the only answer.

The worst aspect of this is that Tredinnick is a member of Parliament's
health and science committee. I will repeat that, the health and
*science* committee. If astrology is what passes for science in
Parliament it does explain a lot. A number of the government's policies
do seem to be under the influence of a conjunction with Uranus

I would like to say that this is the final insult to patients who are
suffering from the government's disgraceful cuts in health and welfare.
Believe me they have bigger and better insults to follow and you don't
need a crystal ball to tell that.

A party of the working class would be having a field day opposing these
charlatans and their lucky stars. Just another reason why we need one.

--
http://derekmcmillan.com

Oxfam 1 Politicians 0

Look at this. Oxfam are engaged in social research and campaigning. And the politicians? Fiddling their expenses.

Tristram Hunt on Newsnight

The honourable Tristram Hunt was humiliated on Newsnight by an irritating interviewer who kept reminding him how many of Gove's policies he agreed with. The only crumb of comfort for teachers was that he opposed the government's drive to get rid of qualified teachers in favour of cheaper less-qualified staff.

Just a thought but will the homophobic corporate lawyer Nicky Morgan insist on lessons on tax-dodging being included in the curriculum?

The Daily Mirror has a list of "9 things you should know about Nicky Morgan" which includes this chilling remark:
While she may have been brought in to rescue relations with teachers - whom Gove helpfully referred to as "the blob" - the change in tone shouldn't suggest a change in direction. She's publicly supported Gove's reforms in the past and is thought to be a "safe pair of hands" to carry them through.

These reforms include ditching qualified teachers and robbing schools of money to support the private free schools experiment.

Classroom Teacher Manual is based on 16 years running a helpline for stressed teachers. You can try before you buy on Kindle.
Click here

Gove Riddance

Teachers mourn the passing of Michael Gove!

Never has the departure of a Secretary of State for Education been greeted with such jubilation. For the moment teachers just rejoice at the news that the arrogant little Gove has gone.

And then reflect (perhaps tomorrow) that Chief Whip could be seen as a promotion in the sadomasochistic parlance of Westminster and we could still face the prospect of a Gove as Prime Minister some day in the future. And will Nicky Morgan pursue the failed policy of Free Schools, confrontation with the teachers over pay and pensions and the deprofessionalisation of teaching by the employment of unqualifed staff to teach our children?

The homophobic corporate lawyer Nicky Morgan, is regarded as a "safe pair of hands" by the Tories.

La lutte continue

Classroom Teacher Manual is based on 16 years running a helpline for stressed teachers. You can try before you buy on Kindle.
Click here

Pictures from the strike

We ain't afraid of no Gove!

http://derekmcmillan.com/pb/wp_f11788e4/wp_f11788e4.html

Picket line in Durrington

Just walking the dog this morning and look who I bumped into. Any more strike photos welcome.

Unison members standing up for public service against a political elite hell-bent on privatising everything. You can stick that in your pipe and smoke it, Cameron. You see we really are "all in it together" but not perhaps in the way you intended :)

A picket in Gateshead was on the radio this morning.
"You don't have a mandate for this strike." said the BBC
"Well the Conservatives don't have a mandate to govern either."
That shut them up.

Gove thinks the public are stupid. He rants and raves about the disruption caused by one day without a qualified teacher in the classroom. When we explain to parents that Gove plans to do away with qualified teachers altogether they realise that would be much more disruptive. The Gove believes (contrary to everybody else of course) that any Tom, Dick or Harriet can teach,

And there is no point quoting evidence to him because he sticks his fingers in his ears (as he did on Question Time) and goes "yadda yadda yadda!"

And we thought Keith Joseph was barking!

Telegraph poll on strike

The Daily Telegraph is a disgusting Tory rag. They are polling people to demonstrate that the decent honest British public are opposed to the Teachers and support the Gove and all his works.

The poll is here

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationquestions/10954603/NUT-walkout-why-are-teachers-striking.html#pd_a_8172883

Interestingly, those supporting the strike are way ahead. As I write this, local Conservative Associations will have instructions to reverse that trend.

--   http://derekmcmillan.com

Strike on Thursday

If, like me, you cannot strike on Thursday, you can still do something.

Join West Sussex Teachers' Association on Facebook

Click here

Donate to the strike fund
People will lose a day's pay by going on strike. It is estimated that you would have to be on strike for three years to lose the sort of money the government proposes to rob from your pension in terms of increased contributions, higher retirement age and reduced pension payments.

If people are suffering hardship due to special circumstances, the union proposes to set up a hardship fund.

To give money to the fund contact the treasurer as soon as possible.
To claim money from the fund contact the treasurer.

The treasurer's address is
17 The Crescent
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 1NA


Cheques should be made payable to "West Sussex Teachers' Association Hardship Fund"

Send strike photos to derekmcmillan1951@gmail.com 

Education inequality

 Research by the Social Market foundation has found that a pupil from a private school will have earned on average up to £200,000 by middle age.

However, the social market foundation does not suggest abolishing or even taxing these bastions of privilege.

On the contrary, they want an assisted places scheme where state money is handed over to private institutions to encourage them to take in a few token plebs.

Christine Blower drily commented in the"i" newpaper, "Social mobility will not be addressed by sending a few students from poorer backgrounds to independent schools."

Classroom Teacher Manual is based on 16 years running a helpline for stressed teachers. You can try before you buy on Kindle.
Click here

Govebusters

Join us on Saturday.5th July 10.30 to 12.30 at the intersection of Montague Street and Montague Place in Worthing.


Stand up for education is the NUT campaign to involve parents and the general public in opposing Gove's policies. In most cases it is simply a matter of telling them what Gove's policies are!


Come along for five minutes to say hello and take a leaflet. Come along for a bit longer to help with the leaflets. We will be glad to see you :)

Trust No1

The Independent newspaper's poll shows that trust in Labour to defend the NHS is on a par with trust in the Tories. Meanwhile nobody trusts the LibDems with anything which is as it should be.

Surely the fact that the privatisation drive began under Labour, the public-private partnerships which siphoned public money into private pockets were Blair's brainchild. That should give people a clue.

If we are to fight for the NHS there is no point whatsoever in "trusting" any of the politicians. They have access to private hospitals and doctors. They could not care less if you are waiting six months for an operation - you ought to be rich, then you could get to the head of the queue.

TUSC has two policies which are relevant here. One is to oppose all cuts - nasty Tory cuts, nice Labour cuts, sneaky Lib Dem cuts.

Labour council after Labour council has voted through the Tory cuts often with crocodile tears in their eyes. Trust them?

The other is that TUSC representatives will only get the average wage of a skilled worker. They will not enjoy a pampered lifestyle which cuts them off from the rest of society.

Reviews written for The Socialist - recently updated - try before you buy