You Need Therapy, Not Publicity!

A Southport survivor has called for a ban on pointed kitchen knives and revealed she is still too traumatised to use one herself following the horrific attack last year. Leanne Lucas, 36, was critically injured after she tried to protect innocent children from a knifeman who went on a rampage during a dance class on July 19.

I have immense sympathy for those who were subjected to this appalling attack, but no. Just no. Fuck off, even!  Typical brainwashed teacher, unable to call for the eradication of the real cause, stabby imports from the Third World.. 

Because of her chilling experience, Ms Lucas has set up a campaign calling for the adoption of round-tipped knives. Rudakubana attacked the dance class last year with one of two 20-centimetre kitchen knives he had bought on Amazon for £3.40 each, bypassing security checks. After her horrific experiences, the teacher had assumed there would be tighter controls around kitchen knives and was shocked to find there weren't.

She said: 'Every time I learnt something new, I’d think, "That doesn’t sound right. Surely there are laws in place so that couldn’t have happened." The more my eyes have been opened, the more I’ve been able to formulate an idea.'

A stupid and unworkable one, but hey, an idea’s an idea, I suppose!

She also credited actor Idris Elba's knife crime documentary (Ed; Oh, FFS!) for giving her the courage to launch her campaign.

She has the ‘courage’ to make an idiot of herself in public, but not to cook with sharp pointed objects?

...the brave teacher is launching Let's Be Blunt in conjunction with Knife Crime Awareness Week, and is calling for the widespread adoption of rounded kitchen knives. Ms Lucas is calling for all homes, manufacturers, retailers and the government to adopt the change and move away from pointed knives. She has suggested taking an inventory of all the sharp instruments in the home and explained that many will likely find more sharp knives than they had expected.

I won’t be doing this, I’m perfectly aware of how many pointed knives I have in the kitchen and I won’t be giving any of them up, no matter how sympathetic I might be towards the ordeal she experienced. 

It 'Sends A Message' All Right...

...the message being 'there can be no consequences whatsoever for this behaviour' even when you're caught:

A teacher who was investigated by police for potentially grooming a young student by buying her clothes and giving her hundreds of pounds has avoided being banned from the profession. A misconduct hearing into Guy Hewett’s actions ruled that details of his actions being published online by the watchdog would be “sufficient” enough and “send a message about his behaviour”.

He's done this despite being warned, doesn't that make him more of a risk? 

It was also revealed Mr Hewett’s actions took place despite him receiving a written warning from the school not to contact any students by email, message or social media.

As a result, Mr Hewett was arrested by police, which led to a disciplinary hearing by the school a month later.

And the police investigation? 

A week later the police concluded its investigation with no further action taken...

*sighs* 

Mr Hewett’s health condition is mentioned in the report but redacted due to privacy reasons. It was suggested by the panel whatever this condition was, there was a “clear causal link” between his health and the behaviours demonstrated.

What sort of 'health condition' causes you to behave like this?  

They Can't Get The Three 'R's Right....

...so it's expecting a bit much for them to solve the Middle East conflict.

Schools in England are closing down legitimate debate about the Israel-Gaza conflict because teachers feel ill-equipped and are concerned about political impartiality, the government’s independent adviser on social cohesion has said.

I suppose teachers concerning themselves about political impartiality for once is a good thing, they've certainly never been too concerned before.  

Dame Sara Khan said that if schools continued to shut down debate they risked “fuelling further anger, hate and polarisation”. She said the conflict, which has prompted huge demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters across London and elsewhere, has had a marked impact on schools, where pupils want to talk about events in Gaza.

 I'm not sure there can be further 'anger hate and polarisation' from the usual suspects who stink up London's streets every weekend. .

She also said teachers felt there was too little guidance on teaching controversial issues in personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) lessons and were worried about a lack of support from the Department for Education (DfE) when difficulties arose.

When 'difficulties arise' meaning this sort of thing that sparked this whole review? Then they don't get support from ANY part of the government, so why single out the DfE? 

The war in Gaza has caused a number of incidents in schools. In one case, Barclay primary school in Leyton, east London, sought help from the Metropolitan police to investigate threats to the school and abuse of staff after its decision to ban political symbols, including the Palestinian flag.

Seeking help from the Met Police is a bit like calling an arsonist to find out why your premises burned down. It's their lack of ability to stamp down hard on this fifth column we've stupidly let into our country that has lead to this state of affairs. Other police forces don't put up with it.  

Another teacher in an inner-city school, who also wished to remain anonymous, said it was a “massive failing” on the part of schools. “From the word go, we were told this was a political issue and we can’t discuss it. If we’re not talking about it, it does not mean that the kids are not interested. They know what’s going on. They are going online where there’s no control over what they are seeing.”

The kids aren't interested. It's their parents who are pushing this, kids being kids the world over and they'd probably prefer to be worrying about what fashions are in or out and the fortunes of their preferred football team. 

The NEU has been criticised over a motion to be discussed at its annual conference which expresses support for the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and brands Israel’s government “racist” and “guilty of apartheid policies”.

So, despite the teachers complaining that they get no support, they - or rather, their union - is actively fanning the flames? 

The motion, to be debated by delegates at the gathering in Bournemouth next week, calls on the executive to “publish and circulate educational resources that members can use to increase understanding of Palestine and Israel”.It also says Israel’s government is the main driver of the conflict and calls on the UK government to stop “being an enabler of Israel’s apartheid policies”, while an amendment says all attempts to clamp down on the right to protest and discuss the issue must be opposed.

Fuck off. And when you get there, fuck off again. You're not worried about 'impartiality' at all, you just want the opportinity to cheerlead for the wrong side.  

Sauce For The Goose, Craig...

“It’s impossible for a teacher to know what’s in the minds of parents when she starts her lesson,” Goodmark said. “For parents to be able, with a political agenda, to come in from outside the classroom and have a teacher fired is completely unfair. It’s not right. It’s terrible for Georgia’s education system.”

Some might say it's similarly unfair that teachers have been doing this themselves, and parents have had no say in it up until now...

She had been a teacher for 10 years when she got into trouble in March at Due West elementary school for reading the picture book My Shadow Is Purple by Scott Stuart, after which some parents complained.

Elementary school. That means ages 5-10. Shouldn't they be reading about Pokemon or dinosaurs instead of transgender and identity fluid issues at that age?

Rinderle declined comment after the vote but released a statement through the Southern Poverty Law Center, which helped represent her. “The district is sending a harmful message that not all students are worthy of affirmation in being their unapologetic and authentic selves,” Rinderle said in the statement. “This decision, based on intentionally vague policies, will result in more teachers self-censoring in fear of not knowing where the invisible line will be drawn.”

Or maybe it will result in teachers sticking to teaching what pupils of ages 5 to 10 should be learning about? And not sending harmful messages about adult subjects in defiance of what the parents wish?

None of the board members discussed the decision, but the school district lawyer Sherry Culves said at the hearing that discussing gender identity and gender fluidity was inappropriate. “The Cobb county school district is very serious about the classroom being a neutral place for students to learn,” Culves said at the hearing. “One-sided instruction on political, religious or social beliefs does not belong in our classrooms.”

Who can really argue with that? 

Well, That's A Relief At Least...

Boakye no longer works in the classroom​...

But the damage is already done.

Racism in education should be treated as a safeguarding issue, with anti-racist policies in all schools in England and training for staff, according to a new book.

Jeffrey Boakye, a black English teacher, author and broadcaster, argues that schools are unsafe places for students marginalised by race, and warns that black children are attending institutions that might “actively contribute to their harm”.

He says issues of social justice, including racism, should be taken as a key performance indicator in schools.

Yes, it's yet another fifth-columnist now making a nice living from the grievance industry: 

Boakye, who now delivers training, talks and consultancy on issues around race, anti-racism and curriculum design to schools, as well as co-presenting BBC Radio 4’s Add to Playlist with Cerys Matthews, also addresses recent moves to decolonise the curriculum in England.

Truly, those who can, do, those who can't, teach...and those with an eye on a lucrative career telling everyone how racist Britain is get showered with public money to do so: 

“Decolonisation is not simply a case of better representation and increased diversity,” he writes.

“Those things are a start, absolutely, but to decolonise the curriculum is to recognise that it exists as part of a system that is rooted in racist soil. Only then can we begin to uproot, and plant something better.”

The question would appear to be, why haven't those majority-black countries already built 'something better'..?  

"What Does An Elected Politician Know?"

"I'm a teacher, and I know best!" 

Yes, it's the fightback against the Attorney General's perfectly reasonable words on the transgender cult:

This prompted criticism from Caroline Derbyshire, the executive head at Saffron Walden county high school, leader of the Saffron academy trust and chair of the Headteachers’ Roundtable – a non-party-political headteachers’ group operating as a thinktank.

She said: “No good can come of any young person being forced to adopt a gender they feel miserable with. It certainly won’t improve their learning.”

Can any good come of allowing, nay, encouraging a child to believe it can change its sex? 

Braverman also said girls’ toilets and changing rooms had legal protections as safe spaces if a scenario arose where a child born male wanted to use them.

Surely no-one can take issue with this? 

“The availability of single-cubicle gender-neutral toilets and changing spaces avoids anxieties for all those who are not happy with single-sex facilities,” said Derbyshire.

I guess they can! 

“The story is an attempt to whip up an anti-woke culture war, and in schools we are not really interested in this kind of silliness. Young people have been through enough.”

If that's true, it's because the education system put them through it. And now its reaping the 'benefits' of that action and inaction in just the same way as the GPs are... 

But I Thought They Had Time Pressures In Schools..?

Children as young as five are having innocent-sounding playground remarks logged as 'racist incidents' by primary school staff, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

For what possible purpose?

Many schools, including those in London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool and Brighton, record incidents on pupils' files which can be transferred when they move to secondary school.

Others use a national database of the incidents for other teachers to access and monitor files.

If only there was such a database for actual misbehaviour. Maybe then genuine threats could be tracked...

School leaders say they are encouraged to report all racist incidents to local authorities, though there is no legal requirement.

There's a saying about journalism:

"One cannot hope to bribe or twist, 

Thank god, the British journalist.

But seeing what the man will do unbribed,

There's no occasion to!" 

I guess we can add 'teachers' to that list!

Adrian Hart, a researcher who uncovered the incident reports at Brighton schools, said: 'The vast majority of the so-called 'racist' incidents we see schools recording are simply evidence of children behaving childishly.'

And these incidents of teachers gleefully recording non-incidents for their fellows is...what? It's not 'childishness', is it? It's something rather more sinister... 

The National Union of Teachers, the National Association of Headteachers, the Local Government Association and Leeds City Council were unable to comment.

I think the word you were grasping for there was 'unwilling'... 

Well, Why Not, There's Plenty Of Free Time In The Teaching Curriculum...

Children need to be taught how to treat illnesses themselves in an effort to ease GP workloads, NHS bosses say.

One includes the 'Dr Me' programme, which sees children given an hour lesson by medical students on self-care techniques and 'appropriate use of NHS services' for problems such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

And if that hour has to be taken away from teaching them to write properly, well, they can always be doctors when they grow up!

And Whose Fault Is This?

A headmaster has warned that teachers are becoming 'incredibly anxious' of being pounced on by pupils over micro-aggressions.

Nicholas Hewlett, head of St Dunstan's College private school in southeast London, said staff were worried by a 'righteous generation' of children who were looking for their teachers to 'trip up' on even 'small, persistent slights'.

Because I'm sure it's actually yours, and those of your fellow teachers who have instilled this in their pupils by pandering to their every whim instead of buckling down and teaching. Like you're paid to do.  

Mr Hewlett made headlines earlier this year when he announced he was 'happily gay and in a same-sex relationship' during a school assembly.

See? What possible reason would you have for this announcement? What business is it of the pupils how you conduct your private life? 

The school leader also recently appeared in a webinar he titled 'Woke Independent Schools - Why are we so afraid?' that looked out how debate over cultural issues had changed between the 1980s and today.

I guess now you know why. And whose fault it is.  

But He Is 'Upholding Trust In The Profession' - Unlike MMU...

A teacher trainee was hauled before a fitness to practise meeting after saying...

Wait, wait! *settles in with popcorn* 

...he 'would not hesitate' to use images of the Prophet Mohammed in a class - sparking a fierce backlash from freedom of speech advocates.

Good! It's about time someone started fighting back. Clearly, the Department of Education isn't up to it. 

The Batley, West Yorkshire teacher and his family are still under police protection, and the threat to their safety is judged as so severe that even their relatives do not know where they are now living, more than six weeks after fleeing their home.

That this can happen in 2021 in a functioning First World democracy is a stain on Britain's reputation. And that the establishment, in the form of the educational block, has decided to punish those who speak out against it is yet a further reminder of how debased it now is... 

The MMU student, who is set to complete his Postgraduate Certificate in Education course this summer, had written an email to his course leader on April 1 saying he worried about the 'cowardly response from the unions and other bodies connected to teaching', The Telegraph reports.

'I would like to know whether or not MMU is prepared to stand up for any student who finds themselves in a similar position,' he added, arguing that the protests which arose amid the row were a 'clear attempt to enforce a de facto blasphemy law on teachers and schools'.

Well, now you know! The answer's a resounding 'No'. 

The fitness meeting could result in a referral to a Fitness to Practise Panel following the MMU student's comments claiming he would be willing to show the picture of Mohammed in class, he was told.

The head of department told him it could be a breach of Teachers' Standards - which include upholding 'public trust in the profession'.

He's doing that. You're most definitely not! 

It's Already Difficult To Recruit Male Teaching Staff...

The National Education Union's (NEU) annual conference heard that a 'toxic laddish culture' pervades the country's secondary schools and sexism 'stalks the corridors and classrooms'.

Gosh! Really? Just in class? When the bell rings, chivalry reigns once more?

Earlier, Ofsted's chief inspector Amanda Spielman suggested that sexual abuse among pupils could be 'happening outside of school' rather than being caused by a culture problem within institutions.

Didn't think so. For anyone else, this is a problem for parents to solve. But oh no!  

At the National Education Union's (NEU) annual conference, Amy Kilpatrick, from Newcastle, said it is 'absolutely the case' that the 'overwhelming levels of sexism and sexual harassment' in schools need to be addressed. She added: 'In order to achieve the drastic changes we want to see, then we must educate our boys, our male teachers and support staff.'

Struggle sessions for all, comrades! 

Delegates voted for male teachers and boys to learn about sexism and its roots - and to develop methods to challenge their peers - in order to 'proactively support women and girls'.

Richard Rieser, from Hackney in east London, called on men to 'own up and take responsibility' for sexism.

He told the conference: 'It isn't something where you can sit on the sidelines. You are either anti-sexist, anti-misogynist and do it as part of your professional work. Or, if you are silent, you are acquiescing to the dominant sexism that stalks the corridors and classrooms of our schools throughout this country.'

"You're either with us, or against us!" would have been a shorter slogan... 

What More Do You Need...?

...to realise they don't work for you, but for themselves?

Most independent schools and top-performing state schools have rolled out full days of live lessons via Zoom and other video platforms since the new national lockdown came into force. But large numbers of secondaries and primaries, particularly in poorer areas, are relying on pre-recorded lessons, YouTube videos and online worksheets for their pupils.

In a poll of 800 parents last week, almost a third said their children were not receiving any live lessons, suggesting that as many as three million pupils may not be having interactive video contact with their teachers during the lockdown.

So much for the teaching unions being concerned for the welfare of children... 

...militant teaching unions – which strongly urged teachers not to live-stream lessons last summer – said teachers must be able to choose whether to live-stream lessons or not and that it should only be used ‘when essential’.

And who gets to decide that? They do! 

The National Education Union appeared to suggest that only pushy parents want live lessons, adding that the call for live teaching is ‘often related to minority, but insistent, parental pressure’.

I thought it would be a goal of teaching that parents should be interested in their children's education? Silly me! 

And just to run salt in the wound, you won't believe the excuses they come up with... 

Guidance from the NASUWT teaching union even raises privacy concerns about pupils recording teachers’ live lessons on their phones and uploading them to pornography websites. The union ‘strongly advises members to not participate in live video lessons to pupils’ homes unless they are sure that measures are in place to prevent such inappropriate practices’.

You couldn't make it up, could you? 

Teachers Isn't Learning, Innit?

Jackie, a black British teacher at a school in south-east London which is due to reopen next month, said she felt like she was in limbo due to the lack of government advice on the specific risks the virus posed to BAME pupils and staff.

“They have not addressed it properly,” she added. “We’re not being told what the risk is. Am I more vulnerable because of my age and ethnicity? I would like to have the evidence.”

The very newspaper you're whining to about this says 'Yes'. What more do you need?

Then You Failed As A Parent When He Was Younger...

"I'm worried about a lack of motivation - he's not getting up until one o'clock."

Many parents across the UK will empathise with mother-of three Louise, who is worried her teenage son is becoming disengaged from his studies, as schools remain closed due to Covid-19.

"It's hard enough motivating a lazy 17-year-old boy who doesn't really care much about school in normal times," says Louise.

Yes, being a parent is tough, I'm told.

I'm also told that if you indulge them in their every whim until the age of five, you can damn well forget getting them to become decent human beings past that age. Looks like you just learned that.

"They need the interaction with the teacher, a bit more more than, 'Here's a worksheet'.

"I'm worried my son's not going to bother doing any work now before his A-levels next year and frankly, he's having a nice time, he's exercising lots, playing video games, so why would he start working again?"

Why indeed, since you clearly intend feeding and clothing him regardless..?

"It's very difficult for parents to get their children to knuckle down sometimes," says Rebecca Poole, head teacher of Hampton High in south-west London.

"But it's important not to panic. I would say that if it's creating unbearable conflict at home, don't force it.

"As teachers, we will do our best to repair the damage to learning, the important thing is children's wellbeing and safety.

"Families should hear that, they shouldn't tie themselves in knots - we're in this for a long schlep."

Yes, we should let teachers repair the damage. What could go wrong?

I Wonder If They Teach Economics..?

Bobbi Ehsan of Loxham Road, Chingford, was caught by Barking and Dagenham Council enforcement officers during a routine visit to Dagenham Sunday Market on June 17, 2018.

Doing what? Why, selling knock-off designer gear:

In total, officers seized 381 fake replica football kits and Calvin Klein briefs.

Whoops!

Ehsan - a staff governor and senior teacher at New City College in Poplar High Street - was ordered to pay £14,490 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2020, £4,339 to Barking and Dagenham Council and a victim surcharge of £20 at Snaresbrook Crown Court on February 26.

She must be on a pretty good salary there. Why would she need the extra income?

In Loco Parentis..?

A secondary school pupil has been told to stay at home “for his own safety” after being beaten up twice since December.

The boy’s mum claims her 16-year-old son, who attends Cecil Jones Academy (Ed: yeah, this place...), has been kept in isolation at school, and has now been told to stay at home by senior leaders.

The advice comes after he was beaten up by a 13-strong gang twice in two months.

Twice..?

That includes one attack outside the school, in Eastern Avenue, Southend, in early December, in which the gang waited for her son outside the nearby McDonald’s and chased him to Garon Park. His mum claims they then attacked him and threatened him with a knife.

The second, on Wednesday last week, saw him attacked on the school grounds.

And the best the school - sorry, 'academy' - can do is suggest he doesn't come in?

The 46-year-old said: “My son has been put in isolation and told to stay at home, while the bullies are still allowed to go to lessons. They’ve been allowed to walk free.

“I don’t know where to turn. He’s got his GCSEs coming up this year. His mental health is really suffering.

“I’m now forking out hundreds of pounds for private tuition for him.

“There was an incident while we were sat inside the headteacher’s office last week. The gang called my son and threatened him with a knife. The phone was on speaker, they heard it all [but] they are treating him like a criminal.”

Hmmmm. This is criminal. What are the police doing?

The Loxford School Trust, which runs Cecil Jones Academy, stated that it could not comment on an ongoing police investigation, but it reassured parents that the safety of pupils is of “paramount concern”.

Essex Police confirmed an investigation has been launched following reports a teenage boy was assaulted by a group of people in Southend. Anyone with information on the incidents should call Essex Police on 101.

Ah. Like I suspected. Sod all.

"Respect Ma Authoriteh!"

Police are investigating claims school pupils...

Stole from local shops? Dealt drugs in the playground? Planned a school massacre?

...set up a malicious social media account to harass their teachers.

*blinks*

“Some posts suggested inappropriate behaviour from teachers, while others were poking fun at the authoritative nature of others.

“The school has taken the view that this is a personal attack on the school and its staff.

“The school has contacted safeguarding authorities and union representatives to determine a course of action.

“The school was advised to contact the police and pursue the creators for hate crimes.

“These so-called memes, for a lot of young people, are like the equivalent to newspaper comic strips which are notorious for spitting in the face of authority.”

Hey, maybe the kids are alright after all! Such unbelievable pomposity needs pricking!

Anyone with information should call police on 101.

King Edmund School declined the chance to comment.

Heh! I'll just bet they did...

Hey, Teachers, You Do Realise You Can Have More Than One Email Address...?

Constant emails from “aggressive” parents are becoming “unbearable” for some teachers, a survey suggests.

The poll indicates seven in ten teachers have had their email addresses passed on to parents, leading to the unreasonable expectation they are available at all hours.

Of these, 90 per cent said this had been done without their permission.

So, just don't answer them? But no, it seems they are too scared to do that.

One teacher said: “The expectation in the school is that a reply to all emails will take place within a reasonable timeframe, if it is from a parent, and if there isn’t a reply then a senior leader gets involved and there is a reprimand that teachers should reply to parents ASAP.”

The answer to this is simple. If you've been daft enough to give them your real email address, and not a dummy one you've set up for the purpose, then start billing them for the time you've taken when off duty to answer it.

They'll soon stop!

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: “Teachers are not just facing the intrusion of those who manage them into their private lives but there is now an unreasonable expectation that they are available at the convenience of parents.”

Giving teachers a school email address would make it clear they aren't.

The State Loves An 'Action Plan'....

As part of a programme to combat the scourge of county line drug dealing an action plan has been put in place.

Ooh, an 'action plan'! Does it involve heavy penalties for offenders?

County line dealing involves gangs, often armed, coming into town to deal class A drugs and recruit young people to take part.

The initiative has been launched by Southend Council and is one of a number of measures being put in place to help protect the borough’s children.

The children at risk from drug dealing classmates, right?

The council has put in place a violence and vulnerability action plan which has seen dozens of workshops rolled out to schools and other agencies.

Workshops! Who doesn't love a workshop?

Since September, the council has been offering every school in the borough structured lessons and training to staff to ensure they are equipped to identify and tackle issues arising from county lines exploitation.

Well, I'm sure they'll have time for this, when they aren't doing all the other jobs parents should be doing.

Ah, Yes, Was Ever A Union So Well Named?

A zero-tolerance approach to discipline in schools amounts to “child abuse”, teachers have claimed.

Wait, wait, let me guess - 'minorities worst hit'?

Extremely strict behaviour policies unfairly punish working class children who may not be as focused in class or as well-behaved because of difficult circumstances at home, teachers have suggested.

Ahhhh yes, The age old 'Officer Krupke' theory. They are depraved on account of they're deprived!

The remarks came as the NUT section of the National Education Union (NEU) raised their concerns about the state of children’s mental health at their annual conference in Brighton.

You know, it really was nice of them to choose an acronym that's so descriptive...

There was unanimous support from conference delegates to opposing "the move towards ever more punitive behaviour policies in schools" which it said was "feeding a mental health crisis for our children".

What about the mental health crisis that's being fed by loony bleeding heart experiments? It's doin' my NUT in...