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Message
of support to London teachers’ strike from As parents, teachers and students who have come together to defend the right of children seeking asylum to go to mainstream school with other children, we fully support today’s teachers’ strike. Whilst plenty of money is being lavished on preparing for a war few of us want, the government claims that there is no money for children, teachers, fire brigade employees and other public service employees whose work is vital to society. As a placard at KentishTown fire station says, "£200 million loan to stop Strike, Blair says No. £4bn wasted on Apache helicopters." The government fought hard for segregated education to divide our children and communities. Parents, teachers and students are speaking out for compassionate, broad, non-discriminatory, multiracial education for all children. Our children have a right to a creative and caring education, not just job training for industry. Teachers (like fire brigade employees, nurses and ambulance workers) have a right to a living wage that reflects their contribution and commitment to the welfare of children and society as a whole. NSA is determined to stop the implementation of segregated education, including by calling on teachers not to co-operate with the accommodation/detention centres in which the government wants to imprison children and their carers. Opposition among teachers and head teachers has been ferocious and widespread. No School Apartheid - co-ordinated by mothers with the
support of
My school is enriched by diversity. It's not a problem, it's an
opportunity. As children, we get one chance at being a five-year-old, a
six-year-old, a seven-, an eight-, a nine-year-old. As an adult we get
many more opportunities. Children learn English quickly because they're in the playground
-this helps the parents too . . .If the government is talking about
spending millions [on education in detention], these millions must be
available to support our schools and these children in their
communities. These government proposals are not about resources. They are ready to
spend billions on bombing Iraq. We want that money in our communities.
"This is the most disgusting bit of vote catching I’ve come
across. I’m not swamped by refugee children I’m swamped by
government initiatives and bureaucracy. Segregating children will only
fuel racism and deprive English children of the chance to mix with
youngsters form different backgrounds" What is being proposed is not for children to be educated in
accommodation centres but for children no to be educated. They’re teaching us not to care about people and I don't think
that's right. Last night's NSA [briefing] was a telling experience. Those who
attended were people involved every day in practical work among those
who are in social difficulties and in positions of social deprivation .
. . Many of them give their lives almost literally. Their voices need to
be heard. . . What has the [Labour] movement of which I have been proud
to be a member been about? It has been about inclusiveness, compassion
and concern . . . about commitment to the well-being of children. The
[segregation] subsections are a disgrace. It gives rise to troubling echoes in other countries where children
were educated separately on the basis of race or colour, under the now
discredited pretence that the separate provision was equal . . . The
National Union of Teachers has said that it will cost up to £60 million
to set up special facilities, which are currently available in
mainstream schools. It says that the plan is ethically unacceptable and
an economic nonsense. When I consider the policy of my own government compared with East
European treatment of the Roma, I am ashamed. |