In this simultaneously reflective and forward looking 1 year anniversary episode of Requires Improvement, we consider the current state of the education sector given the tumultuous events of the last six months both in UK politics and society at large. We start with a focus on the Labour Party and the sacking of shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, and then we consider what deep organizing and the thinking of Jane McAlevey can offer Trade Unionists in this moment. We also enter into a discussion about a surge of interest in anti-racist teaching in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests and what decolonising the curriculum means, and we conclude by discussing what we see as the dangers lurking ahead for a proposed September re-opening of schools. This episode is hosted by Anu, along with co-hosts Nik, Charlie, Tom and Lee.
Links to discussed content:
UTLA statement: https://www.utla.net/sites/default/files/samestormdiffboats_final.pdf
McAlevey on organic leaders and deep organising : https://youtu.be/bl6P_2jt_Vs
Eric Blanc article on current situation in US: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/07/coronavirus-school-reopening-teachers-strikes
Christian Cooper incident:
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/amy-cooper-knew-exactly-what-she-was-doing_n_5ecd1d89c5b6c1f281e0fbc5?ri18n=true
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/amy-cooper-central-park-racist-dog-walker-trump-a9533581.html?fbclid=IwAR019PYXPXgEZ0qLWTZWvgMygofGngdrbyCk_nP9OTtaLvJ9-s-gvDmUiNU
David Olusogah - Black and British: A Forgotten History
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b082x0h6/black-and-british-a-forgotten-history
Akala - Oxford University Address & Q&A on Black History
https://youtu.be/WUtAxUQjwB4
Clips:
"Only had a few ales...get in the back of the van" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ7SzAm92e4
"Meat and you: Partners in Freedom"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR_4h5A5z_A
