-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Blogroll
Archives
Categories
Meta
Category Archives: Education
In defence of public-sector workers
In the course of its programme of austerity measures, the current government has been mounting what I can only describe as a sustained, ideologically-motivated attack on public-sector workers. This is a serious mistake, and one which, I fear, may have … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Politics
View Comments
Medicinal cannabis and the “War on Drugs”
My readers should watch this short interview with Dr Chris Fichtner, a leading psychiatrist, former state mental health director of Illinois, and outspoken advocate of safe, legal access to medical marijuana. In the interview, Fichtner talks about the growing body … Continue reading
Posted in Education
View Comments
My scepticism about “performance-based pay”
Education Secretary Michael Gove is, apparently, keen on the idea of introducing “performance-based pay” in schools, whereby “high-performing” teachers receive financial bonuses to supplement their basic salaries. The basis for this proposal is the assumption that people respond to incentives: … Continue reading
Posted in Education
View Comments
The Education Bill and creeping authoritarianism in schools
I have learned today that the coalition government’s proposed Education Bill, published last week, will give teachers unprecedented powers to search children in schools, including children of the opposite sex, and to confiscate their personal possessions. The Coalition’s Education Bill, … Continue reading
Posted in Civil liberties, Education
View Comments
Support STAR’s Equal Access Pledge
In light of the forthcoming restructuring of university funding, Student Action for Refugees, a group I support, is campaigning for refugees and asylum-seekers to be granted equal access to higher education in Britain. At present, although asylum-seekers resident in Britain … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Social justice
View Comments
Cambridge dons protest university funding cuts
Academics at the University of Cambridge plan to hold a silent protest today against the government’s drastic cutbacks in funding for university teaching and research. Their efforts should be applauded. As I’ve observed before, the programme of higher education cuts … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Politics
View Comments
Universities’ teaching grant slashed
David Willetts has announced that universities in England will face a 6 percent cut to their teaching budget for the 2011-2012 academic year. The teaching capital budget is being slashed by 54 percent, while public funding of research is also … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Politics
View Comments
Crunch-time for higher education funding
Today, the House of Commons will vote on the coalition government’s proposals for higher education funding reform, including the controversial measure to raise the cap on undergraduate tuition fees from £3,070 to £9,000 per year. Liberal Democrat MPs face a … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Politics
View Comments
In which the Guardian’s statistics are challenged
By way of follow-up to yesterday’s post: in the Telegraph, Andrew Brown says David Lammy is wrong about Cambridge ‘s lack of black faculty members. And, further down, the Guardian reports: “The FoI data also shows that of more than … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Politics, Social justice
View Comments
On race, class and Oxbridge admissions
The Guardian reports today that, following a Freedom of Information request by a Labour MP, it transpires that more than 20 colleges at Oxford and Cambridge made no offers to black students for undergraduate courses last year. And it is, … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Politics, Social justice
View Comments