Labour has published its national policy forum response on education. There's a great deal to be welcomed, but for some areas, most notably post-16 and Further Education, proposals are largely absent and where they are addressed, are scant and uniformed. See the following quote on vocational and technical education for example: ‘ The Open University … Continue reading Labour, vocational education and skills
Author: Martin Allen
Knowledge and control
In a flashback to the 1970s and early 80s, last Tuesday's Guardian Education profiled sociologist Michael Young, then a curriculum radical, author of books and articles on the relationship between knowledge, power and control and influential in teacher education https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/oct/09/counterculture-class-warrior-turned-to-gove Young and colleagues argued that the school curriculum reflected the culture and interests of the … Continue reading Knowledge and control
There is a ‘magic money tree’
Seems a bit silly. Or is it? Modern Monetary Theory reminds us that governments of countries that have their own currencies and floating exchange rates (like in the UK), by implication, can never 'run out of money' or have to be dependent on taxation revenue and private borrowing to finance their activities. In other … Continue reading There is a ‘magic money tree’
A definite read
Published ten years after the financial crisis and comprising articles by contributors to Labour’s New Economics conferences, Economics for the Many provides a set of alternatives to Tory austerity. It addresses issues from public ownership, to rising consumer debt, control of the banks, tax avoidance and the need for a Green New Deal. A book … Continue reading A definite read
Putting workers on the boards
John McDonnell’s Labour Conference commitment to put workers on company boards was met with predictable hostility from employer representatives. Yet Germany, the Scandinavian countries along with several other European states, have long standing policies for employee participation, even if it might not be as extensive (McDonnell proposes 30% representation). Likewise, allocating a proportion of company … Continue reading Putting workers on the boards
Post-Brexit immigration and skills policy
In the context of this week’s report from the Migration Advisory Committee (set up to advise on immigration policy post-Brexit), it’s worth outlining the nature of European migration to the UK and the implications of the MAC proposals. By the end of 2016 there were 2.2 million working EU migrants -7% of the labour force. … Continue reading Post-Brexit immigration and skills policy
Towards a new Labour State
John McDonnell’s recent address to the TUC demonstrates Labour’s commitment to challenging neo-liberal ideas about the labour market. https://www.tuc.org.uk/speeches/shadow-chancellor-john-mcdonnells-speech-tuc-congress-2018 For the last three decades both conservative and social democratic governments across the globe have deregulated labour markets, arguing that increasing the ‘flexibility’ of workers will make them more productive, increase economic growth and bring greater … Continue reading Towards a new Labour State
Higher Education: a degree of difference
With few alternatives available after A-levels, young people will head off to university in huge numbers this month. From 2015, government lifted the cap on the number of students each institution can admit, with the knock-on effect being that many Russell universities are now accepting students previously aiming for ‘middle’ institutions – if necessary, by … Continue reading Higher Education: a degree of difference
Exam stress – the ‘value’ of GCSE
Another set of public examination results. This time round, after years of bleating about falling standards, media attention has focussed on the stress caused to young people - this year’s cohort being the first to endure the new subject requirements. Many on the Left correctly argue that education has become ‘commodified’. But anyone trying to … Continue reading Exam stress – the ‘value’ of GCSE
How should Labour finance education and public services?
While opposition to Tory cuts continues, Labour has huge support for its commitment to restoring school budgets. At the same time however, the Party leadership also promises to ‘balance the books’ and maintain ‘fiscal credibility’. By this it means that over the course of a five-year Parliament, current (day to day) expenditure will be largely … Continue reading How should Labour finance education and public services?
