Our age of insecurity
Few things sadden former teachers more than the present state of our schools. In an age of Line Manager, box-ticking and pointless, crushing paperwork, there is little or no trust between Managers and Managed.
Statistics reign supreme, meaning statistics of spot-check attainment. Perhaps it would be instructive if Ofsted were to look at teacher retention, and rates of teacher breakdown and psychiatric illness.
Any organisation that wants to flourish needs to nurture its work force, not to crush it. Many people who do the real job of teaching feel humiliated and ignored. Something must be wrong when English teachers have no time to read books.
Talking to people in other jobs, especially in the public sector, has led me to believe that insecurity is now the norm in schools, colleges, universities, the NHS, police forces, fire and rescue services and many others. All are on shifting sands; no one knows quite where they are or what is going on. Our Kafkaesque education service is a perfect example.
Freedom of information appears to bring no help at all. I do not have the temerity to suggest answers, but I firmly believe that those in power, of whatever political persuasion, need to question present policies, and at least attempt to bring about improvements in morale and level of function in our public services.
Harry McQuillan
