Most student teachers are new to struggle. To succeed they must know the fact to argue against those trying to sell out education along with the rest of the welfare services. These are hard won gains for the working class which must be detended at all costs against the arguments of the right.
ITS NOT TRUE that pupil rolls are falling therefore there is less need for teachers.
Over the next ten years the school population in the 2-4 age range will increase by 265,000 - equivalent to 18,000 riew jobs.* Over the next five years an increase in the secondary school population of 200,000 is projected - 13,000 new jobs. This peak increase will come at a time when the public expenditure White Paper is anticipating a cut in costs of £618ml over the next ten vears Inose at schoo between 16 and 18 will increase by 157,000. This means 10,400 new jobs. ITS NOT TRUE that class sizes are now down to an optimum rever.
In primary schools in 1974 over 10,000 classes had up to 40 pupils, 632 had up to 45 oubis. it sui nad over 51 pupils. In secondary schools 3,090 classes had up to 40 pupils, 159 classes had up to 45 pupils and 15 classes had over 51 pupils.
ITS NOT TRUE that children of all social classes enjoy equal opportunities in education today.
-Comorenensive education is not me common experience of most children in schools. in /4 on v nait or secondary schools were comprehensive - many of these in name only. In East Anglia only 35 per cent of schools are comprehenSIVE In 1974 only 14 per cent of children of unskilled parents obtained nursery SChOol DiacEs In 1974 two-thirds of all children of unskilled parents left school at 16 without obtaining educational qualifications, mainy Decause such CoUrses were not offered in the schools they attended.
ITS NOT TRUE that school buildings are modern and do not need replacing.
In many London schools up to half of the pupils are housed in buidings thrown up during the Victorian Age, while up to a third are housed in temporary huts - now a permanent fixture. This is at a time when 174,000 building workers are unempioved ane bulloing materials are stockpiled in warehouses. ITS NOT TRUE that the country cannot afford it.
In 1974/75 the Government gave £2 billion in 'handouts' to private industry instead of nationalising these concerns under workers control. In 1974 £450m was paid out in interest charges Dy ine government to ciry unanciers By 1978/79 (Sunday Times) £3,300m. will be paid out in interest. Ine bLu alone pays £200m. in interest charges each year - enough money for 66,000 new teaching jobs.
Callaghan and Healey are hoping that by cutting health, education, and welfare service they can provide enough money to shore up private business and restore profits. All student teachers must demand that the Labour Government nationalise the banks and insurance companies and wipe out these crippling debt charges.
The action of student teachers in the colleges gives a clear lead to all workWing the right to work. the colleces employed teachers;
FOR A UNITED FIGHT BACK ers threatened by cuts in living standards as a result of the policies of the Labour Government. The impact of the occupations cannot be allowed to fizzle out. They are an important weapon in securUnfortunately the occupations come at the end of the college year. Student control in the form of an effective stew arding torce can ensure that occupations run smootniv Inat study areas are orov ided, and that exams can take place. scottish students are at present doing Students are already demanding that the National Union of Teachers give full support to actions against cuts and unemployment - that it implement its policies on class size and no cover in support of occupations;
recister all unemoroved teachers in grant full trade union rights to all undemand that the Government provide a job for every teacher.
Students should insist on speaking at local NUT meetings to argue for these demands. Students should ask the local NUT to organise meetings in the colleges class. AS A PROTEST ASAINST and explain what they are doing to ensure student emotoymen It is also necessary to seek the broadest possible support from the trade unions and Labour Party - resolutions of support, collections, speakers delegations To brances. trades counchis. and Labou Parties calling for solidarity strike action where possible. Unemployment and the cuts threaten the living standards of all working people and demand a united fight back This also means deranding that the trade union and labour movement set up an inquiry into education and produce a plan for education in the interests of working people which guarantees full employment.
A campaign must be launched in the labour movement to demand that the Labour Government take the necessary steps to defend education: nationalise the educational suppliers to stop profiteer ing; institute inflation-proofed public