Tweeting Teach Blog

In 2016 I saw Worthing Tories push through vicious regressive laws to demonise and criminalise homeless people.  I watched Tory councillors salute those who did it. I watched Tory councillors share anecdotes and stories from the Daily Mail rather than deal with data and the voices of people in Worthing.  I saw a petition being pushed aside because the councillor hadn't heard of Worthing People's Assembly. Today I see those same councillors lose their seats and lose control of Worthing Borough Council. Edward Crouch, Dan Humphreys, Tim Wills  Your boys took one hell of a beating  And you deserved every last bit of it  Dan Thompson Chair Worthing People’s Assembly 2015/16

We are in Dublin on a short break and will be back in the city today on what will hopefully be a momentous day. There’s definitely a buzz around the place and reading all the #Hometovote posts has been amazing.  We went to see Joe Lycett last night at Vicar Street. He wore a repeal jumper and nearly got a standing ovation. My wife and I have bought a repeal jumper (nearly sold out after having ordered in repeat stock) and a yes campaign t shirt.  We’ve seen the jumpers and yes campaign shirts and badges throughout the city.  We will have to consider whether or not to wear them today as there are rules about campaign materials within 50 metres of a polling station and there are loads around including one just up the road from where we are staying but I’m looking forward to being able to wear it tomorrow to celebrate a revolution in women’s rights. It will definitely be an interesting and inspiring day.  Repeal the eighth.

I’ve been trying to think all day of how to put in to words how I feel about the tragic loss of Scott Hutchison. In terms of losing musicians, though he may not be spoken of in the same terms, this is the most devastated I’ve felt about the loss of a musician whose work I love since the loss of Prince, Bowie or Strummer.  I was introduced to Frightened Rabbit about eight years ago by a mate whilst we were perusing the sale selection in HMV, something which seems ancient now that I can’t remember the last time I played a cd and the same one has stayed in my car player and everything is played through Spotify.  The third album, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks was on sale, and they were just getting ready to release Pedestrian Verse. It was sold to me on the brilliance of the lyrics and on listening to it I was hooked. Over the next few weeks I bought every other album; The Midnight Organ Fight, Liver! Lung! FR!, the sometimes derided by the band Sing The Greys and, when ...

Today is the NUT teachers strike. There will be a rally in Worthing at the assembly halls at 11am. I will be marching in London with colleagues and comrades from Berkshire. Whatever you do, please show support for striking teachers. This was not a decision that was taken lightly but one which is needed to stand up for education. This action was brought forward and voted on by members. Enough is enough. The proposals in the education white paper describe nothing less than the wholesale destruction and privatisation of state education. Schools forced in to academisation, no matter the spin from Nicky Morgan. Teachers rights torn up. The removal of qualified teacher status meaning anyone can be in front of a class. Add to this a funding formula meaning that all but one of the local authorities in England will see funding cut leading to larger class sizes and less resources. The changes in school finances introduced by Osborne mean a five percent increase in costs for eve...

As I am waiting to leave from a brilliant two day training session with NUT organiser colleagues and a great discussion with Jane Mcalevey on trade unionism, organising, housing and how we build sustainable movements, it seems the right time to say; I'm moving on. After working for the NUT for three years and being a member for 13 years, I am going elsewhere. I'm off to the Educational Institute of Scotland to work as an organiser for them. I am leaving to a different education system, one without OFSTED, free schools and academies, but one with similarities. Teachers in Scotland are speaking out about workload and testing. A recent ballot over workload from the new qualifications returned a 95 percent vote for action. The GERM does not stop at Berwick. Further threats are on the way. In May, the Scottish elections led to a Tory opposition for the first time, and they are using language familiar to those of us who have taught, campaigned and ...

“I’m signing because I have actually been homeless in Worthing town centre…”  " All the homeless person really needs is somewhere they can feel safe at night…”  " In my opinion, fining homeless people for rough sleeping is not proactive to make them feel accepted or good about themselves.”   This was just a small selection of the many comments made among nearly 5,000 signatures on a petition launched by Worthing People’s Assembly against the introduction of public space protection orders (PSPOs) in Worthi ng, Sussex. These by-laws set out to fine people begging, drinking in the street and looking to find shelter for the night. Opposition came from ordinary citizens of Worthing, those who had been homeless and those responsible for running shelters. On April 5, the joint strategic committee overlooked these voices, dismissing the petition and pushing through the legislation to be ratified by full council yesterday. Councillors dismissed petitions, saying that they ...