discussion of this article

PR webby said…

Please return copies of the petition to the NUT rep at the School's address;

St Paul's Way Community School, Shelmerdine Close, London E3 4AN.

Sat 18, October 2008 @ 20:44

George B said…

The extraordinary investment of time and effort on the part of a school headteacher to enforce a dress code that had been imposed without consultation is only explicable in the context of a drive to marginalise the school's powerful NUT group in anticipation of St Paul's Way transformation from a community school to an Academy.

To many the issue of whether or not Adrian Swain wears trainers may, at first glance, seem trivial. But the decision to pursue disciplinary action against this exceptionally effective teacher of Maths and PE smacks of victimisation with management seizing on the issue of Adrian's footwear as a pretext for victimising a long-standing NUT activist, who has played a critical role not only in maintaining exceptionally strong union organisation among teachers at the school but in forging effective solidarity between teachers and school support during the 16-17 July strike action by UNISON members across local government in England, Wales and the north of Ireland.

Visitors to this 'site should also know that St Paul's Way was among the very few workplaces in Britain that witnessed a walk-out at the start of the war in Iraq in March 2003 as hundreds of pupils and teachers marched together from London's East End towards Parliament. Once again, Adrian played an important part in making that happen.

As someone who has known Adrian for more than 20 years, I can vouch for his outstanding record as a trade union activist, who beneath an often curmudgeonly exterior cares deeply about his pupils. I am more than happy to sign up to a campaign in his support against such an attack.

Of course, this campaign is not simply about Adrian Swain and his right to wear the sort of clothing in which he has taught with considerable success in deprived inner city schools for many years, it is also a focal point for defending union organisation at the school and enabling it to remain a bulwark against the backdoor privatisation of St Paul's Way.

I hope that fellow trade unionists in the NUT and across the unions in Tower Hamlets more generally will rally to the support of both Adrian and the NUT and UNISON groups at St Paul's Way.

George Binette

Camden UNISON convenor/Chair, Camden Trades Council (both in personal capacity)

Sat 18, October 2008 @ 21:40

Kirstie said…

I will be putting this motion to my NUT Branch in Greenwich and will be raising this issue amongst the teachers and support staff in our school, especially the ones who wear trainers - and there is a lot of them!

This a blantant attack on a trade unionist and teacher who has a longstanding record of standing up for workers rights at St Pauls Way, but also in the wider community as a key activist in the anti-facist and anti racist struggle.

The management at St. Pauls Way is not the only school to be using these corporate tools of social control. It has been a weapon in academies to create a 'corporate business ethic' where teachers are expected to wear suits and ties to 'mirror the world of business'. This goes hand in hand with other 'reforms' such as enterprise days, where for example in Bexley Academy, every Friday is set aside for the whole school to learn about Business.

In the Harris Academy in Bermonsey the school has employed security guards who patrol the school buildings and has installed CCTV in every classroom! Big brother is literally watching you!

We know as well that not only is it about controlling us as teachers - "you wear what we say, you do as we say", but it is also a way of creating further social divisions between students and teachers - psychological and emotional distance that makes it harder for bonds of solidarity to form.

If we don't stand up to the small acts of coercion and control - it gets harder to stand up to the big things. Adrian is right to take a stand on this and it is essential that teachers at St Pauls way stand side by side with their rep and that we bring the full force of our union to bear on the Head at the school.

I will be wearing trainers this week as an small act of solidarity and I suggest not only that every teacher at St Paul's way does but where ever you are...break the dress code!

Kirstie Paton

President, Greenwich NUT

Sun 19, October 2008 @ 13:32

bill j said…

I hope that its obvious that all socialists should support the right of a PE teacher to wear trainers. And hopefully not just socialists.

Management play these petty games to try and pick holes in union organisation, to try and wear us down through rules and restrictions. We all get it at work all the time. Its a part of the modern world, but not one we should have to put up with.

I'm with Adrian all the way.

Bill Jefferies

Manchester Unison Early Years Steward

Tue 21, October 2008 @ 17:48

Dan said…

This is absolutely disgusting and hopefully trade unionists and activists will rally round to support Adrian.

I'll definitely raise this in my UNISON branch.

Lambeth UNISON steward

Tue 21, October 2008 @ 20:19

Chris Leary said…

At a time when effective trade union activists up and down the country are being victimised for standing up for their members, solidarity is crucial.

I send my full solidarity to Adrian and will be moving a motion of support at my branch's next committee meeting.

I would urge ELTA to rapidly reconsider their decision not to support Adrian and to act as proper trade unionists should.

Solidarity,

Chris Leary

Corporate Services/Policy & Performance Convener/Young Members' Officer, Surrey County UNISON

Vice Chair, UNISON South East Young Members' Forum

(both in personal capacity)

Sat 01, November 2008 @ 19:08

SEN Teacher said…

Why on earth didn't he just change his clothing. If the school rule about dress standards applies for the kids then it must apply to the staff.

What kind of SEN teacher thinks he is 'better' than or 'above' the rules ~ SEN is about inclusion and not elitism or separatism.

Teaching is about preparing children for life, and like it or not, life has a shed full of rules. He should be teaching his students to save their energy for the fights that matter and not indulge in petty self righteous squabbles.

I think this man deserves all he got and needs to consider a new career in which, what you wear to work, is more important than what you do when you get there. Pathetic.

Tue 30, December 2008 @ 13:24