Manchester College staff strike back
Article published: Wednesday, June 30th 2010
Members of the University and College Union at The Manchester College (TMC) were on strike today in the latest stage of the row over new contracts. Pickets lines were held at TMC buildings around the city from 7.30am, before moving to a rally at the Mechanics Institute at midday.
The motion for strike action was passed on 11 June. UCU, which represents teaching staff at TMC, says it is fighting against the strict imposition of new contracts, which employees say are “unnecessary and unworkable” and will worsen working conditions and quality of teaching, and against the principal’s de-recognition of UCU.
“UCU members here at Manchester have been left with little option but to take strike action. We are proud that members are taking this action and they have the full backing of the national union,” said UCU president, Alan Whitaker, who spoke at today’s rally.
Staff say they are not even being told by the College what will happen to their pay packets once the controversial contracts come into force on August 1.
Employees are also complaining that the College’s management team has been deploying tactics of bullying and intimidation against those questioning the terms of the new contracts. Before today’s strike for instance MULE was told that an unnamed manager had sent an email round staff telling them there was no need to sign in as senior management would be going around the picket lines to take a note of those involved.
Staff also said that they were dismayed by the lack of voice they have been given by the mainstream press, and since they are fearful of the repercussions of talking about the dispute in the workplace, many are now anonymously sending their stories to MULE and posting comments on the MULE website.
“I was given a new role by the Manchester College and my line manager said to me ‘I don’t like to call this or see it as a demotion, its more of a revision of your role and regrading.’
“20 per cent less pay and three weeks holiday removed which we will not be compensated for seems like a demotion to me.
“We are scared to rock the boat as we have been made to feel lucky we have kept our jobs,” said one anonymous TMC worker.
Many of these comments go beyond the claims made by UCU. One describes the moves by the College as “fairly overt sex discrimination”, especially after crèche workers faced compulsory redundancies, one of the reasons for last year’s set of strikes: “It is an undisputed fact that most childcare arrangements fall onto the shoulders of mothers in society. By changing working hours, holidays and increasing working hours the College has not taken childcare needs into account.
“When confronted by someone who says it looks like they cannot continue in their job due to the changes, the College just say there is ‘no negotiation’.”
Another member of staff reported to MULE how the management has been responding to employees who asked for time to arrange representation after receiving letters requesting their attendance at a meeting “to discuss any objections you may have to the contract”.
They received emails saying: “You do not have a statutory right to be accompanied at this meeting and you do not have the right to postpone the meeting. Therefore we expect you to attend the meeting for this week, if you continue to refuse to attend the meeting this could result in disciplinary action being considered.”
According to the member of staff: “It is apparent that HR advisors and managers do listen to objections and try to address them during these meetings. However, it is clear that any points, not matter how valid, are disregarded as following the meeting staff are given a further five working days to sign. Failure to sign means that staff are then given three months notice.”
On the same day as strike action was announced principal of TMC Peter Tavernor took the unprecedented step of officially de-recognising UCU after it took an advert out in the Manchester Evening News which he called “a direct and blatant attack on the reputation of The Manchester College” and accused the union of focusing “all attention on attacking the College in an unprofessional way, trying to agitate staff and misrepresent the facts.”
Before today’s strike UCU general secretary Sally Hunt said: “The current dispute at Manchester College is in nobody’s interests. We have made it quite clear from the very start that we want the whole mess sorted out. We are repeating our calls for the college to talk to us to resolve the issue. We remain confident that a negotiated settlement can be achieved.”
The College has an extremely poor record with its staff and the management’s reputation – and Tavernor’s in particular – in many quarters known as one of belligerence and ruthless anti-unionism. That is not to mention numerous accusations of incompetence and high-profile investigations into claims of “institutional fraud” within TMC, which refused to go away after the College destroyed crucial documents and gagged would-be witnesses.
The management – ten of whom, including Tavernor, have just awarded themselves pay rises – remains in negotiation with UNISON, which represents support staff at the College, but as the UCU strike goes ahead prison educators also employed by TMC are balloting for industrial action. The College employs around one third of all prison educators in the UK having successfully bid to become the largest provider in the country, but earlier this year staff were told they were to be made redundant months into new contracts after the principalship said TMC did not have the money.
Hunt responded at the time: “Even by Manchester College’s low standards this is a truly shocking announcement. Prison education is vital in stopping re-offending and these savage cuts will be a hammer blow to offender learning throughout the country.”
One prison worker for TMC told MULE that if the proposed contract changes go ahead in that sector on 1 August, literally thousands of jobs will be at risk. They say the College’s management “are currently making all full time positions redundant and filling the positions up with part time and sessional/hourly paid staff, replacing Lecturer titles to trainer or tutor titles, increasing teaching contact time and reducing holidays.”
It was rumoured that Labour MPs Tony Lloyd and Graham Stringer visited Tavernor on 18 June to discuss the situation having received complaints from constituents. However MULE was unable to confirm this as neither would reply to emails. The College also refused to comment on the allegations put to it. Manchester City Council – with its own staff problems it emerged today – declined to respond to questions, and so far appears to have put out no statement on the dispute.
Staff on the picket line expressed little surprise, and one said that Lib Dem MP John Leech had also failed to respond to their emails. Many suggested Tavernor’s “very close relationship” with the City Council and local Labour Party partly explains the refusal of local politicians to get involved. Tavernor was former Council Leader Graham Stringer’s parliamentary election agent many years ago, while his wife Rita Tavernor is a sitting Labour councillor in the Town Hall.
According to the councillors’ register of interests there are two sitting members of UCU, Labour’s Joanne Green of Harpurhey and Lib Dem David Sandiford of Didsbury East. It seems though that neither of them have had anything to say on the issue either.
UCU is considering further strikes in September if the College’s management refuses to back down, but many are worried that Tavernor and his team are determined to destroy the unions whatever the financial and reputation cost to TMC. While some staff have already handed in their notice and are considering legal action against TMC, others say they will fight to the end, and expect they will also have to take the principalship to employment tribunals.
More: Education, News, Unions and workplace
Comments
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What does striking achieve, apart from denying students their right to an education?
I’m glad senior management are taking a note of those involved. They only serve to agitate staff and should be dismissed.
Many staff at TMC are perfectly happy to continue to work harder to ensure our students receive the benefit of our years of experience and knowledge.
Don’t you know there is a recession on?
Comment by jack on June 30, 2010 at 9:00 pm -
@Jack.
Yes, we lecturers are well aware that there is a recession on. We’re seeing our colleagues made redundant by the score and we’re being bullied into accepting effective pay-cuts of between 8% and 20%, or face dismissal.
Maybe you should ask does Peter Tavernor know there’s a recession on? Because, like a modern day Nero – whilst The Manchester College burns, he’s happily ‘fiddling’ himself a 10% pay-rise.
I’d be interested in hearing why you believe losing hundreds of experienced teaching staff and demoralising most of those remaining, whilst letting the Principal stick his nose in the trough to the tune of £193,970 a year is “ensuring our students receive the benefit of our years of experience and knowledge”.
Comment by Just some Lecturer on June 30, 2010 at 9:43 pm -
Hundreds of staff leaving, where do you get that from?
Your useless and inept union?A small number of staff have simply reached retirement age and have left of their own accord.
Comment by jack on June 30, 2010 at 10:00 pm -
@ Jack,
“Many staff at TMC are perfectly happy to continue to work harder to ensure our students receive the benefit of our years of experience and knowledge.”What utter nonsense – so stupid it could be written by the Principal himself – maybe it is.
Any decent management team, especially in a ‘people’ business, know that you need to look after staff and NOT treat them like a doormat. Clearly the current Manchester College senior management team are incompetent – their recent pay rise just proves this beyond any reasonable doubt.
It won’t be long before the Principal gets exposed in the media or comes unstuck with some dodgy dealings concerning LSC funding.
Comment by We are not mugs on June 30, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Lecturers need to stay strong & anonymously report any illegal/fraudulent activity they know of to the LSC or the authorities. -
Wow! – they’ve really got you well-programmed, haven’t they. Mind you don’t knock that implant next time you comb your hair.
Comment by Just some Lecturer on July 1, 2010 at 7:58 pm -
Looks like ‘Jack’ is a bit confused. He obviously doesn’t agree with article 10 of the Human Rights Act, the ‘the right to hold and express opinions and ideas’, yet he is exercising this right at this very moment.
He is also blatantly anti-union, believes in victimising those who don’t agree with him, thinks that Staff, not Senior Management should remember we are in a recession, is self-opinionated, foolish and a bit short tempered.
He also resorts to abuse and misinformation when he knows he’s losing an argument.
More than a bit reminiscent of somebody we all know isn’t he?
Comment by F.M. Arouet on July 1, 2010 at 8:27 pm -
Plus ça change…
http://tinyurl.com/3ajzx3n – Search for “Mr. Richard Bacon (South Norfolk)” and http://tinyurl.com/3a6gmyz . Notice any familiar names and familiar management techniques.
Comment by Just some Lecturer on July 1, 2010 at 8:57 pm -
You make a lot of assumptions and criticisms of me, but neglect to address the point.
Hundreds leaving! where is your evidence of this?
Comment by jack's back on July 1, 2010 at 9:43 pm -
The article we’re supposed to be commenting on, for those of us who take it seriously, addresses the most significant attack on education since the bad old days of MANCAT. TMC actions could change the face of Adult Education for ever. It’s not about trying to score silly and trying to stifle serious debate by attacking those making a serious contribution.
This greedy management want to break the UCU so that they can make Staff foot the bills for their salaries, their mismanagement and their over-ambitious building programs.
In the prison system TMC are shamelessly exploiting prisoners to generate profits for their private coffers. In the core college they are doing the same with students and Staff at both institutions are their means toward this despicable end.
We cannot allow this to happen. We must fight this bully with all we’ve got and it won’t be easy. In fact it’s going to be the hardest thing many have had to do in their lives. Stand together and we will win. We are gaining more support every single day.
Comment by F.M. Arouet on July 1, 2010 at 10:59 pm -
The words I actually used were: “losing hundreds of experienced teaching staff”. That covers sackings, redundancies, (stress-induced) sick leave, resignations etc.
Comment by Just some Lecturer on July 2, 2010 at 7:45 am -
How strange that ‘Jack’ sounds rather like a member of TMC’ssenior management. Perhaps he is one of the same name. Surely, there can’t be a connection! Wanting to dismiss staff for protesting their treatment; an assumption that staff are too stupid to make their own minds up about the contract; and staff need to saved from union bullies by TMC management, wielding the sword of truth. Well,we’ve been hearing this sort of stuff from Big Pete and his mates for years. Perhaps ‘Jack’ really cannot think for himself after years of being in thrall of the ‘Great Leader’ … but the staff being dismissed and intimidated into signing a contract that has not been negotiated or consulted do know what ‘the real world’ consists of in TMC’s paradise.
Comment by cato on July 3, 2010 at 8:39 pm -
Every member of staff at TMC has the right to hold TMC to their current, legally binding agreement which states proper notice, up to 12 weeks, must be given before a variation or termination of contract is implemented.
The old contract must be terminated by agreement before the new one can be implimented. If the new contract is imposed without agreement then there is a legal breach of contract.
This vital piece of information was withheld from staff in the first instance. In fact they were duped into volunteering away their rights and freeing TMC from breach of contract at the same time.
TMC did this by telling staff if they didn’t sign within ten days, they’d be sacked. Understandably a large number signed out of fear and the prospect of losing their jobs.
TMC apparently continue their threat to sack anyone who doesn’t agree to cow down and volunteer. They know full well that any unilateral change to an agreement is a breach of contract and will probably lead to them being found guilty of unfair dismissal but, as in the past, they are willing to be found guilty and pay the penalty or settle out of court with undisclosed payments. They see breaking the law as a perfect sulution and have no hesitation in doing so.
By threatening to act illegaly TMC are guilty of conspiracy to break the law. This kind of behaviour is deplorable and must be challenged at the highest level. We must all do everything in our power to prevent this anarchic activity and call on those who represent us, the only ones who have the real power to stop them.
I applaud Gordon Henderson, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey who has submitted an Early Day Motion EDM382 – http://www.edms.org.uk/edms/2010-2011/382.htm – which we should all send to our MP’s as a matter of urgency. We should urge our MP’s to register their support so that TMC can be brought to account for their shameful disregard of the law.
Comment by F.M. Arouet on July 3, 2010 at 9:51 pm -
RUMBLED!!!!
must go – off on a staff jolly!!!!
Comment by barbara on July 4, 2010 at 5:46 pm -
It is true, many key staff have already left, whether forced out, retired or simply because they are ouraged at management attitudes. Others are actively applying for jobs elsewhere.
Many who can are getting out. TMC is sinking!!!!
Comment by julie on July 4, 2010 at 5:54 pm -
Many TMC run prison education departments are due to be inspected by OFSTED.
Comment by OFSTED are on their way on July 5, 2010 at 8:54 pm
When the grades are awarded TMC Management will realise that treating staff like scum was not very wise and poor management will be evident to the inspectors.
Why would anyone try to make their employer look good when that employer shows no respect for them and treats them badly?
The current dim-witted senior management will have to resign or be scaked when ALL the OFSTED reports start to come in. They don’t seem to have sufficient brainpower to realise just how much power teachers really have. -
The problem is individual lecturers want to appear competent in an OFSTED inspection, and are rightly proud of their ability to deliver an excellent standard of teaching and learning.
Appearing to be incompetent may just be playing into their hands, enabling our dismissal sooner rather than later.
What we must prevent is OFSTED inspectors being led, by the nose (again) to listen to the rehearsed rhetoric of the few sympathetic managerial and teaching staff.
Comment by pat on July 5, 2010 at 10:28 pm -
We should never compromise our professional standards but we must bear in mind that we can only perform well if we have the infrastructure and support needed to carry out our work effectively. Management get graded separately so we don’t have to appear incompetent.
Staff and students are called upon to comment and are sometimes asked to volunteer to meet with OFSTED Inspectors. I think they are also allowed to talk to Inspectors in confidence at any time during the inspection and should be encouraged to do so at every opportunity.
Let’s all tell them about the lies, threats, and false information spewed out by management to justify their proposed savage cuts so that WE, both Students and Teachers, would end up paying for their outrageous salaries, their mismanagement and their overambitious building plans.
Students and Teachers MUST tell OFSTED the truth about this ‘Grade 4 – Inadequate’ management at TMC.
But above all, DON’T DO THEM ANY FAVOURS. Let’s not pretend that one-sided loyalty will bring into being anything other than exploitation during Phase 2 of the restructure.
Comment by F.M. Arouet on July 5, 2010 at 11:42 pm -
I urge everyone to forward MP Gordon Henderson’s Early Day Motion EDM382 to their own local MP, urging them to lend their support by adding their signature… the more MPs that sign, the more chance it will be discussed in the House… (http://www.edms.org.uk/edms/2010-2011/382.htm) – we CAN make a difference, don’t just sit back and admit defeat, you are not powerless or alone!!
TMC staff across the country need to stand and be counted. This bullying and coercive management style has to be challenged or where will it end? Lecturers in the South East are experiencing unparalleled manipulation, in an attempt to force us into signing contracts which severely reduce salaries in 12 months time. This will render a large proportion of long serving, experienced staff incapable of meeting their financial commitments. Do not believe their false rhetoric, they simply don’t care and perceive us with nothing more than distain. I for one will never bow down to such appalling oppression, the like of which I never expected to experience in the United Kingdom. The Principal and members of the Board should hang their greedy, self-serving heads in shame…
P.S. I think Peter Tavernor has looked up the definition of ‘Principal’ and taken it rather too literally… That one litte word does not mean you are above the law Mr. Tavernor!
Comment by Standing Firm... on July 6, 2010 at 10:23 am -
Here’s the motion: (MP’s from three parties have signed so far.)
EDM382 – Offender Learning
Proposed by Gordon Henderson on 01/07/2010
“That this House is dismayed at the actions of the Manchester College (TMC) in its dealings with staff working for the Offender Learning Directorate; notes that TMC is forcing long-serving staff who teach in prisons to accept a reduction in salary of up to £7,500 per year, despite having assured them in a letter dated 9 April 2010 that no-one would lose any pay as a result of the proposed changes to their contracts; regrets that TMC has de-recognised the University and College Union (UCU); is concerned that the education of prisoners could be affected by any escalation in the dispute; and urges TMC to agree to immediate talks with UCU in an effort to bring this dispute to a satisfactory conclusion.”
Comment by F.M. Arouet on July 7, 2010 at 7:00 pm -
UCU National Officials this week forced TMC to the negotiating table, kicking and screaming all the way. They were eventually shamed into doing a U-turn after being overwhelmed by the power of public opinion and will begin talks and negotiations regarding union recognition next week, (watch this space though; you know what they’re like)!
Well done to all UCU members who stood up to, along with those who are still standing up to, this horrendous bullying, those who wrote to their MP’s and a big thank you to the Manchester Mule for giving us all a platform for Free Speech. Last but not least a special mention for ‘Jack’ who should be thanked for giving us a great big laugh, Ha!Ha!Ha!
Comment by F.M. Arouet on July 8, 2010 at 8:56 pm -
Tavernor Does a Back Flip on Derecognition:
Yes, believe it or not, backed by public opinion Tavernor has been dragged, kicking and screaming to the negotiating table for the first time. Prior to this he would only agree to ‘consultations’.
Public outrage at his latest attack on dedicated prison education staff was widespread and included expressions of concern and outright condemnation from Mp’s of all Parties, the Parliamentary Justice Committee, the House of Lords, the Prisoners Education Trust, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Association of Police Authorities, Local Councils across the country and a large number of Prison Governors who have been genuinely shocked by recent revelations about his ‘modus operandi’.
I think now it’s time to take a leaf out of his book, get him to accept he has capitulated, sign a document agreeing to all of our demands, cow down, keep his mouth shut, get on with it and be glad he has a job when there’s a recession going on.
Sounds extreme doesn’t it but this is precisely what he planned to do to us – and in some cases probably did where non union staff were concerned. What’s good for the goose?
Since he began his reign of terror at TMC this, now briefly compliant, anti-union Tyrant has ruined lives and broken families with his callous management and blatantly conspiratorial policy to provoke, weed out dissent, dismiss unfairly, be found guilty at a Tribunal and happily face the consequences.
Try to imagine his face while he reads this article; do you think he’ll look bothered? Does he seem like the kind of man who will change his principals, now that he’s been forced into listening for once?
The rest of the world and his mother have seen what a hash he’s making of TMC.
It’s time for someone other than Tavernor or any of his motley crew to steer TMC back to where it used to be before he wangled himself, his accomplices, sycophants and their families into all the plum jobs at TMC.
Mr Tavernor, why don’t you and your colleagues do the honourable thing for the sake of TMC; apologise for your gross mismanagement and RESIGN right now?
Teaching is by definition a caring profession so let’s appoint a Principle and a management team who actually care about TMC; loyal, long standing, dedicated staff and the future of students in both the main college and Offender Learning instead of those, like Tavernor and his control freaks, who only care about their ridiculously unworkable ‘harmonised’ contracts, extravagant building projects and feathering their own nests through lies, bullying, coercion and exploitation.
Comment by J for Justice on July 9, 2010 at 9:57 pm -
I don’t know how Manchester College managed to get a Good Practice Award for Health and Well-being (from Investors in People (IiP)).
Comment by Time to expose TMC on July 10, 2010 at 9:22 am
http://www.themanchestercollege.ac.uk/news/college-receives-award-health-and-well-being-work
Staff are being railroaded into signing new contracts and TMC behaviour and ethical standards are just like those of the offenders we teach. TMC clearly don’t care about the health and well-being of their staff.
In the ‘Why we are the best’ section of TMC website the Investors in people accreditation is shown off. I wonder if the Investors in People organization know how TMC really treat their staff – it is time to let them know – and expose TMC dishonesty and deceit. -
The link below gives mug shots and previous records of all the current members of The Manchester College Gang, alias (The Manchester College Governing Body). It’s amazing to see how many pies they have their grubby fingers in. It’s also interesting to note 7 of the 14 have strong links with Manchester or Stockport City Council.
http://www.themanchestercollege.ac.uk/about/leadership-governance/governing-body
P.S. You’ll get a laugh when you Google some of them. Try – “Eddy Sheehy” Manchester – for starters.
Comment by J for Justice on July 10, 2010 at 7:11 pm
P.P.S. I couldn’t help notice that some also bear a striking resemblance to P.T. himself!!! -
Seems like there’s more than one gang. These are the real Baddies. Se the link at the end of this article.
They are the ones who don’t know there’s a recession when it comes to making cuts. They gave themselves a 10% rise, no wonder they’re all smiling.
They call themselves ‘The Manchester College principalship’. One principle, Peter Tavernor, and nine vice princples would you believe.
What a motley crew they are. A bit like the legendary ship of fools, nine selfish passengers on a luxury cruise piloted by a deaf and blind captain, oblivious to the dangers of the course he has set.
http://www.themanchestercollege.ac.uk/about/leadership-governance
Comment by J for Justice on July 10, 2010 at 10:31 pm -
Whilst we all empathise with the Lecturer’s situation; let us not forget the multitude of loyal and hard working Support Staff who have also been culled by this pernicious regime. They too have put in many years of service to education in Manchester and to this College in particular (in it’s varies guises as Central Manchester College/MANCAT or CMC).
Comment by N. emesis on July 17, 2010 at 5:04 pm
As a long standing (or is it a long suffering) member of the Support Staff, I have never known so much a level of despondency amongst the Staff. This feeling of unrest permeates from the lowest levels up to middle management. We also look forward to the impending OFSTED Inspection – we will tell the truth!
Let us all not forget, that without the troops the generals are nothing! -
I’m g lad to see the Support Staff are making a stand, airing their feelings and publicising their protest. Lecturers are only too aware of the vital role you play in education; without you we wouldn’t exist.
But we’re not alone in our criticism of TMC Management. As well as Support Staff and Lectures, MP’s from all over the country are making their feeling known. Here’s the Parliamentary Early Day Motion (EDM) condemning TMC in their dealings with Offender Learning. It’s been signed by MP’s from all major political parties in the UK.
(Glad to see one Manchester MP, John Leech, Manchester Withington has set the ball rolling). Come on the rest of you, get your fingers out!
Quote:
Comment by F.M. Arouet on July 17, 2010 at 6:46 pm
That this House is dismayed at the actions of the Manchester College (TMC) in its dealings with staff working for the Offender Learning Directorate; notes that TMC is forcing long-serving staff who teach in prisons to accept a reduction in salary of up to £7,500 per year, despite having assured them in a letter dated 9 April 2010 that no-one would lose any pay as a result of the proposed changes to their contracts; regrets that TMC has de-recognised the University and College Union (UCU); is concerned that the education of prisoners could be affected by any escalation in the dispute; and urges TMC to agree to immediate talks with UCU in an effort to bring this dispute to a satisfactory conclusion.
Unquote: -
Offender Learning – an overwhelming vote of 78% saying yes to strike action. Peter Tavernor and Co – you should be ashamed of yourselves – you have given loyal, professionsal, highly motivated and determined teachers no choice but to agree to strike action. We are doing our best everyday to make the country a safer place by reducing the chances of reoffending. TMC managment are putting this all at risk!
Comment by Miss Bullied Miss Intimidated and Miss Bribed on July 19, 2010 at 8:58 am
Listen for a change and decide that maybe the future of the country is a bit more important than making some extra profit out of the contract! -
Manchester college are advertising for new Tutors and this is an extract from the advert:
“We view our staff as our most important resource and asset by far and, alongside achieving Investors in People accreditation earlier this year, we were the first organisation in the North West to be awarded the brand new Good Practice Award for Health and Well-being.”
Here is the link;
http://www.tes.co.uk/JobDetailsbronze.aspx?ac=2913693&qry=parametrics%3dJOBCATEGORYCODE%7c10538%2cJOBCATEGORYCODE%7c10499%26PageNo%3d1&cur=1&rslt=4&UK=trueLook at the Manchester College website and see the tutor job desriptions – they have used generic job descriptions and “no person Specification is available”.
Comment by Can you believe this! on July 21, 2010 at 8:19 am
This College is in a mess.
It is trying to sell itself as a Rolls-Royce when it is just a Skoda with a good paint job and a failing engine management system. -
Peter Tavernor couldn’t run a bath!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Angry on July 21, 2010 at 8:38 pm -
Does anybody remember Peter Tavernor’s best mate, Graham Stringer MP, unashamedly boasting in Parliament about MANCAT boosting its numbers of post-16 learners by:
“paying people less – employing youth workers and other non-lecturers, who get young people into the classroom and get them qualifications…”.
Well did you know that what he didn’t boast about was the fact Peter Tavernor achieved this by doing it in the summer break, leaving one hell of a mess and a six week backlog for professional lecturers to sort out, while they were teaching, or face the sack, when they got back.
One can only presume that these unqualified workers did exactly what Stringer said they did and – ‘got’ the qualifications for them – not, as any professional would do and assess their potential, direct them to a course suitable to their ability levels and individual needs, teach them the skills, pass on their knowledge and promote an understanding of the subject needed to ‘earn’ a qualification for themselves.
This barbarism flies in the face of the accumulated cannons of enlightenment through education. If TMC get away with this they will destroy the foundations of modern education and we will enter into a dark and desolate age of ignorance and vulgarity, in the style of its instigator, Peter Tavernor. An age in which ‘Tavernorism’ will be the euphemism for exploitation in educational establishments throughout our country.
This is precisely what the current cuts are all about. TMC’s ultimate goal is to employ non-teachers to take classes and ‘get them qualifications’ by whatever means necessary.
Let me tell you Mr Tavernor, you’re kidding no one, as an ex teacher you know very well there’s more to quality education than bums on seats and qualifications. Admit it, this is all about money, not least your £200,000 and nothing else.
Join us now! We must unite to stop the spread of Tavernorism!
Comment by F.M. Arouet on July 21, 2010 at 10:44 pm
The comments are closed.
