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British schoolteachers left-wing?

Do you think schoolteachers in Britain are particularly left-wing? If so, why have teachers gone from being conservative traditionalists pre-1960 to left-wing?

Reply 1

Howard

5

Astor

Do you think schoolteachers in Britain are particularly left-wing? If so, why have teachers gone from being conservative traditionalists pre-1960 to left-wing?

Yes, they are very left wing. The 60's changed everything. And naturally, the young teachers that trained in the 60's now train other teachers in teacher training colleges up and down the country. It is not surprising therefore that the same "liberal-left" bias has been a predominant feature of the teaching profession since that time.

Indeed, one might well argue that the entire education system is left-led: not just schools, but also colleges, and universities. The left have monopolized these sectors even in the USA.

Reply 2

ForeverIsMyName

15

From the ages or 4-11, you don't really notice. 11-18 I'd say a mild leftie bias, the when you get to university, it entirely depends on departments.

Reply 3

Melancholy

20

One of my history teachers was a right-wing libertarian. But the rest were generally "left-wing".

Reply 4

Tory Dan

11

Yeah I had a few lefty teachers, I argued with them all until they were broken down into a state of mental depression.

Reply 5

Astor

OP

10

But it is against logic. Most teachers wonder how children are so devilishy misbehaved yet they debase corporal punishment (not a wise Right-Wing notion to use), most teachers are called Sir/Miss, labels of authority used only in the forces and the classroom, yet they mock the old ways. Most teachers hate their pay, job status and expectations yet they vote for Labour or support the Liberal cause, which of course, promise to push a more pupil-centred structure of education. I know schoolteachers are not the sharpest batch of public professionals, but are they really this hypocritical?

Reply 6

hermaphrodite

15

i think they are . . .aren't university lecturers too ( i study maths and was under the impression that the maths lecturers are lefties - i only bumped into one maths lecturer who's right)

Reply 7

Ten Green Bottles

2

Most of my teacher's are fairly right-wing, but that may be the strict Catholicism talking. Those are aren't fussed about the religion side tend to be center-left.

Basically, they swing from reading the Mail to the Guardian.

Reply 8

Bluelight

13

Id say most are left wing (if we're taking left wing to mean socially liberal)

Reply 9

ForeverIsMyName

15

Bluelight

Id say most are left wing (if we're taking left wing to mean socially liberal)

*Smashes head on desk repeatedly*

Reply 10

JadedHippy

11

Astor

But it is against logic. Most teachers wonder how children are so devilishy misbehaved yet they debase corporal punishment (not a wise Right-Wing notion to use), most teachers are called Sir/Miss, labels of authority used only in the forces and the classroom, yet they mock the old ways. Most teachers hate their pay, job status and expectations yet they vote for Labour or support the Liberal cause, which of course, promise to push a more pupil-centred structure of education. I know schoolteachers are not the sharpest batch of public professionals, but are they really this hypocritical?

I think pay is a very good reason for a teacher to vote for labour for personal gain. Most teachers are paid out of general taxation so voting for a left wing party that wants high tax levels will ensure that funding is always there for them to keep their jobs at a reasonable level of pay. Voting for a right wing party that wants to cut taxes does not really make much sense if you are being paid from general taxation.

The other point is that I think teachers realise that trying to reinstall corporal punishment would not earn them any more respect and only put them in very difficult situations regarding reprisal attacks from students and parents. I may become a teacher in the future, yet I do not want to see corporal punishment reinstated. Yes I would like a bit more order in classrooms but not by removing people's right to be free of physical harm so long as they are not posing a danger to others or when it is needed by law enforcement. The old ways are ways that belong in the past imo.

Jaded

Reply 11

Socrates

17

Astor

But it is against logic. Most teachers wonder how children are so devilishy misbehaved yet they debase corporal punishment (not a wise Right-Wing notion to use), most teachers are called Sir/Miss, labels of authority used only in the forces and the classroom, yet they mock the old ways. Most teachers hate their pay, job status and expectations yet they vote for Labour or support the Liberal cause, which of course, promise to push a more pupil-centred structure of education. I know schoolteachers are not the sharpest batch of public professionals, but are they really this hypocritical?

Hold your horses. You can't just make broadbrush generalisations like that and not back them up. And your implication that the education system would better under the Tories is a load of *******s.

Reply 12

RawJoh1

14

I've had a good mix. Every economist I've ever been taught by seems to be pretty left-wing though.

Reply 13

L i b

19

With teachers at my school, it was only the left wing ones that couldn't shut up and leave their revolting opinions at the classroom door.

Reply 14

Consie

15

My British history teacher in college was a labour councillor. I think my German history teacher voted labour too, but I wouldnt say she came across as lefty, she came across as a pretty old school, stiff upper lip Tory type.

Most of my highschool teachers were clearly left wing, espeically like my French teacher who never shut up about how great it is that the French barely do anyhting. Or one of my history ones who loved using WW1 and its general/soldier structure to moan about the privilage system and how corrupted British society is (as though it is still the same now as it was a century aog). My bro's wife's parents, who both taught at some southern grammar, are both socially and politically conservative though.

At uni it must be luck of the draw.

Wha makes you think education wouldnt be better under the Tories Soc?

Reply 15

Font

i dont think teachers are left wing - its the stupid red tape that is forcing them to be liberal - bring back beating chavs i say :tsr2:

Reply 16

Consie

15

dont see the problem in giving kids a bit of a smack in class, especially when in some schools now kids smack teachers and film it :|. There has definately been a reversal of authority in the schools I know of and looking at the people I know who went to them. Kids just rule the roost now. All you need is for one distrubtive kid to act a tit all lesson and there is no lesson. You get stupid teachers standing their waiting for you to be quiet as though its some sophisticated tactic. Its not, people just carry on doing what they want while the teacher looks like a dick.

Reply 17

yawn

17

Misunderstood Beauty

Most of my teacher's are fairly right-wing, but that may be the strict Catholicism talking. Those are aren't fussed about the religion side tend to be center-left.

Good point, MB.

Part of the Christian ethos is an expectation of self-discipline and regard for the well-being of others. This permeates throughout the school down to the students.

I suspect most faith-based schools would have teachers who support this ethos and this is presumed to be a more right than left wing attribute; rather unfairly, imo.

Many of the discipline problems in schools that members of this thread are relating to are due more to uninspired and boring lessons than political stance. If a lesson is interesting and fast-paced, the kids don't have time to think about disrupting it. :smile:

Reply 18

Consie

15

i cant remember ever having an interesting and fast paced lesson, it was just turning up, getting done with the hours, and then playing football for hours after school. So ditching that approach, just have hard teachers that know how to control a class so that even if they are bored, theyre too scared to kick off.

Reply 19

yawn

17

Consie

i cant remember ever having an interesting and fast paced lesson, it was just turning up, getting done with the hours, and then playing football for hours after school. So ditching that approach, just have hard teachers that know how to control a class so that even if they are bored, theyre too scared to kick off.

With that philosophy, your avatar makes complete sense! :biggrin:

British schoolteachers left-wing?

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