When I wrote to him, I just got some flim flam back off a lackey. But we should keep writing. 

brighton56

De-valued the teaching profession and made teachers look incompetent, lazy and under qualified

This has been going on in many sections of the media through my whole career. We've not yet had 16 years of Conservative or Michael Gove, so it is a bit unfair to blame him.

brighton56

Increased our pension contribution, made us work for longer and get less money in return

To help sort out the financial mess made by Labour.

brighton56

Made 50% of secondary schools academies (some against their will)

The academy programme was started by Labour and continued, with thanks I'mm sure, by the Conservatives.

brighton56

Made statements that exams are too easy at GCSE and A level

A view shared by a great many adults and sections of the media for the last 20 years.

brighton56

Criticised any teacher, school, governor or union for standing up against our beliefs

Standing up 'against' one's beliefs should always be criticised. It shows a serious weakness of mind. Standing up 'for' one's beliefs is another matter of course.

brighton56

De-moralised every hard working teacher in the country

I'm a hard-working teacher and I'm not demoralised...

brighton56

Removed funding and training for NPQH qualifications making it possible for non-teachers to be head teachers.

Also making it possible for excellent acting heads who step in in emergencies and do a great job, to be able to become permanent in spite of not having a piece of paper that shows they passed a worthless course.

brighton56

Made thousands and thousands of teachers lives unbearable

I don't think Michael Gove needs to take personal responsibility for this. I don't know any teacher whose life is unbearable for reasons to do with Michael Gove.

brighton56

I would just like to know what your plans for the next three years until the general election in May 2015 will be? Just so we can all be prepared.

I agree with this though. Actually I'd like to know my HT's plans for the next 3 years...indeed the next three weeks would be good!

I appreciate the detailed response Minnieminx.

My post although not intended does sound anti-conservative. My view is the conservative government have taken previous Labour initiatives (academies) to a whole new level which has had a massive deprimental impact throughout the entire country. In areas where a lot of schools have converted to academies, it has left the Local Authority schools with less money, less services and more problems to come in the future.

I think exam standards is still a matter of debate. There has been so much contrary evidence as to whether exams have in fact become easier. What is certainly unfair is thousands of students every year who revise exceptionally hard, do well and then face the barrage of criticism that exams are too easy. GIVE THE KIDS A BREAK!!

I do partly agree with you regarding the NPQH abolishment - meaning acting heads have more freedoms BUT in the long run if we do not come up with high quality training for new head teachers then we may well see many people from business coming in and running schools. Head teachers should always be experts in the field of education wanting to do the best for their students.

Overall, in my opinion Michael Gove needs to think before he makes such bold remarks about the teaching profession. Imagine the wonders he and his department could do if they listened and acted on what the profession/experts think.

[edited by: brighton56 at 19:29 (GMT 0) on 5-5-2012]

brighton56

In areas where a lot of schools have converted to academies, it has left the Local Authority schools with less money, less services and more problems to come in the future.

Definitely less responsibility, but I honestly think schools running themselves is a good thing. LA control isn't the ideal... The less central and local government runs the better imo. Can't see why they'll have problems in the future, except in the very distant future when things come full circle and someone nationalises schools.

brighton56

GIVE THE KIDS A BREAK!!

Naaaa. We got the same stick as the second year of GCSE pupils, time to give it back to the next generation... :)

brighton56

BUT in the long run if we do not come up with high quality training for new head teachers

You'll need to ask HTs if they feel they need specific training. Most of the ones on here are far less than generous about the benefits of NPQH.

brighton56

Imagine the wonders he and his department could do if they listened and acted on what the profession/experts think.

Ed Bollocks could have done better had he done the same. Wouldn't have ballsed everything up that's for sure! And no government dept actually listens to those on the ground.

Ha ha I get the feeling we would get along in the staffroom Minnieminx but we will have to agree to disagree on here.

LOLOL I do too!

I have been disappointed with education departments since 1997. Mr Gove does appear particularly inept, however, with his public school emphasis and constant showing off his ignorance about teaching. (1st class honours graduates making the best teachers? Really? Truly? Has he ever met an electronic engineering graduate with a first? Communication skills perhaps not the best...) (I know I'm exaggerating for effect ;)!) But seriously, why would anyone with those kind of qualifications to into a relatively low paid, extremely hassly job like teaching when they could be earning squillions contracting?!

I shall be interested in what the new curriculum looks like - quite how 'white and middle class' it will be is anyone's guess...

I do wish the minister David Blunkett had taken my advice in 1997 when I wrote to him at the beginning of his career - give teachers some recognition for the wonderful work they do, and they will work harder for you (just like children do, fancy that!). Oh, and let's take the theory of the market place (how I hate that idea!!) out of education (and health for that matter) - it is, at heart, a cooperative enterprise, and, as anyone who has ever worked with children knows, not exactly predictable. There is no 'one size fits all' method. It's not a production line with those sort of measurable outcomes. Stop pitching us against each other with the test results and those results might just rise...

I'll stop now. Could go on at some length about my disappointment with education ministers (and governments!!)...!

[edited by: clear_air at 8:13 (GMT 0) on 6-5-2012]

The exams getting easier thing always makes me chuckle. Primary teachers are constantly told that year 6 results are not good enough, results have been static for X number of years, it's not good enough, standards need to improve. Yet, where results do seem to be improving (GCSE and A level) we're told it doesnt count as it must mean the exam has got easier!, makes me wonder - if the number of y6s gaining level 4 does rise, will it simply be put down to the test being too easy that year?

I don't want to get too political either, but this blaming labour for the mess we're in really bugs me. The rest of the world is in a recession too. Is that labours fault? Or did all the world leaders over the last X years do something wrong, that the conservatives would have stayed away from as they knew it would cause recession (learnt their lesson from thatcher, perhaps?)

Anyway. I do agree with most of the OP.

Things can only get better....or worse...