The Spectator

Letters: In defence of teachers

[Anna Trench] 
issue 01 July 2023

Teacher trouble

Sir: Rod Liddle (‘The trouble with teachers’, 24 June) is quite correct in what he says about the state of our schools. He also offers a glimmer of hope that at least the children in question exhibit common sense. But he is quite wrong about teachers being dim – mostly they are not. Teachers want to be able to pass on their knowledge to their pupils in a style that suits them and their students best. Why do some appear dim-witted? The answer is simple: fear. Fear of parents and fear of managers. Most parents are great and a joy to work with, but a minority – about 5 per cent – make teachers’ lives hell. It’s no coincidence that my most popular teacher training course is ‘Dealing with Difficult Parents’.

Managers are simply passing their fear down the line. They are subject to local authorities who peddle the mantra that equality, inclusivity and diversity are more important than children learning English or chemistry.

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