From: "Jo Makepeace"
To:
Subject: SchNEWS 293, Friday 16th February, 2001
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WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S YER BEHIND THE BIKE-SHED
SchNEWS
Published in Brighton by Justice? - Brighton's Direct Action collective
ISSUE 293, FRIDAY 16th February, 2001
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TEACHERS' PEST
"We need to change the law to allow external sponsors - from the business
and voluntary sectors and from within the education world itself - to play
a far greater role in the management of schools" - Tony Blair "The market
in Education Services is a fast expanding and exciting one. It represents
excellent growth opportunities for our Company" - Nord Anglia
Big business was licking its lips this week after New Labour published
another green paper on education. The main ingredient is that the
government aims to turn half the country's comprehensives over as
specialist schools by 2006, allowing schools to concentrate in one subject
area. Good news? Well, David Hart, general secretary of the National
Association of Head Teachers doesn't think so. He warned that the changes
could lead to a market free-for-all.
Dunces
"Schools are the centre of a community. We get the reputation for being a
good corporate citizen. But it's not an esoteric, holier-than-thou- thing.
We're in business" Robert Halhead, NTL
"For failing schools, the government proposes a welcome dose of market
discipline" - Financial Times
Unfortunately this 'market discipline' has already come a little unstuck.
In January the National Audit Office published its study of the 25
Education Action Zones that have been operating around the country (see
SchNEWS 226). This is the scheme where the government had the strange idea
that business would give money to schools out of the goodness of their
hearts (ok, aside from getting their brand names plastered all over the
place and getting a say in the running of the schools).
Companies synonymous with education like Shell, British Aerospace,
Rentokil and McDonalds joined in. Unfortunately it wasn't enough, and only
half the expected two and a half million quid from business materialised
and much of this wasn't cash but "services in kind" like 'strategic
advice' charged at imaginary rates.
The government meanwhile poured nearly £19 million of taxpayers money into
the project. The Audit Office discovered that "some zones were spending
large sums of public money before they had sound financial controls in
place, creating risk of poor accounting, impropriety or poor value for
money."
In fact, only a few zones exceeded their "targets" - notably Newham and
Southwark in London. These are handily close to parliament and include
companies like PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Arthur Andersen and Capita, who are
all hoping that their generosity will result in some juicy government
contracts in the future.
Still, who cares about a silly little report: 14 more zones are to be
created.
Could Do Better
In the New Labour everything-must-go world, outsourcing is one of the buzz
words etched on the blackboards of the corporate classroom. Outsourcing
means privatisation but we don't want any old fashioned words like that
getting in the way of our story.
Top of the class outsourcing companies will turn their hand to anything
from recruiting teachers to organising payrolls, ordering stationery and
IT supplies, and maintaining classrooms. Last month the Department of
Education and Employment said that 20 local education authorities had
either contracted out their back office functions or were doing so. Firms
like WS Atkins, who recently agreed to generously provide the London
borough of Southwark with virtually all its education services - including
building maintenance, payroll, hiring teachers and purchasing. The City is
also catching on that this is a growth sector. Investors Chronicle
recently said it expected Nord Anglia's profits to "grow at more than 30
per cent over the next two years", while another investment firm reckons
the 'sector' will grow from £1.6 billion today to £5 billion within five
years.
But it's not all been plain sailing. Haringey council, parents and
governors recently rejected for the second time two bids to take over
their "failing local education authority". One bid was from the Ensign
consortium which includes Group 4 whose experience in managing privatised
prisons presumably makes them an ideal candidate to run New Labour's
schools!
Coming top of the class in this story however, just so happens to be
consultants PriceWaterhouseCoopers who 'helped' the borough to prepare for
the scheme and clocked up bills that run into millions. No one will say
exactly how much because the information is, of course, confidential.
All this is just the tip of the iceberg. As Christopher Draper from the
anarchist paper Freedom points out, "If schools were being liberated from
state-control and handed over to co-operatives of pupils, parents and
teachers we would have something to celebrate but these sell-offs provide
the worst of both worlds."
For big business however every new education twist gives them an
opportunity to make a profit from markets they could once only have wet
dreams about.
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SIEMEN STAINS
A new computer system which cost £77 million with the promise that it
would deal with the backlog of asylum seeker claims has proved to be bogus
and has been scrapped by the government. The computer system was handed
over to Siemens under the Private Finance Initiative, and they promptly
sacked staff and made the service even worse. Despite the National Audit
Office complaining about their incompetence, Siemens received bonuses
because they were paid for reducing costs not for improving the system!
The company have a fine record in privatisation cock ups, managing to
paralyse the passport agency two years back. People missed holidays or had
to queue in the rain to get their documents, while the cost of a passport
rose to £28 to cover the fiasco (see SchNEWS 219).
PS: SchNEWS neither confirms or denies that it was Siemans who came in to
look at our computers a couple of weeks back.
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Positive SchNEWS
Human Scale Education are running a series of workshops around the country
for anyone interested in setting up their own schools etc. 01275 332516
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CRAP ARREST OF THE WEEK
A pensioner, a schoolboy, a care worker and a middle aged housewife were
arrested and charged with harassment of B & K Universal Ltd, a company
based in Hull, who breed animals for vivisection. The charges included -
and we're not making this up - "holding a placard, making obscene gestures
with an inflatable champagne bottle, sending a birthday card", and the
best one "staring at a building!"
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EAT THIS
For twenty years the people of Newcastle have been forced to breathe in
toxic fumes pumped out from the Byker incinerator. Not content with this,
in 1993 Newcastle Council decided that they should eat toxic waste as
well, and so dumped 2,000 tonnes of incinerator ash on allotments and
parks around the city. A report out this week has found that dioxin
(extremely nasty persistent cancer causing chemicals) levels in the ash
were almost 2,000 times higher than the safe recommended limit. Levels of
dioxins in eggs from allotment hens were found to be up to 20 times
greater than the levels found in 'normal' eggs. The report concluded that
by eating one Byker egg daily you would be doubling your cancer risk. The
eating of vegetables and eggs on 22 allotments have been banned, but the
Council, the Environment Agency and the Food Standards Agency are assuring
people there is really nothing to worry about. The Council and the
operators of the incinerator will soon be facing 19 charges between them
of illegally disposing of toxic waste.
There could well be an incinerator coming your way soon, as the government
are planning to build 160 new incinerators over the next 20 years, so
enjoy your allotment food whilst you still can. Communities Against
Toxics, PO Box 29, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH66 3TX Tel/Fax 0151 339
5473 ralph@tcpublications.freeserve.co.uk
* There are plans afoot to build an incinerator close to Crymyln Bog SSSI
near Swansea. Local residents don't fancy this idea much and have
organised a demo this Saturday (17th),assemble 10:30 for 11am move off
outside Cape Horner Pub, St Thomas, Swansea. Contact 01792 425231 for
info.
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Women's Day
"People everywhere are demanding a total change of priorities. Women and
girls do the work of giving birth to, feeding and caring for the whole
world. But this vital work of survival and community is devalued and those
who do it are demeaned" - Wages For Housework Campaign.
The International Wages for Housework Campaign have called a global
women's strike on March 8th which is International Women's Day, urging
women to 'stop the world and change it'. Last year's Global Strike saw
waged and unwaged women from over 60 countries take part in
demonstrations, vigils and parties to celebrate Women's Day and develop
strategies of resistance.
In Spain, cleaners went on strike whilst immigrant women spoke out; in
India Dalit and Tribal village women demanded wages for all work; and in
Uganda women mobilised to discuss their needs. For details of what's going
on this year contact: International Wages for Housework Campaign, 230a
Kentish Town Road, London, NW5 2AB. 0207 482 2496,
http://womenstrike8m.server101.com
* Women and Children First: Painted Monkey display is a collection of
paintings by indigenous children from Chiapas. Opens on 23rd at 6pm, with
a video "women and children confront the military" at 7:30pm. The
exhibition takes place until the 16th March at Crossroads Women's Centre,
230A Kentish Town Road (entrance Caversham Road) London NW5. Fully
wheelchair accessible. Opening times Monday-Friday 12am-4pm Thursdays
5-7pm Entrance by donation with proceeds going to Indigenous women in
Chiapas. For more info contact 020 7482 2496
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2001 & All That
Last year fat boy fat (a.k.a John Prescott) announced a transport budget
that could be called a New Deal for car drivers (see SchNEWS 288).
Hastings looks set to become one of the first 'beneficiaries', when the
South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) gave the all clear for two
new bypasses to be built around the town. The proposed roads will destroy
two SSSI's and cut through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but
Councillors and business leaders argue that the motorway standard roads
are essential to help regenerate the town, which is one of the south-easts
most deprived. A study into the bypasses warned that they could result in
a loss of 300 jobs in the town centre, as jobs are sucked out of town to a
new greenfield business park. It also highlights the fact that 95 percent
of traffic is local, which will mean the roads will be of very little
benefit. Battle lines are now being drawn, to keep informed get on the
mailing list of the A27 Action Group who for £3/£1 will send you their
excellent newsletter, write to them at 56 Firle Village, East Sussex, BN8
6LG.
* A report out this week by the very man who advised the government on
their transport plan, has predicted that although by 2010 we will have
spent £60billion on improving our roads. Most journey times will only be
reduced by 1 second a minute, and journeys on motorways and in rural areas
will actually take longer. Is that what they call best value? Full copy of
report is available from the Council for Protection of Rural England on
020 7976 6433 www.cpre.org.uk
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Sub Normal
Over 1000 peace and anti-nuclear campaigner took part in a demonstration
against Faslane Trident Submarine Base in Scotland on Monday. 'The Big
Blockade', a major event in the peace movement calendar, attracted people
from all over the world. Faslane is home to the four-strong fleet of
Trident nuclear submarines, which activists claim are in breach of
international law due to their inability to distinguish between civilians
and soldiers.
Arriving at 7am, the campaigners linked arms and formed a chain designed
to prevent workers from entering the base. Scottish ministers performed a
service of worship. As at previous Faslane blockades, arrests were high.
Police moved in, breaking up the chain and arresting around 385; Green MEP
Caroline Lucas, Tommy Sheriden MSP and George Galloway MP were amongst the
arrested. "The fact that parliamentarians, ministers of religion, a senior
lawyer and a prominent author are among those arrested shows that this
campaign is not restricted to a few activists but is beginning to engage
civic society," said a spokesperson for Trident Ploughshares, one of the
groups co-ordinating the event.
Trident Ploughshares 2000: 01324 880744 www.gn.apc.org/tp2000/
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GR-EASY MONEY
BP-Amoco are earning £24,000 a minute at the moment - £1 billion a month.
Them and Shell are currently suffering from inundation - of profits. This
is the green company who are proposing to spend £200 million over the next
five years on renewable energy - that's less than a week's earnings for
them (see SchNEWS 276). Take away the £6 billion a year they are putting
into oil exploration and the fact that nearly 75% of takings at the pump
is taxed, and still they're creaming in these amounts. Now George
Trouble-ya Bush is in, BP will get the green light to drill oil in Alaska.
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SchNEWS in brief
* Naughty activists this week dug up a field of genetically modified
oilseed rape at a farm near Harbury, escaping undetected.
www.dig-it-up.uk.net
* A-infos, the anarchist internet collective have a new e-mail address
for contributions in english a-infos-en@ainfos.ca
* A government's expert advisory committee has expressed serious doubts
on the prospect of success of pig-to-human organ transplants
(xenotransplantation). The report described the research into the
procedure, being led by Imutran, as having led up a "blind alley".
Dan Lyons of Uncaged (who have been campaigning against this cruel
research) is giving a talk next Monday (19th) 8pm, The Bath House,
Gwydir St, Cambridge www.uncaged.co.uk
* If you've got any film footage of police violence at the S26 protests
in Prague, or have video editing experience, the Prague legal support
team would love to hear from you. They have until April 12 to make a
film for a Human Rights Film Festival being held in Prague, to be
attended by the UN Human Rights Commissioner.
praguelegalsupport@purpleturtle.com
* Water is due to start pouring into the Itoiz Dam in Spain next month.
A new report has indicated the project has an extremely high risk of
catastrophe, and would never be permitted in any other EU country.
Solidarios Con Itoiz are calling for a halt until experts have
checked it thoroughly. stopitoiz@yahoo.co.uk
* There's a picket for Mark Barnsley, next Tuesday (20th), 1-2pm, at
the
Prison Service HQ, Cleland House, Page Street, London, SW1 4NL
(nearest tube St James's Park) www.freemarkbarnsley.com
* Get down to London next weekend (23-25th) for The Squat Thing a
weekend of squatter culture and DIY events at the Button Factory,
corner of Hardess St and Herne Hill Rd, Brixton. To contribute Tel:
07890 363646
* Day of action against Sodexho (prisons and vouchers for asylum
seekers) April 4, planning meeting on Feb 27, at the Celests Pub,
corner of Kentish Town Road and Islip Street, London at 5:30pm
* Oxyacetelene, Oxford's fortnightly direct action news-sheet is in
need
of money, and people to help with writing and distribution
oxyace@ukonline.co.uk 07970 343 486
* For more dates and events check out Party and Protest on the SchNEWS
website.
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...and finally...
Forget about whales and dolphins, if you want to show someone you really
care adopt a soldier for them. That's right, a soldier. Visit
www.adoptasoldier.org and you can choose your own special member of the
military to form a friendship with. The website also offers helpful hints
on getting started with your letters, such as "In the letter, explain that
you wish to correspond with them and show your support as a US citizen.
Let them know how thankful you are for their sacrifices." You can choose
to correspond with US troops in a variety of different locations including
Kosovo, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and are encouraged to progress to sending
gifts such as CDs, videos, food and clothes. This surely is a project for
all the family, as the website suggests, "Anyone interested can adopt a
member of the military: Girl Scout Troops, home/public/private school
students, Sunday school class projects, businesses, individuals and
families are examples of these who have adopted a member of the military
thus far."
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disclaimer
SchNEWS warns all readers we're rushed off our feet doing a hundred lines.
Honest!
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