The Tory government is launching a vicious attack on education. Last July, both Westminster and Wandsworth councils requested that control of local education be placed in their hands. Under this impetus, the government set up the Baker Report which recommended that ILEA be broken up.
Labour-controlled ILEA was accused of being 'unaccountable" (would they say the same about the police), having consistently bad exam results and of overspending. This frame-up of Britain's most progressive educatlonal authoritv was obviousiy motivated by Tory aims to ram Breaking up ILEA, the Tories no doubt thought, would throw education back into the local boroughs and force the poorer ones - like Lambeth or Newham - to make savage cuts in teacher employment and educational provisions.
As Haringay councillor Steven Corbyn pointed out, it would mean "...a severe curtailment of educational opportunities and an enormous job loss for teacher and manual workers"
THREAT The Baker Report, however, was so clearly biased that it even emwere so obviously distorted that they were rapidly shot down.
While making a tactical retreat, however, the Tories have not given up their hopes of demolishing ILEA. Only, recently, they set up a study group of ministers, headed by Lady Young (Education Minister) to present a second report, ready for September or October this year. Its aim is clearly to produce more 'credible' reasons for disbanding the authority, or least 're-structuring' it.
REACTION The Tory attack is meeting, however, a growing response within London's labour movement. The London Labour Party recently called on CLPs to oppose the break-up and many of the lattersuch as Streatham - are holding public meetings to whip up support on this issue.
The South East Region of the TUC has become involved and is Sally Burrows (NUT) helping to co-ordinate a campaign by local unions and Labour Party branches against the Tory plans. In Wandsworth - where the Tory council is pushing hard to get out of ILEA - à strong and active parents' organisation has already swung into action. holding meetings and demonstration.
Clearly, what is necessary in the coming months is to co-ordinate a massive and de Tories to save ILEA. This means getting resolutions through local unions and Labour parties, holding public meetings and calling for demonstrations which can involve everyone who will be affected by the Tory plans: teachers, parents and school students. Cuntact 13-15 Stockwell Rd, SW9.
in Llandudno.
real challenge. young workers?
SIDELINES Toric.
"battles to come...
ening silence.
concerns of youth. ''Detend ILEA" : o Last April, over 2000 Young Soc ialists - representing 260 branches - turned up to the annual Labour Party Young Socialists Conference.
The Conference was faced with a How could it relate to the thousands of young people drawn into political activity over the past years on issues as wide as abortion rights to unemployment?
How could it draw these layers into the YS, turning it into a mass socialist youth organisation with roots among college and school students, the unemployed and The fact is - it didn't even try. Of course, there was a lot of rhetDelegate after delegate got up to denounce the Tories in ringing terms and speak of the major But when it came to practical proposals - particularly relating to young people - there was a deafNo lead whatsoever was given to the thousands who turned up on how to build their local branches by relating to the
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INTERCONTINENTAL PRESS Intercontinental Press Somoza at Bas as People Rise in Nicaragua Workers Upsurge in Tunisia or Blacks inside the labour move. ment - because they see such moves as 'splitting the working class. Such an attitude not only cuts the YS off from thousands involved in anti-Tory struggle but can lead to dangerous attitudes.
When Anne Twentyman, from Moss Side YS, moved a motion supporting women's self-organisation, she was jeered at and wolf -whistled by Millitant supporters Such sexist attitudes fit in with their Plunder Women' poster (which shows Margaret Thatcher as an obese bikini-clad Wonder Women).
'DEBATE' It is clear that, for Militant, the YS does not exist as a campaigning organisation seeking to get involved merely a passive organisation in which they can preach from the side-lines.
In order to make sure that reality does not penetrate the YS, they have now reached the extent of almost eliminating debate. Conference meetings have virtually been transformed into Militant rallies from which 'real' issues - from the growing anti-nuclear movement to