Joined Up Struggle

Something smart happened in the 60's.  Progressive political activists and supporters got smart.  People used their influence in the education sector as well as the more usual outlets - Trade Unions, Community Groups and political parties.  Politics, art, culture and education converged.  Not all by design, of course, but people seemed to know what was required.

Up until the point when neo conservatism and neo liberalism retook the initiative in the late 1970's and through the 80's, a generation had benefited from all of this.  The maintainence of the study of philosophy and the arts and the growth of subjects like Social Studies and Civics helped to move us nicely along towards the 21st century.

Terry Eagleton in a comment peice in friday's Guardian points out in clear terms that the commercialisation of universities is leading to an unprecedented attack on the humanities. (I have shared this article as widely as possible on Twitter and Facebook)

And this is no accident.  It is all perfectly consistent with a joined up political and ideological approach by the right.  Education is only of use when it feeds into commerce and the maintainence of the current politcial system.  This is no conspiracy theory - examine the facts.  Talk to parents of university students - talk to the students and the lecturers.

And then learn from it.