Anti-Racism in Social Work Practice: New book now out

Anti-Racism in Social Work Practice is a new book which I have have had the privilege of contributing a chapter to (on 'Critical Race Theory and exploring 'whiteness'). The book was published in April 2013 by Critical Publishing  edited by Angie Bartoli. All the contributors are either based in the Social Work Division at the University of Northampton or have historically been linked to it (as I was when I was the Equality and Diversity Advisor at the university for seven years until 2012).

The publishers describe the books in the following way:

Anti-racism has a long history within the profession of social work and its education. Despite an agenda within higher education which promotes internationalization and practice which recognises diversity, little has been written to address the question of why black African students have a different experience from others on their social work educational journey.  

This book is based upon the authors’ experience as educators and their own research about and with black students’ experience of racism and ‘otherness’ within social work practice and education. Radical and honest in nature, it re-visits anti-racism within social work practice and education from a student focused and informed perspective based on lived experience and conversations. 

This book will be of interest to all social work students, educators and policy makers with an interest in anti-racism and diversity. It includes practical models and tried and tested tools to help the reader work through these issues.

The chapter headings in the book and the authors of each chapter are as follows:

Introduction. Angie Bartoli

1. Backlash blues: racialisation and citizenship. Bernadette Curran

2. Anti-racist social work education. Sukhwinder Singh

3. Developing Cultural Competence. Prospera Tedam

4. Padare: a meeting around a tree. Angie Bartoli

5. White women listening. Sue Kennedy

6. Critical Race Theory and exploring 'whiteness'. Paul Crofts

7. View from the workplace: practitioners speak out. Charity Chukwuemeka

Conclusion: a forward looking journey. Angie Bartoli and Prospera Tedum

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Debate: Academies or Local Education Authorities - who should run our schools?

When: Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Time: 7.30 pm

Where: Victoria Centre, Palk Road, Wellingborough, NN8 1HT

Speakers (to date): Eddie Fairplay (see details below)

Wellingborough Labour Party and Independent Socialists in Wellingborough are sponsoring a debate on the future of our children's' education in Northamptonshire and in the UK as a whole. More and more schools are considering becoming academies and breaking with education authorities. The government is encouraging schools along this route. What are the dangers? What are the pros and cons of such developments?

Speakers have been invited to debate these issues but to date only one has confirmed: Eddie Fairplay. 

Eddie has worked in education for 30 years, first as a science teacher in secondary schools and then as a senior manager in further education and sixth form colleges, always in inner city areas. He has been a college principal for 10 years; currently at Newham Sixth Form College in East London and previously at Regent Sixth Form College in Leicester. Eddie has been a Labour Party member for nearly 35 years. He stood in the 1983 general election and was a Waltham Forest councillor and chair of the Education committee between 1986 and 1990. He is currently national vice chair of the Socialist Education Association which is one of the Labour Party’s affiliated socialist societies. Eddie is committed to the ideals of comprehensive, democratically accountable public education for all.

This is public debate and will be Chaired by Martin Heath of BBC Radio Northampton.

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Debate: Academies or Local Education Authorities - who should run our schools?

When: Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Time: 7.30 pm

Where: Victoria Centre, Palk Road, Wellingborough, NN8 1HT

Speakers (to date): Eddie Playfair (see details below)


Wellingborough Labour Party and Independent Socialists in Wellingborough are sponsoring a debate on the future of our children's' education in Northamptonshire and in the UK as a whole. More and more schools are considering becoming academies and breaking with education authorities. The government is encouraging schools along this route. What are the dangers? What are the pros and cons of such developments?

Speakers have been invited to debate these issues but to date only one has confirmed: Eddie Playfair. Eddie has worked in education for 30 years, first as a science teacher in secondary schools and then as a senior manager in further education and sixth form colleges, always in inner city areas.He has been a college principal for 10 years; currently at Newham Sixth Form College in East London and previously at Regent Sixth Form College in Leicester. Eddie has been a Labour Party member for nearly 35 years. He stood in the 1983 general election and was a Waltham Forest councillor and chair of the Education committee between 1986 and 1990. He is currently national vice chair of the Socialist Education Association which is one of the Labour Party’s affiliated socialist societies. Eddie is committed to the ideals of comprehensive, democratically accountable public education for all.

This is public debate and will be Chaired by Martin Heath of BBC Radio Northampton. 




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Is there anyone who will defend Academy Schools?

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Is there anyone who will defend Academy Schools?

In Wellingborough and other parts of Northamptonshire, and indeed over the UK as a whole, many schools are being encouraged by the government to become academy schools. This is a vitally important issue for the future of all our children and local communities.

Wellingborough Labour party and the group Independent Socialists in Wellingborough are planning to organise a debate on this issue. There is one problem, however. To date it has not been possible to find anyone who will speak in support of academies, despite numerous approaches to organisations such as the United Learning Trust (who run several academies in the County), local Headteachers, Wellingborough & East Northants MP Peter Bone and the leader of Wellingborough Council.

The debate is due to take place on Wednesday, May 16th at 7.30pm in the Victoria Centre, Palk Road, Wellingborough NN8 1HT. It will be open to everyone interested in the future of our children's eduction.

The only speaker confirmed to date will be speaking against academies; Eddie Fairplay, a headteacher from London and Vice-Chair of the Socialist Education Association.

The independent Chair for the debate will be Martin Heath of BBC Radio Northampton.

If anyone wishes to offer themselves as a pro-Academies speaker we would be delighted to hear from them. Contact Mike Matthews: telephone 07749996364 or email to: mikematthews@ntlworld.com

- ENDS -

For further information contact:

Mike Matthews: telephone 07749996364 or email to: mikematthews@ntlworld.com

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No More Faith Schools!

I have today sent the following e-mail to Northamptonshire County Council in respect of the proposal to create a new school/Academy in Kettering to be run by the United Learning Trust - a Christian based organisation linked to the Church of England.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I would like it to be known that I strongly object to the closure of the above schools to form a new academy run by the the United Learning Trust (ULT), a "Christian educational charity and a subsidiary of the United Church Schools Trust".

From the consultation document I understand the school will be designated as a school of "religious character" yet (in pre-consultation answers to some questions I raised) I was informed that the academy will "...(not be) denominational in any way, express(es) bias towards a particular religion or imposes any one set of beliefs on children. The ethos is defined as the promotion of respect, care, compassion, tolerance, hard-work and discipline which have been used because ULT believe them to be universal values and relevant to people of any faith and those with none".

I am therefore perplexed as to why the school is defined as having a "religious character" and to also wonder why a clearly Christian organisation would want to run a school that promotes "universal values". What is in it for them in undertaking this responsibility? In fact I do not believe it for one minute, as this sounds like double-speak and hypocrisy.

I also asked whether or not the new Academy would "discriminate in any way in the appointment of any and all staff in respect of their religious or other beliefs?". The answer I was given was an unambiguous "No".

Yet, I am aware that even prior to the Academy being established and agreed, the ULT announced the appointment of the likely first Headteacher - who was white, male and (surprise, surprise!) a committed Christian. There was no competitive appointment process - thus breaching all agreed standards (and values of fairness and equality) to ensure the "best person for the job" (clearly "hard work" by white, Christian, men is valued more highly than others!).

Making an appointment in this way shows the hypocrisy of saying that there will be no discrimination on any grounds, yet clearly shows that ULT is quite prepared to discriminate against potential women, ethnic minority or non-Christian/non-religious potential Headteachers. Can we trust such an organisation when it so easily and readily breaches such "universal values" that it claims to uphold? Would you trust your children to be educated properly by such an organisation?

I also believe that it would be wrong to create a new religiously-based (and particularly Christian) school in the Kettering area alongside an already large number of Church of England primary schools and an existing (selective) Church of England secondary school.

Such a move will further fuel requests across the UK for more schools that reflect the religious character of other faiths (Jewish, Muslim, Hindu). Such requests are - in part at least - legitimised (in the context of fairness and equality) by the steady expansion (rather than reduction) in Christian-based schools.

Do we really wanting to move towards an ever more divisive and splintered school system based around the (alleged) faith of parents? Do we really want a society in which more and more children are being educated apart from their peers of other faiths (and of no faith)? Where, in considering this proposal, was serious consideration (e.g. by way of an equality impact assessment) given to the long-term consequences, not just in Kettering, or indeed in Northamptonshire, but nationally of such developments? Where was serious consideration given to the long-term consequences of such developments on community cohesion, equality, justice and fairness for all children of all faiths (and none).

I hope you will reject this proposal.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Crofts (Cllr)