Another teacher scanctioned (91)

Yes, sadly that's true. I think mainly among younger people and those with a more scientific rather than artistic mindset, fundamentalist beliefs still have an attraction. Ready-made easy answers to life's difficult questions.

But I think I detect three interesting trends which I believe are deeper and undermining of fundamentlism.

1. Fundamentalisms themselves are (in a painfully slow way) becoming less fundamentalist. (E.g. 30 years ago there used to be many mainstream Christians who used to think marriage after divorce was unthinkable, and that "living in sin" was a sin; these views are now confined to only a the extremes now. Islam also has some liberalising tendencies).

2. As people grow older they become less fundamentalist. And people are living longer, thus undermining fundamentalisms more.

3. Increased communications technology makes it harder for peole to live in bubbles of fundamentalist thought and never be faced with awkward counter-examples.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/226772/

I'd disagree; if anything people with a more scientific mindset are generally against fundamentalist beliefs due to wanting proof and logic. Things which fundamentalism wants to run far away from. You could argue that some people with a more artistic mindset would like fundamentalism due to it providing a more aesthetic view of the world (there's meaning hidden behind the velvet drapes of reality); instead of there just being chaos or void.

But I'd say it's more the kids who don't develop either mindset that are the problem; there's plenty of people who just feed into the lifestyle of going to work, coming home and watching TV whilst slowly inflating over time; and maybe go out on a Friday and Saturday night, get drunk and then start it over again. It's in these nests that fundamentalism provides a release; an escape; a reality where they aren't just wasting their lives.

Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est. http://www.informedconsent.co.uk/posts/226772/

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and a good thing never dies"

they employed her AFTER shewas voted sexiest teacher And they knew she was a part time model.... f...ing hypocrites as usual

Life is for living and websites are for annoying people www.mistress-luzie.co.uk

That is quite out of order. If she declared it at the start and was open about it, then I would have thought that she has grounds for unfair dismissal is indeed she is dismissed.

Zen S&M: The sound of one hand smacking.
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(>'.'<)
(")_(") < MINE!

I don't see an inherent difference between this case and an openly gay teacher, or hell a teacher with a ring on their finger. The only difference is what references to sexuality are considered normal/reasonable and what rights the state will legitimate as a consequence.

There is a complicating factor in that thes state constitutes a near monopoly in educational provision in this country, meaning that who is in charge of a school, and what rules they exist under and what contractual obligations they can put to staff, is finally a political decision. If we had a more diverse educational system, then there would be more liberal schools that supported interesting and open teachers, as well as more conservative ones for parents who wanted it all kept under wraps.

"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." H. L. Mencken

The position you advocate was a reality until the introduction of the General Teaching Council. The GTC have the overriding decision as who is fit to teach, and in a case like this can make a decision behind closed doors without the teacher having the right to representation of even the right to be present.

Before the GTC it was the school governors who had the right of hire and fire (as long as the teacher was qualified in the public sector). The GTC can rule a teacher unfit to be employed in any sector.

However a case has to be brought to the attention of the GTC, and usually it would be the school governors who would do this. In a few recent cases though it has been the press.

Some schools are more liberal than others, the private sector is traditionally the refuge of those teachers with, shall we say "too much character" to work in the public sector.

The GTC is an unelected quango with no democratic input and should be abolished immediately.

D

Zen S&M: The sound of one hand smacking.
'()_/)
(>'.'<)
(")_(") < MINE!

The article is obviously an advertisement for the school. They have good grades, sexy teachers and a stern head. Good PR all round....

And all men kill the thing they love, By all let this be heard, Some do it with a bitter look, Some with a flattering word, The coward does it with a kiss, The brave man with a sword!