Letters: Education is on its knees. The government must take radical action to save it

Big Issue readers respond to stories on education, homelessness, property tax and tell us how to be more ethical in the garden.

As a secondary school history teacher, I read with interest Bridget Phillipson’s piece. This government isn’t short on warm words but is sorely lacking in the kind of radical action needed to save education. The government’s below-inflation 6.5% pay increase for teachers over three years is yet another real-terms cut to a system that is already on its knees. Inadequate funding for children with SEND; a deep and severe recruitment and retention crisis among both teachers and support staff. 

Phillipson needs to have strong conversations with the Treasury to address these issues. School budgets are down £4.2 billion from 2010 but the country as a whole is richer than it was in 2010. Reform of the Capital Gains Tax system through increasing rates and closing loopholes could raise £11.3 billion a year.

Anonymous 

Home team

It is great to read that Centrepoint and Homewards are working with schools with the mission to end homelessness.

As pointed out, there are numerous pitfalls to finding somewhere to rent. Often young people encounter discord in the home, but it is important that they are encouraged to work through any difficulties where at all possible. This would avoid sofa surfing with friends and eventually ending up on the street. I trust that Homewards does offer mentoring when sought?

Johanna Williams, Dorset

Read more:

• Teachers forced to choose which special needs children get help as funding crisis worsens
• What will the SEND reforms mean for families and their disabled children?
• Funding cuts in music education will destroy our cultural landscape

Duty bound

Fortunately for Graham most serious proposals for a property tax in the UK involve a deferment or lien option. That means that rather than paying all the tax up front, some of it is treated as a debt against your property and then paid upon sale. Fairer Share also proposes eliminating stamp duty, reducing the transaction costs and making it easier for empty nesters to downsize and free up family homes.

David Battersby

Strim shady

Dear Liam Geraghty, I am glad you are enjoying your garden at last. But please consider not investing in a strimmer! They make a terrible noise (sound pollution), are quite vicious implements if you are a small creature and really aren’t necessary. 

Rough grassy edges are great hiding places for wildlife. The tidier our gardens are, the fewer places for frogs, newts, toads, beetles to hide. You can do much gentler tidying up with a nice sharp pair of shears.

Rachel Rowlands

Plant the seeds

I was feeling down – who wouldn’t under the barrage of news about wars, climate change and deepening inequality? Then, leaving a supermarket I bought the Earth Day Special from a vendor. It restored me greatly; not just the articles on plants, vegetables and gardening, but also the encouraging items about a housing scheme, about reading in prisons and about consulting young people over policy. 

None of us can solve global problems, but little actions and initiatives fired by compassion make big differences and cheer us as we cope through this troubled world.

John Weeks

Reduce, reuse

I wanted to share why using our local Tring Elves Facebook group or Freecycle is so much more powerful than just a “clear out”. When we give away items locally, we’re doing three amazing things at once:

1. Building community resilience: By passing on that kettle, bag of clothes or spare chair, you’re helping a neighbour save money for their bills. It creates a local safety net.

2. Avoiding the global waste trap: Many items taken to the tip or even some charity shops end up bundled and shipped to countries like Nigeria or Ghana. These places often then become overwhelmed by our “donations”, which can end up in massive landfills or destroy their local textile industries. Giving locally keeps your item in use, exactly  where it’s needed.

3. Saving the planet (and council tax!): Keeping things out of the skip reduces the energy needed to make new products and cuts down on carbon emissions from shipping. Plus, it saves the council money on waste processing.

Towser Mason, Facebook

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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