Self is a unique experience. Teaching them "politics' arouses one's latent asochism. (The author of this article is a supply teacher who taught police cadets for a fero months. For obvious reasons she would like to remain anonymous.)
HE SARGE lu 'AVE THT CAN CYRIL AND TARIR ALS BALI POr DOWN TO THE FOR BREAKANT PUTTHEECOT -IN AT GROSVENOR SQUARE Most of them leave Second eager to discuss political ary Moderns some of them power. They equate politics Our Crime Correspondent The 6 comrades who were arrested in Hornsey before July 21st demonstration as reported OUr last number defended their case in HighLALC Magistrates Court on August, The case lasted from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., mainly because the proceedings were held up frequently by the uncontrollable laughter of the defendants and members of the public. while the police were giving their evidence. Probably the star turn was P.C. P. Phillips who wrongly identified the person he was supposed to have arrested, completely forgot where the incident took place and could not remember the name of his "very close colleague", until he was ordered to the cells by the magistrate and instructed TOE speak anvone who may have been able to refresh his memory.
An identity parade was arranged, Fortunately his spell in custody refreshed his memory sufficiently to enable him to instantly quote name and number. A proud moment tor Other memorable moments were provided in the evidence of Special Constable (5' 74" trying to 8" F. P. Jones who found "defendant's person at the end of the defendant's arm", and P.C. F. P.
Raymond La Pointe, C.G.T., wha immigrants aggravate the in claimed that the lady defendant ternal situation by depriving the British of houses and jobs while living off the welfare state. They talked of crushing the even minority also maintained the need for independent police trade-unions though the same minority, combined with the majority. constantly maintained that the immigrants had to be got rid of. They comevervone would have applauded": this while maintaining that few Jews were in fact killed. Nevertheless.
the A mini-cause for concern immigrants. They deny unusual brutality or victimisation of immigrants. leapt onto his "shoulders" and pounded his head with her handbag.
This particular defendant is now in the running for a chance to display effect on tenants throughout London including militant tenants living in her athletic abilities in Mexico City the Borough of Brent. The Brent Federation of Council Tenants representing later this year. nearly 10,000 tenants, has always been bitterly opposed to further rises in rents or any attacks on tenants" amenities or conditiers. In his uproarious summing up, the In view of this the newly-returned magistrate accepted that one of the defence witnesses had to arise from Tory majority on the Council decided to adopt a "steam-roller" his sick bed to witness the incident and therefore the accused were "in- tactic to get the rise through the Council as swiftly as possible, to considerate" people. He refused to avoid any action by tenants accept any other parts of the witoppose it. Without consulting the ness's evidence which included detailed descriptions of policemen Housing Committee Finance losing control of their tempers, etc. Committee of the Council, the The accepted that the Finance Chairman, Alderman V.
ma distrate Sklar, introduced a motion at the accused were "happy people" which council meeting to increase all rents was indeed a good thing, but sugby 7/6 per week immediately, gested that on this occasion they followed by another 7/6 per week "slap happy" people which was next year and the year after. indeed a bad thing. He imposed fines and costs totalling E90, but was con- makes a total rise of over a pound vinced this was an isolated lapse on a week by 1970. Despite the absence behalf of the defendants and that of many officers from the Federation due to holidays or lack of they would never be involved with notice, over 50 tenants turned up at the law again.
the council meeting to lobby was restored to the pro- cillors, and the Tories were booed ceedings when the public gallery and jeered every time they spoke. unanimously declared the accused Finally the Mayor threatened innocent, and instructed Police Dog clear the council chamber and the of Highgate police station police were needed to keep order. a to keep his handler in better control Following this meeting the in future or else both would have to Tenants' Federation organised be put down. The magistrate, how- meetings to discuss further action ever, passed a different verdict and attitude of the View the defendants were heavily fined. council. Each member association attempted to hold a public meeting discover the views of the tenants. At the meeting in South Kilburn Alpha-Gorefield.
Tollgate and Carlton Associations over 350 tenants and their families turned up to hear the local tenants' leader, Bill Deacon. and three Labour councillors, Councillors Dunbar, Lebor and Hartley, speak against the increases. A resolution was passed calling on the Federation to oppose the rent rises by every means possible including an all-out rent strike. When one Labour concillor said "If you have a rent strike" one of the tenants heckled "What do you mean if?"
A similar story was repeated all over Brent borough; large meetings at Kinghaven (Wembley). Preston and Mall (Kenton), Explorers (Stonebridge) and Curson Crescent (Harlesden) Associations all approved of an all-out rent strike if the council did not capitulate.
Letters were sent to the Housing Minister to show that the council meeting was unconstitutional and a large petition covering the whole y Dwarf borough has been circulated to all at the time of writing.
Most of them leave Second- eager to discuss political ry Moderns. some of them power. They equate 'politics' rammar Schools between the with two-party struckure and ges of 16-18 and become find it boring as they see the olice cadets. Their main two parties as being almost lotives seem to be the desire identical, as indeed they are. ) escape boredom or Corruption, the old-boy-netxercise power. For most of work, privilege. the Queen and em, the exercise of power, the House of Lords are ALL owever limited, holds a fatal condemned. They longed to ascination. They seemed a book Prince Charles" red mini, ttle sheepish when I tried Lo and believed that "no-one inuestion them in detail. For cluding the Queen, should be em to be accepted involves more equal than others". Disoing well in tests involving illusionment with the system oth 'intelligence and aggres- led to a search for the scapeion. Though their training in- goat and, to quote the more ludes courses at their local acute, for an ideology. echnical college, Law and Many believed in dictator ritish Constitution, for ship, a few in a police state. xample, they treat this essen- As they hated disorganisation ally as an irrelevant time- and chaos they thought dieller. Independent enquiry is tatorship would bring discipliscouraged by their officers. line and efficiency. A few Most of the cadets showed an openly admired Nazi methods stonishing and perhaps en- as well as policies. ouraging failure to grasp the Their analysis in some implest general idea and could ways echoed Naziism: Trade only take notes if dictated so Unionism is responsible for lowly that the average witniss economic degeneration and a nust leave them far behind. failure in the world comNevertheless they were petitive system. The blacks/ some suggest unionising the A mini-cause for concern immigrants. They deny unusual brutality or victimisation of immigrants.
They view demonstrations The Bialy Dwarf as opportifices to exercise control and have a justifiable Lebly Santientist 'punch-up', as was evident on BLACK SHARE NOLARMA July 21st, when a large numTol ber of policemen no: involved in the punch-up stood and Subjeot: clapped whenever a demon Vel1 Done. A magnifieent affort. Too will be glad to 1eam strator was 'downed". They that aubeeriptione, offere of beip and woney peared in and the also maintained that there was dasue aold out. Please pass an our congratulations to your superb team 1 Inspector Jeha Bretnall Varvioker, Detective Sgt, never any police violence. Maurios Anthony Bracken, Detective Genesable Lavard Hather, Are the police fascists? Woman P.C. NoGeorge and P.6. Kenneth larter, Certainly all the essential The Nolotor Cooktell vall diagram vas a firat oless idea ingredients are present. Petit- 1r rather saudgily drawn, for the evening televiaton audience of tventy willion to road bourgeois backgrounds; in but I think the basie ides of the doeign aot through. tense nationalism; total con- That said, there were none features of the raid that Could you have not allow • 11881• nore tempt of 'democracy' as diaturbed me: Initiative and imagination in the selsetton of the soised itama? practised in the West and A letter enquiring where to buy a holess to all very vell ta antagonism towards working- Itaelt but by Ital the affect did no. (and forgive me if class organisations. But only a I sound harsh) a Bit subsis. and the one advertiaing • benefit consert for Obt Igbuna on Augua few of them are explicitly 24th may yet prove invaluable. fascist. The rest would need a course, from the walk which certainly d14 1ie job, imagine 8lvys, a Tov old Jesosade bottles and a seantater of fascist movement to which 11ghter fuel and ve alet have been able so recall Varliament. they could respond. But we But these are sinor aritiolemn. Thanke to you and your should remember one import- men all of Ot. Uritain now knove about the Black Dwart and shanka to the enthusiastle ree onas by our other agente in the Jranins ant thing: NEVER CALL A Kong and Ine Fine a11 of 06. Beitain new knows about the POLICEMAN A FASCIST. Viltnam Demonstration planned for October 20/27. A FEW OF THEM MIGHT Vel1: Done Ilwyn and many thanks.
TAKE IT AS A COMPLIMENT.
A Teacher THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT the Letters were sent to the Housing Minister to show meeting was unconstitutional and a large petition covering the whole borough has been circulated to all Associations at the time of writing.
In the Alpha-Gorefield Association a collection was taken among tenants and over £25 was collected in a fortnight. This example, plus the effect of the public meeting, spurred tenants on the nearby Queens Estate at Queens Park to force their Association to affiliate with the Federation and abandon its previous policy of avoiding agitation and undertaking social activties.
The Association with the most Thia did make st a Little dictiouls to complain about, however, was Curson Crescent. Built-pre-war in Harlesden, this estate is a public disgrace. Repairs are rarely undertaken until it is too late. The houses are old, cramped, and poorly designed. Tenants have discovered True you ald seise tve posters rats, mice and cockroaches in their baths, larders, and on one occasion But that waa alla Apart, or even in their bed. To expect to pay But juat over a pound a week more for these slums seemed beyond all toleration.
Another estate which could feel justifiably angered Chalkhill/ Barnhill at Wembley. The houses here pay a socalled "Economic Once again... rent," which means they are excluded from government reliefs or local rebate schemes and result pay between 19 and £12 a week in rents. Now the tenants will due the less than 10; secondary schools with Tenants' Association. as many as 1:0 teachers being very b) Only their own militancy will hicrarchical capitalist institution of rare and even these fragmented. The get M.P.s.
Councillors and other officials a school encourages a drift into a are meless even in the defence gropve of carcerism and confermism:
of the tenants, and only their conditions of overcrowding am d Associations can represent understaffing encourge any latent them. This is not meant as a tendency towards a prison-warden's attitude to discipline and a reactionslight to Labour Councillors Mary social outlook.
John Lebor and Louise Dunbar, who have fought a principled But this can change, as other and exemplary campaign countries show, and the support of the tenants. political scene inspires the hope of As Socialists we should realise speedy change. Bursting in optimistithat tenants' struggles help to cally upon this scene is "RANK & reverse the non-political attitude FILE. an Organ of Progressive many workers have lapsed into since Teachers", whose third issue is out the coming to power of Wilson and in mid-September. Its advent in his gang. As Socialists also we car- April this year struck an immediate not ignore any struggle of the work- chord. largely among younger ing class to defend its rights, and socialists who are teachers, but also so-called Marxists who argue that among older militants who have "Tenants' struggles are irrelevant" fought salary and educational battles or "We can't spare the time or the the union for years. RANK & people for that sort of thing" are, FILE straddles the two aspects of in reality, i abdicating a role they the union struggle covered by these should be playing. If you won't sup- somewhat different sources of support a tenant in keeping his rent port-for a reformed content and down, you can hardly expect him form of education for pupils, to support you when you wish to for improved teachers' conditions. go much further! We should say An important London RANK firmly: FILE meeting will be held on Friday, NOT A PENNY ON THE RENT!! 27th September, at Conway Hall, SMASH THE RENT RISES!! Red Lion Square, at 7-30 p.m. to TENANTS' CONTROL!! MAKE discuss the way ahead to building a THE COUNCIL OPEN ITS strong left wing among teachers, and BOOKS AND SHOW THE to elect a representative committee. AMOUNT IT PAYS TO THE All teachers who read this are MONEYLENDERS!!! invited to come.
Compared with human labourers real machines are far more obedient. Unlike labourers, they don't object to being exploited at all! Computerized
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ON TEACHING POLICE CADETS
Unions, "putting
them in camps", "Gassing un- official strikers". Despite this a
pared them to the Jews: "If it had been 6 million nig-nogs
social conscience remains and some suggest unionising
The They view demonstrations
biggest wave of student demonstrations history has seen. In the same month came the sudden liberation of the Czechoslovakia press, television