P8: Upfront

Chile to Durham

NUT members took to the streets of Durham on 9 July to mark the 127th Durham Miners’ Gala. The event is the biggest public trade union gathering in the north of England. This year the march was joined by retired NUT members, as well as those still working across the region.

Two of the Chilean miners who were trapped below ground for 69 days last year visited primary schools in the area to talk of their experience. One, Carlos Bugueno (pictured below), attended the gala and cheered the parade from the County Hotel balcony – there were over 70 banners and 45 bands. He later spoke of his ordeal and thanked all for the warmth of his reception in Durham.

Out of the closet

Year 10 creative and media diploma students from the Magna Carta School and the 14-19 Runnymede and Elmbridge Consortium in Surrey have produced a film, Homophobia – our closeted education, in collaboration with Scallywag Pictures of Shepperton Studios.

The students interviewed victims of homophobic bullying, as well as Stonewall and Schools Out, to produce the ten-minute documentary. An Ofsted inspector was so impressed that she ordered copies for every school in Surrey.

Clare Erasmus, NUT assistant rep and head of media studies at Magna Carta, said: “The film has challenged staff members like myself to re-think how we deliver lessons. I urge schools to visit the Schools Out website (www.schools-out.org.uk) when considering whole school policy. It offers guidance and some great lesson plans.”

* DVDs of the film are available from www.magnacarta.surrey.sch.uk or email Clare at cerasmus@magnacarta.surrey.sch.uk. Price £7.50.

Yes, I can

A delegation of teachers visited Cuba on a study tour organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, to which the NUT is affiliated. They visited primary, secondary and two special schools.

Cuba is renowned for its literacy programme ‘Yo, si puedo’ (Yes, I can) – now used worldwide. The programme came from the island’s 1961 campaign, which wiped out illiteracy.

Anyone wanting to book a speaker for a meeting or to find out more should contact the Cuba Solidarity Campaign on 020 8800 0155 or email office@cuba-solidarity.org.uk.