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coherent and explicit position on racialism (if one that is still short on political and practical realities) its position on gay rights is appalling, bears little relation to the classroom situation of today and is unhelpful for both its gay members and the pupils (both heterosexual and homosexual) in our schools."

The other main school teachers' union, the National Association of Schoolmasters/ Union of Women Teachers has a position which, if possible, is even worse than the NUT.

In reply to the Gay Teachers Group the NAS/UWT said it believed that:

"teachers' private lives are their own affairs. They should however keep their private lives private. Any teacher who publicly proclaims his or her homosexuality would in our view be inviting serious difficulties."

(p.l1)

Quite true-but the first difficulties would arise not with the teacher's employer but with his own union.

Notorious

The NAS/UWT general secretary Terry Casey said in notorious BBC interview a year ago that:

"my union would not knowingly recruit a homosexual teacher."

The main Scottish teachers' union denied any knowledge of discrimination against gay teachers and so did the Association of University Teachers. The college teachers' union NATHE didn't even bother to reply.

It is worth recording the reply of the organisations of the public schools, the Headmasters Conference, since even if it has nothing to do with gay rights it does illustrate the superior quality of English grammar which you would get for the high fees at such establishments:

"I am not aware of the Headmasters' Conference having proceeded to the length of passing any Resolutions in the sense of which you request details.

Yours sincerely, R.F. Glover (Deputy Secretary)"

The Gay Teachers Group pamphlet is an important contribution to the struggle for gay rights because of the way in which it focusses attention on the policy of the teachers' unions which have to take up a serious practical committment if gay rights in education are to be advanced.

Positive But, as the pamphlet discusses also, the issue is not only one of discrimination against gay teachers but also the problem of fighting for a more positive attitude in schools towards homosexuality so as to combat the oppression of gay school students. And that must be part of a change in the attitude to sex in general.

It is impossible to disagree with the pamphlet's remarks in discussing the position of the NAS/UWT that "private life" must be kept a secret:

"Many teachers have abandoned the role of an aloof authoritarian for a more relaxed way of relating to their pupils that brings with it a greater honesty in answering their questions. If pupils in such a situation instigate discussions on sexuality -and they often doincluding seeking the teacher's own opinions on and experiences of sexuality, such teachers in such situations frequently answer their pupils directly.

"Why should gay teachers in similar situations act or be expected to act upon different principles, to be dishonest where others are honest, and to dissemble where others are candid?"

Until their policies and practices are changed then, as this pamphiet proves, the teachers' unions make their contribution to dishonesty as well as to the oppression of their own members and their pupils.