Teacher tells of ‘culture of fear and secrecy’

Teachers are being “strongarmed to keep their mouths shut” and prevented from speaking out about problems in Scotland’s schools, Ruth Davidson has claimed.

The Conservative leader challenged the First Minister on the “culture of fear and secrecy” after an anonymous primary school teacher condemned the “teaching crisis”.

The teacher, who has more than 13 years of experience, told Education Secretary John Swinney in a letter: “I am not sure of the extent to which you are aware of how bad things are.

“When you visit schools, people are most likely to tell you what you want to hear, through fear of repercussions. If you were able to canvas teachers directly, perhaps through an anonymous survey, then that would show you the real struggles that teachers are having.”

The teacher said a colleague had arranged to meet the Education Secretary to raise concerns directly – but was told “if they went ahead with this meeting they would be disciplined”.

Raising the issue at First Minister’s questions, Ms Davidson said: “What has it come to when public servants with experience and knowledge in their area are being strongarmed to keep their mouths shut because it might embarrass the Education Secretary?”

0 Ruth Davidson raised the issue at First Ministers Questions after an anonymous primary school teacher condemned the ‘crisis’ in a letter to the Education Secretary