Director, Academics For Academic Freedom; Emeritus Professor of Education, University of Derby; Visiting Professor, University of Buckingham
Belper, Derbyshire
- Tweets 29,904
- Following 4,300
- Followers 3,474
- Likes 94,987
University students should be as brave as these pupils and stand up against any attempt to mandate masks. @UsforThemUK @Togetherdec @officestudents @UniversitiesUK @DerbyUnion @AF4SA bbc.co.uk/news/education-598…
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Well said @LiddleRod (in the ST today) #NoMasksInClass #TogetherDeclaration @UsforThemUK @Togetherdec
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Had a Christmas day pint (or two) in my local pub (the Dead Poets, Holbrook). It was heaving! So nice to be back to the old normal! @EssexPR @alanvibe @ruth_miesch @MieschbuehlerD @AdrianHartQuPk @Fox_Claire @P_Hayes @MoLovatt @DavidAxePPC @UsforThemUK @standinthepark
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On a train to London. 70% without masks - lots of chatter and laughter - nearly the old normal! 👏👏👏👏
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As @jowilliams293 says, forcing children to wear masks all day is performative - just to appease a few adults and the teacher unions. It is wrong, cruel and useless (see below) Shame on @nadhimzahawi #NoMasksInClass @UsforThemUK
This is what newly Knighted Professor Viner (former @RCPCHPresident) has said about masks:
"For teenagers...we don't have the evidence that this is useful"
#NoMasksInClass
@nadhimzahawi @educationgovuk @sajidjavid
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Can we add all teachers and lecturers who are in favour of putting face nappies on pupils and students to this challenge?
Dear Cabinet Members
@nadhimzahawi @sajidjavid @BorisJohnson @DominicRaab @RishiSunak @trussliz @pritipatel @michaelgove @SteveBarclay
Do you accept the challenge to #MaskLikeAKid until Jan 26th?
Wear it 6-10 hrs/day (school + transport +) only removing for food & drink
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I would gladly have signed this letter in The Times today. It is devastating for @UCU because of their failure to defend @Docstockk - @AFAF_freespeech @speechchampions @SpeechUnion @Fox_Claire
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All the discussions seem to say - remove restrictions but keep masks. It’s all about compliance, not health. #nomasks #NoMaskMandates #NoMasksInClass @UsforThemUK @Togetherdec @JuliaHB1 @EssexPR @AllisonPearson @Tom_Slater_ @LozzaFox
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Wow. Well done to the Batley GS students. Do sign!
15,000 people have already signed the petition by Batley Grammar School students to keep their teacher. Please add your name. #BatleyGSteacher change.org/p/batley-grammar-…
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Breaking: The University of Liverpool is changing its name due to the historic links between the city and the slave trade. It will now be known as the University of Woke.
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Four reasons to leave UCU - the speakers for tonight’s @ucu meeting that was heralded as a fight for academic freedom:
Jo Grady, UCU GS
Daniel Kebede, NEU
Priyamvada Gopal, Professor of Postcolonial Studies, Cambridge
Owen Jones, journalist
@AFAF_freespeech
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Endless Covid nonsense in cycling. @nomad_dissident @alanvibe @UsforThemUK @joenutt_author @runthinkwrite @sharrond62 @lensiseethrough @GeoffKidder
cyclingnews.com/news/face-ma…
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Shocking decision. Latin will soon be offered only in public schools. Another attack on knowledge-based education - these attacks will be the focus of future cuts and reforms under the Labour government. @tombennett71 @Trivium21c @joenutt_author @GavinWilliamson @classicsforall
Exclusive: Thousands of secondary pupils face 'significant disruption' after the government scrapped its state school Latin programme mid-year
buff.ly/4fr1XPV
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In the DfE guidance for HE, that just landed in my in-box, says face coverings are ‘recommended’ but NOT for staff when teaching: assets.publishing.service.go…
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Close to 80,000 signatures today - many more needed if we are to stop internal vaccine passports in the UK @alanvibe #TogetherDeclaration
Over 40,000 signatures and counting #TogetherDeclaration @alanvibe
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This was predictable but so wrong. Some people want a permanent pandemic-style approach to kids. It’s child abuse. Just say “No!” @Togetherdec @UsforThemUK
This is ridiculous & wrong
‘Schools must enforce face masks & bubbles to halt Strep A’ @LouisaClarence
Repeating damaging interventions that caused the problem v wrong. Don’t panic. None of this! @SmileFreeUK @Togetherdec
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Those who believe we need a change in law to give academics the confidence to speak up are being proven wrong by students. They are just doing it. Good luck @calvinrobinson (and @Fox_Claire)
Chuffed to have been invited to speak at Eton College and the Universities of Exeter, Sussex, Cambridge, and Durham this term
Free speech on campus is fundamental to any democracy, I'm glad to see people are willing to debate
Are common-sense views returning to the mainstream?
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This is where I live - a Brexit heartland. Labour are remainers and woke BLM supporters. It’s a no brainer that they lost and will continue to do so.
Brilliant night for Labour in London but looking at Amber Valley - a Derbyshire seat which neighboured my former seat - so I know it well - Labour lost seats to the Conservatives in wards which are red wall in nature.
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To be expected it you let any mob rule our schools. I feel sorry for him. The lack of support from the headteacher, the teacher unions and the Labour MP destroyed his career. @AFAF_freespeech
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An extract from an interview but quite right in saying I think that mandating masks in schools was a ‘terrible thing to do’ and undermined education. @UsforThemUK @Fox_Claire @dmperks1 @GavinWilliamson @NickGibbUK @camillahmturner
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@MForstater and @sharrond62 - heroines - speaking at the free speech gathering @UKParliament @AFAF_freespeech @DerbyUniAFAF @EdinUniAFAF @DontDivideUsNow @acadofideas @SpeechUnion
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Remember Samuel Paty. Paty was beheaded by an Islamist fanatic on 16 October 2020 for teaching about free speech. Also remember the silence of the teacher unions, universities and educational bodies in the UK. #JeSuisSamuelPaty afaf.org.uk/je-suis-samuel/
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Proud to have signed the October Statement in solidarity with British Jews and against antisemitism here and elsewhere. Please sign:
britishfriendsofisrael.org/
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How long before we get arguments that free speech contaminates all university spaces?
David Renton claims in a report published by @Uni_of_Essex that hosting an event where women who believe that sex matters are allowed to speak leads to contamination of the space where these women have been.
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This is an historic photo. Possibly the bravest woman in the world. I hope against hope that she is safe. @WRNDerbyshire @WomensRightsNet
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Freedom of speech is the foundational freedom - without freedom of speech all other freedoms may be illusionary. Freedom of Speech - no ifs no buts. My message. @acadofideas @AFAF_freespeech @speechchampions
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Excellent piece by @james_tooley on the @GeneratingG report and what the facts show (even in one of his critic's own work) @ruth_miesch @ASCphiled @calvinrobinson : spectator.co.uk/article/when…
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Johnson: Christmas is cancelled. Starmer: You should have cancelled it earlier - a plague on both your houses 😂
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You forgot that you ‘paused’ the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act. This is possibly illegal @SpeechUnion, and has emboldened student and university censors. @AFAF_freespeech @AFFSUK @StudentAFAF @lucaf_london @ObhishekSaha
Today Parliament packs up for Christmas recess. I figured now is a good time to recap on what I've done as Education Secretary in 2024.
A thread on the change we've driven, and what it means for you.
🎄📆🧵
ALT Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, and Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, stood in a school yard amongst schoolchildren
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Coming up this Thursday, 25 May, in Derby. For all 'Marxists', 'Anti-Marxists' and those who want to understand the ideas of this great thinker. @acadofideas @DerbyUniPress @CityofDerby @DerbyEvents @derbyshireprom1 @derbytimes @BBCDerby @bbcemt
eventbrite.com/e/the-relevan…
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Sanity at last “...face coverings for pupils will no longer be recommended in classrooms or in communal areas in secondary schools and colleges, under the plans confirmed today” well done to all those who fought for this @UsforThemUK @ChristineBrett8 and to @dmperks1
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Well done @EdinUniAFAF your determination has paid off! A victory for academic freedom! @AFAF_freespeech @LivUniAFAF @MancUniAFAF @DerbyUniAFAF @LeedsUniAFAF @NorthUni_AFAF @GlasUniAFAF @NottUnisAFAF @portuniAFAF @cakafaf @CityUniAFAF @AFAF_QMUL @BuckUniAFAF
A loud if not particularly warm welcome to Edinburgh University for the third attempt at screening Adult Human Female. But we’re in and the film will go ahead. A triumph for common sense and free speech - and women!
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What you randomly label ‘Hate’ Speech - anything you hate - is free speech the clue is in the label ‘speech’. Your attempt to take some sort of moral high ground without discussion shows why debate is needed. @instofideas @AFAF_freespeech @SpeechUnion @calvinrobinson
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Everyone should listen to Graca @PaulGWeller @ruth_miesch @ASCphiled @CommSenseUK @MrCDHamilton @InayaFolarin @Fox_Claire @TrevorPTweets @toadmeister @BrynHarris6
"I'm not really with the bringing down and breaking the statues"
Graca Machel - activist, campaigner and widow of Nelson Mandela - tells @MishalHusain it's important to keep symbols of the past so future generations can learn from them
#R4Today | bbc.in/384UPY5
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Such a common mistake. Defending free speech does NOT mean you agree with the content of that speech. Otherwise it’s me speech not free speech you are defending. @AFAF_freespeech
It's about defending the RIGHT to express those views. Supporting someone's free speech is never about endorsing their views/speech they use. Otherwise, it would be easy. I didn't agree with Lineker's tweets. At all. But defended his right to tweet them without being sacked etc
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Johnson curtailing our freedom to make us free. With the backing of the army and heavy fines. The culture of fear is complete.
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With help from @Fox_Claire
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The battle for the classroom. Have we lost the distinction between education and indoctrination? asks @ruth_miesch #BattleFest @acadofideas
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Very pleased to have been awarded a Visiting Professorship @UniOfBuckingham @unibuckinghamp1 @diana_blamires @james_tooley @jamesmurray88 @Fox_Claire @UoB_Library
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Some academics are revealing their true opinions of ordinary people when they comment on the pandemic
"Using your instincts, I don't even know what that means". Well I do. Millions of us do. Using judgement & nous may be alien to you dear Prof. For the rest of us, it's how we survive, keep safe & keep sane. And all within spirit of your Lockdown, before accusations start flying
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Openly being a Brexit supporter in HE produced hostility from fellow academics and mangers. Some remainers are still smarting. I wrote this for @spikedonline in 2016 on the anti-Brexit ‘snowflake’ professors:
spiked-online.com/2016/12/12…
Leading academic who left the UK to teach in Australia after publishing pro-Brexit article claims he is no longer able to work in Britain because universities are now 'just places of indoctrination' trib.al/pDtRsF6
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Excellent piece by @MoLovatt she won’t be getting any Christmas greetings from @Keir_Starmer
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You were excellent @Ella_M_Whelan and yes, follow @acadofideas for more debate!
Thanks @bbcquestiontime for having me for what was an important debate! We should have it out more often - people want to talk (check out @acadofideas for more public debate). Now I’m off home on the sleeper and turning of Twitter until I’m back to this happy little chap.
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Over 1,200 signatures in one day - leets keep going and get to 10,000. @AFAF_freespeech @StudentAFAF @WeAreFairCop @Togetherdec @SpeechUnion
A petition to abolish non-crime hate incidents. Please sign. @SpeechUnion @acadofideas @AFFSUK @lucaf_london @WeAreFairCop @StudentAFAF @JamesEsses @JournalismSEEN @GBNEWS @andrewdoyle_com @JonHolb @spikedonline @SVPhillimore @KiszelyPhilip @Kyriakos_Law
petition.parliament.uk/petit…
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Excellent piece by @VictoriaPeckham in The Times today (except for one caveat about packed public transport) she is ready to #BintheMask
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Will academic freedom be upheld at the University of Kent? @JG_THE @Fox_Claire @toadmeister @NoahCarl90 @ruth_miesch @Furedibyte @janmacvarish @NickGibbUK @Docstockk @selina_todd @HdxAcademy afaf.org.uk/will-academic-fr…
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Hurrah! No masks in class from tomorrow and masks going! I never expected that! @UsforThemUK @Togetherdec
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Off to the University of Sussex to discuss free speech with @MaximumCities @Ella_M_Whelan and Arif Ahmed. @speechchampions
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What utter tosh. Hardy is an easy read and young people will enjoy the novels. I hope she was challenged? An insult to young people. @Fox_Claire @M0L0VATT
“Thomas Hardy’s novels are too long & A level students just aren’t reading them,” says Prof Emma Smith @OldFortunatus at @bucklitfest. She says the dominance of phones among young people may lead to shorter books being written in future.
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He spoke at #BattleFest. Everyone respected him even though many disagreed with his politics. He was friendly and always open to debate. Condolences to his family and friends. @AlexSalmond
RIP #AlexSalmond. Arguing his point of view right until the end. His tweets only a few hours ago show him as fiesty as ever. Totally shocked by the news. Condolences to his loved ones. But also a real loss to public life, in a political landscape full of bland technocrats.
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Welcome to another AFAF branch
@LeedsUniAFAF
afaf.org.uk/university-of-le…
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I'm writing to my MP again @Pauline_Latham #TogetherDeclaration
Good no lockdown but dangling threat of Plan B with masks distancing & Vacc passports re 'not enough boosters' is disgraceful
We stop this when enough of us say so #together
#NoplanB #NoVaccinePassports #openforall #TogetherDeclaration
Tell MP togetherdeclaration.org/mp-l…
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Kenneth Clark began his magnificent TV series ‘Civilisation’ outside Notre Dame. It is THE symbol of civilisation that arises again today. @acadofideas @MCC_Brussels
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New classroom arrangements for schools, colleges and universities - pupils and students in rows with the teacher in front and online its all listening to talking heads. Traditional teaching is back.
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I was interviewed by @CollegeFix about free speech and the cancellation of @ProfAliceS @AFAF_freespeech
thecollegefix.com/canada-can…
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@Ella_M_Whelan (with new baby) giving a virtual opening address #Battlefest @acadofideas @Churchhouseconf
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I was proud to be one of those 'free speech champions'. Please sign. @AFAF_freespeech @AFFSUK @acadofideas @X @elonmusk @LoisMcLatch @Togetherdec @SpeechUnion
🚨Over 100 free speech champions - politicians, journalists and public intellectuals - have signed a joint letter demanding an END to the ban on "X" in Brazil.
We must not stay quiet in the face of censorship. Every Brazilian has the right to free speech.👇
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Trevor Phillips speaking at the launch party for the Free Speech Union.@toadmeister @james_tooley @Fox_Claire @Furedibyte @BrynHarris6 @TrevorPTweets @ruth_miesch
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What’s worth fighting for? A nice shot by @tomfenn8 of the final plenary at the Buxton Battle of Ideas Festival 2022. We hope to be back in 2023! @acadofideas @ForWomenScot @alanvibe @Fox_Claire @winstanley_ @DerbyUniPress
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In the UK, we warned teachers, parents and policy makers about the therapeutic turn in education from 2009 onwards - they didn’t listen: routledge.com/The-Dangerous-…
The central message of my book with @JonHaidt, Coddling of the American Mind, is not “all kids need therapy” it’s “stop teaching young people the mental habits of anxious & depressed people.” This is teaching them to catastrophize, negative filter, & engage in emotional reasoning all to the detriment of their happiness.
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This is a much needed debate and it needed more time!
Section of @BBCNewsnight last night in which we discussed use of riots to clampdown on free speech. Focus started with idea of EU as hero & Elon Musk as villain. Hmm. My response was a bit messy, but tried to explain dangers of using law & prison to send political message.
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From a DfE Report today: "Over half (56%) of students who were in higher education prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reported that the lack of face-to-face learning had a major or moderate impact on the quality of their course..."
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A woman is an adult human female - biological sex is real and cannot be legislated away. The reality of biological sex is not an ideological position. @WRNDerbyshire @WRNScotland @HeatherFFS @Fox_Claire @jowilliams293 @astor_charlie @_connieshaw @TheCountessIE
🚨Today, the UK’s Supreme Court will be hearing a case, which will result in determining what a ‘woman’ is under law.
Human sex is not legal in nature but biological.
Regardless of what this panel of judges decide, human sex remains unchanged - binary and immutable.
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Funny how when so many of us all posting #together it’s not trending
Well we have a few more days til big news
All those who want to Be Together & #NoVaccinePassport #OpenForAll #EnoughIsEnough please have your voices heard
We make this world. Us - you & me not them. Together
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On the side of free speech, no ifs no buts!
“It’s time for people to take sides. Are you on the side of free speech or are you on the side of Islamists who threaten anyone who insults Islam? Do you support Salman Rushdie or this 7th-century form of cancel culture? Everyone must now speak up.”
Brendan O’Neill on GB News
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British Cycling Censorship - to hide their own irrational decision. There will be a backlash! @sharrond62
British Cycling Members Warned Not to Criticize New Trans Policy … yes because how dare anyone be allowed to disagree with sexual discrimination? We see you British cycling & your history. Look again. Use the science. Females deserve better. 4w.pub/british-cycling-trans…
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Defend the teaching of Chaucer. There is just time to sign this petition - closes today - docs.google.com/document/d/1…
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7 January 2015. Never forget. (Charlie Hebdo continues to do some effective satire, as in this special edition) 1/2
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Why would any adult human female support @ucu ? Or, for that matter, any adult human male? Join the @AFAF_freespeech list and form a local network.
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Happy Christmas to everyone! @Opropriodaniels @politiskosmou @clivewright1969 @ruth_miesch @Fox_Claire @NickGibbUK @michaelgove @toadmeister @HeatherFFS @james_tooley @diana_blamires @dianeukc @Casey5122dark @timcrowley_ @TheCountessIE @AFAF_freespeech @StudentAFAF @acadofideas
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I will be ‘in conversation’ with @glukianoff at 10.00 this morning at the #battlefest - not to be missed. @AFAF_freespeech @TheFIREorg @acadofideas @MaximumCities @StudentAFAF
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Looking forward to speaking at this conference on how to combat the continuing dangerous rise of therapeutic education and to listening to other speakers who include @AlexStandish9 @timcrowley_ @ASCphiled @ruth_miesch @jowilliams293 @Furedibyte @PennyLe46432778
Education is perhaps the central issue of our time.
From a freefall in intellectual standards to the transformation of education into indoctrination, it’s essential we fight for an education worth the name.
Join our conference next week!
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Call them deplorables, garbage, the low information voters…and they don’t vote for you. I wonder why? Enjoying the elite and media meltdown. What a difference a day makes.
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Welcome to @UniOfBuckingham @rakibehsan great to have you as a fellow! @james_tooley @Fox_Claire @diana_blamires @Opropriodaniels join us @BuckUniAFAF @AFAF_freespeech @StudentAFAF
Delighted to announce that from this coming Friday, I will officially hold the position of Honorary Senior Fellow of the University of Buckingham (Faculty of Business, Humanities and Social Sciences).
Over the moon with this appointment and to be making my return to academia!
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Are there any statements by any university?
A survey by AFAF of the websites of all the major teaching unions, UUK and a sample of universities reveals no comments at all about the murder of Samuel Paty and the importance of defending free speech. If anyone discovers a statement, we would be happy to publicise it.
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If you oppose BDS as an attack on academic freedom and as something entirely counterproductive, please sign this statement: @IonaItalia @DavidHirsh @KlaffLesley @acadofideas @spikedonline @danielbenami @OurFightUk @ianpacemain
quillette.com/2024/06/10/ope…
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Well said @ProfKarolSikora
I'm a passionate believer in the importance of mental health, but I am also incredibly worried about the dangers of overdiagnosis.
If you're feeling angry, down, frustrated - whatever it might be, get exercising.
For the vast majority of us it will and does help.
Try it.
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Free speech means defending the right of anyone to speak, however much you detest their views @AFAF_freespeech @SpeechUnion @CommSenseUK
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The UK’s teaching unions do not believe in free speech.
"[French] teachers’ unions hailed the slain teacher’s courage for confronting challenging taboos... Freedom of expression was a core tenet of democracy, they said."
Meanwhile, the UK's cowardly teaching unions offered not a word of meaningful solidarity. reut.rs/37df9YZ
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