Moral Lessons

The General Teaching Council for England has very generously proclaimed that teachers in the twenty-first century do not have to be exemplary citizens every second of every day. They are enjoined to "place the wellbeing, development and progress of children and young people at the heart of their professional practice"; professional practice being not only their activities during the time for which they are paid, but any other activities during whatever time the General Teaching Council for England sees fit to intrude upon. Teachers can, for example, face penalties for "omitting to raise the alarm if they suspect a pupil is being abused", their suspicions presumably being gauged by lie detectors of the sort soon to be deployed by the Idleness Police. As "part of a more integrated children's workforce", they are obliged to "consider their place in society"; and their behaviour, unlike that of politicians, bankers, corporate executives and armed police, can be monitored, judged and punished as "lawful but not acceptable".