Latest editorial
SCOTTISH teachers union EIS called on Holyrood yesterday to ban the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to under-16s following unequivocal support from delegates at its annual conference in Perth on Saturday.
Edinburgh delegate Alison Thornton said she and her colleagues frequently saw their pupils guzzling energy drinks — sometimes instead of a proper breakfast.
The volatile combination of sugar and caffeine on a child’s brain chemistry was a surefire recipe for disruption in the classroom, she said.
With 12,000 fewer teachers since 2010 and dwindling resources, Scotland’s schools desperately need investment to support diverse learners rather than empty promises from politicians, writes ANDREA BRADLEY
With 170,000 children living in poverty in north-east England and teachers leaving in droves over 20 per cent real-terms pay cuts since 2010, all while private companies siphon off billions, it is time to unite and fight for education, writes MATT WRACK