‘A broken system creates broken people’ – Francis Foster on the war against good teachers

Modern education suffers from a rigid, conformist culture that prioritizes administrative metrics over genuine inspiration and effective behavior management. Schools like Michaela demonstrate that structured environments significantly improve academic outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged students, yet these results face ideological resistance from the educational establishment. This tension between high standards and perceived bullying extends to the civil service, where ministers face accusations for demanding professional accountability. Meanwhile, a broader cultural decline in literacy, exacerbated by screen reliance and social class disparities, threatens intellectual engagement. While some movements romanticize past conflicts, such as the Troubles in Ireland, the enduring appeal of authors like Tolkien reflects a persistent human search for fundamental moral truths amidst a landscape of shifting political and social identities.