Is the DfE acting like ‘Big Brother’ in monitoring school staff emails and education speakers’ posts? Of course, we all know it is a phrase taken from George Orwell’s famous book ‘1984’. In the book he describes a fictious, totalitarian state which wields total power with ‘every citizen under constant surveillance’. The Guardian, within the space of the last two weeks, has reported that:
‘…the Department for Education is monitoring the social media activity of some of the country’s leading education experts. Now evidence has emerged that the monitoring is much more widespread, covering even the lowest paid members of staff’.
This is a disturbing trend which in a democratic society, should not be ignored. Or are we? The difference between the two is this:
‘Democracy is a form of government in which all the citizens have an equal say in matters concerning their lives. On the other hand, totalitarianism is a political system wherein a single person bestowed with all powers recognizes no limit to his powers’ (Differencebetween.com).
Is that where the DfE is heading?
By: Mike Aylen
On:21-10-2023
