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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/jan/04/teachers-union-joins-criticism-of-toby-young-appointment
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| Teachers' union joins criticism of Toby Young appointment | Teachers' union joins criticism of Toby Young appointment |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Representatives of nearly half a million teachers and lecturers have written to the education secretary, Justine Greening, expressing concern over her decision to appoint Toby Young – whom they accuse of sexist and homophobic behaviour – to a high-profile government position. | Representatives of nearly half a million teachers and lecturers have written to the education secretary, Justine Greening, expressing concern over her decision to appoint Toby Young – whom they accuse of sexist and homophobic behaviour – to a high-profile government position. |
| The move by the National Education Union will add to the pressure on Greening over her decision to place Young, a journalist and free schools advocate, on the board of the new higher education watchdog, the Office for Students (OfS). | The move by the National Education Union will add to the pressure on Greening over her decision to place Young, a journalist and free schools advocate, on the board of the new higher education watchdog, the Office for Students (OfS). |
| Young has already faced claims that sexually explicit remarks he has publicly made about female former work colleagues and other women make him unfit for public office. | Young has already faced claims that sexually explicit remarks he has publicly made about female former work colleagues and other women make him unfit for public office. |
| Writing to Greening on Thursday, the union’s joint general secretaries, Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, said they feared progress made by the Department for Education (DfE) on tackling sexism in schools could be undone by elevating Young to the board of the body responsible for standards in higher education. | Writing to Greening on Thursday, the union’s joint general secretaries, Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney, said they feared progress made by the Department for Education (DfE) on tackling sexism in schools could be undone by elevating Young to the board of the body responsible for standards in higher education. |
| “As you will know from the media uproar about this appointment, Toby Young has also made unacceptable comments on disability, students from state schools getting into Oxbridge and children with special educational needs,” they told Greening, who also serves as the minister for women and equalities. | “As you will know from the media uproar about this appointment, Toby Young has also made unacceptable comments on disability, students from state schools getting into Oxbridge and children with special educational needs,” they told Greening, who also serves as the minister for women and equalities. |
| “It is surprising, given the very public nature of these comments, that he was not ruled out as an unacceptable appointee in the first place. The general public would not expect politicians or teachers to hold these views and the same standards should apply to members of this important new body.” | “It is surprising, given the very public nature of these comments, that he was not ruled out as an unacceptable appointee in the first place. The general public would not expect politicians or teachers to hold these views and the same standards should apply to members of this important new body.” |
| They told Greening they believed that as equalities minister she would find Young’s “sexist and homophobic comments” as unacceptable as they did. | They told Greening they believed that as equalities minister she would find Young’s “sexist and homophobic comments” as unacceptable as they did. |
| Since the announcement of his appointment on Monday, Young’s critics have highlighted his stance on sexual harassment in the workplace, his support for “progressive eugenics” and his claim that teachers have an easy job as some of the evidence of his unsuitability for a senior role at the OfS. | Since the announcement of his appointment on Monday, Young’s critics have highlighted his stance on sexual harassment in the workplace, his support for “progressive eugenics” and his claim that teachers have an easy job as some of the evidence of his unsuitability for a senior role at the OfS. |
| Young has also faced claims he was not among the most highly qualified candidates for the role, with one unsuccessful applicant – Nazir Afzal, a former chief prosecutor for north-west England – saying he was not granted an interview despite holding several senior positions within higher education. | Young has also faced claims he was not among the most highly qualified candidates for the role, with one unsuccessful applicant – Nazir Afzal, a former chief prosecutor for north-west England – saying he was not granted an interview despite holding several senior positions within higher education. |
| On Wednesday Young acknowledged that the DfE had exaggerated his qualifications when, seeking to defend his appointment, it claimed he had held teaching posts at Harvard and Cambridge. In fact, Young was a student at each when he undertook some undergraduate supervision, which does not constitute an academic post. | On Wednesday Young acknowledged that the DfE had exaggerated his qualifications when, seeking to defend his appointment, it claimed he had held teaching posts at Harvard and Cambridge. In fact, Young was a student at each when he undertook some undergraduate supervision, which does not constitute an academic post. |
| A job specification for the post Young has been given made clear the government expected “high standards of … personal conduct”, forcing the DfE to defend the decision to appoint him. | A job specification for the post Young has been given made clear the government expected “high standards of … personal conduct”, forcing the DfE to defend the decision to appoint him. |
| On Wednesday Young appeared to delete tens of thousands of his tweets, leaving him open to accusations of not meeting the standards of openness and transparency also listed in the job specification. | On Wednesday Young appeared to delete tens of thousands of his tweets, leaving him open to accusations of not meeting the standards of openness and transparency also listed in the job specification. |
| A DfE spokesperson said: “Toby Young’s diverse experience includes time at Harvard and Cambridge as well as co-founding the successful West London free school. This experience will be vital in encouraging new providers and ensuring more universities are working effectively with schools. | A DfE spokesperson said: “Toby Young’s diverse experience includes time at Harvard and Cambridge as well as co-founding the successful West London free school. This experience will be vital in encouraging new providers and ensuring more universities are working effectively with schools. |
| “The appointments to the board reflect the diverse needs of the higher education sector, young people and employers. The OfS board’s broad range of skills and experience across the field of education will ensure it is able to deliver for students.” | “The appointments to the board reflect the diverse needs of the higher education sector, young people and employers. The OfS board’s broad range of skills and experience across the field of education will ensure it is able to deliver for students.” |
| Young did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment on Thursday. On Wednesday in a Facebook post, he portrayed the criticism of him as an attempt to prevent an avowed Tory taking up a position on the OfS board. | Young did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment on Thursday. On Wednesday in a Facebook post, he portrayed the criticism of him as an attempt to prevent an avowed Tory taking up a position on the OfS board. |
| He acknowledged his lack of experience in higher education but said he had qualifications in other fields that made him a suitable candidate. | He acknowledged his lack of experience in higher education but said he had qualifications in other fields that made him a suitable candidate. |
| Referring to the comments that have drawn criticism, he said: “Some of those things have been sophomoric and silly – and I regret those – but some have been deliberately misinterpreted to try and paint me as a caricature of a heartless Tory toff. | Referring to the comments that have drawn criticism, he said: “Some of those things have been sophomoric and silly – and I regret those – but some have been deliberately misinterpreted to try and paint me as a caricature of a heartless Tory toff. |
| “For the record, I’m a supporter of women’s rights and LGBT rights. Indeed, I was a supporter of gay marriage, defended the policy in the Sun on Sunday and debated Nigel Farage on the topic in the Daily Telegraph.” | “For the record, I’m a supporter of women’s rights and LGBT rights. Indeed, I was a supporter of gay marriage, defended the policy in the Sun on Sunday and debated Nigel Farage on the topic in the Daily Telegraph.” |
| He said he would think it a shame if “people who have said controversial things in the past, or who hold heterodox opinions, [were] prohibited from serving on public bodies”. | He said he would think it a shame if “people who have said controversial things in the past, or who hold heterodox opinions, [were] prohibited from serving on public bodies”. |
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