Teachers voting conservative

[mids2019]

Obviously within every profession there are a range of political views but having had some brief work experience as a teacher the staff room conversation was very much about prolonged cuts to education by the conservatives and general criticism of that party.

I was just interested in seeing if teachers that vote conservative feel they are in a minority within a school environment or perhaps hide their political leanings?

If you do vote conservative do you advocate conservative education policy within the workplace?.

I've worked for many years as a teaching assistant in a SEN setting. I have never come across any staff member, teacher or otherwise, with a good word to say about Tory education policy when conversations have turned that way. There have been those that have remained quiet and not engaged in the conversation. Our jobs have become increasingly more difficult over the last decade or so and we're poorer than ever. People are leaving in hoards for jobs outside of education so I wouldn't say there's much to shout about when it comes to Tory education policy to be honest

@Survivingmy3yearold

I get that impression as well. I don't work instruction and have colleagues with a range of political views and we have the occasional discussion about politics at large (nothing overly heated). With teaching though there seemed to be a real guttural resistance to right wing/conservative policy in general (especially with education) so was wondering if those with conservative views in education do tend to keep quiet.

In education

The TES did an analysis last election of teacher actual voting and stated voting intentions and there was an interestingly large difference! Although the profession as a whole is still somewhat left of centre.

You're correct, anyone who doesn't agree with the majority keeps quiet mostly.

Codes of conduct require teachers to be politically neutral in the classroom, however.

I've never heard of any teachers talk about voting Conservative. I've spoiled my ballot in previous elections as couldn't bring myself to vote for any party which I don't like doing but I couldnt vote for Labour for their sex/gender ideals.

The Tories don’t tend to be brilliant for education, true.

But I don’t just vote based on my job.

Plus, although I accept I’m in a minority here, my workload has decreased and my work life is generally better since the 2017 reforms. I would be very worried a Labour government would reintroduce coursework which definitely isn’t what I want.

There may be a difference between state school and public school teachers?

What is 'Tory education policy' at the moment that isn't simply running schools into the ground?

Ideas on how to run schools aren't split conservative/labour and I know there are a variety of opinions on that in the staffroom.

It's probably got more to do with socio demographics than type of school. State schools/private schools aren't one big homogeneous lump.

If you mean that teachers at Winchester, Eton, Westminster etc vote differently - well, that would be an interesting study!

Well, I don't always agree with @noblegiraffe, but they're correct...what policy?!

I think there is a little assumption that working in the public sector means your more likely to be left wing.

Interesting point about social demographics. If you work with deprived children does that influence your political thinking or contribute to revealing your political beliefs?

Oh well if Labout had won the last election they would have abolished private schools so then everyone could have a shit education 🙄

We don’t discuss politics at my school. It’s very much the ethos. I prefer it that way. Oh and I voted Tory first time over the fact they know what a woman is. Unlike the other parties. I’m in Scotland so trans ideology is huge here and it terrifies me.

I’ve never met a teacher who voted Conservative (or admitted to it anyway!). I did speak to a TA who voted for Johnson and said she didn’t like Corbyn but couldn’t explain why. (I was polite, I promise!) Generally our staffroom is fairly left wing and pro- Corbyn style policies.

I've never heard of any teachers talk about voting Conservative. I've spoiled my ballot in previous elections as couldn't bring myself to vote for any party which I don't like doing but I couldnt vote for Labour for their sex/gender ideals.

Same here. I've never yet spoiled my ballot paper, but probably will next election unless the Labour Party or the Lib Dems have a major re-think. I live in a rare Lib Dem safe seat and have voted for them in the past, but definitely won't now. They'll no doubt still win here though. I'm starting at a new school this year, but I doubt there will be any out Tory voters.

I know loads of teachers who vote conservative, they just don't go on about it like labour voters do. Being a labour supporter is a bit like being a vegan, you have to let everyone know.

Recent poll. Conservative voting teachers rare, but staff rooms aren't particularly stuffed with Labour voters at the moment.

Are there teachers who as well as being conservative fully support those ethos on education? What conservative policies appeal compared to Labour?

I’ve got friends who are teachers who vote Tory. Their job is one part of their lives. They vote Tory for many other reasons.