Happy Holidays and Happy New Year

Season’s Greetings from

Education International

As we near the end of 2018 I was reflecting upon the many articles, speeches and messages I have written over these last eight months. I came upon one in particular that summed up my thinking at this moment in time. I wanted to share an excerpt from it as my end-of-year message to all of EI’s member organizations, staff and partners. We undoubtedly have a lot to do and cold winds are blowing… But I know that by standing together we are stronger.

With my best wishes for the New Year!

David

If we take note of the current state of the world we are confronted by rising global inequality, a man-made climate crisis, surging authoritarian populism and nativism, mass migration, automation and digitalization, an assault on facts and the free press and a citizenry that is increasingly segmented, isolated and targeted by a relentless barrage of messaging intended to influence their consumption and behaviour by increasingly unaccountable transnational actors.

To say the world is complex is an understatement. To say that democracy and open societies that respect human rights are under threat is an understatement. If only…

If only there was a profession who could help students and societies make sense of this complexity. If only there were a profession that combined the knowledge we have constructed across disciplines and centuries with the ethical values that inform the use of that knowledge.

If only there were a profession committed to deeply understanding and supporting human development, wellbeing and learning. One that is deeply curious and had research and collaborative problem-solving hardwired into its DNA. If only there were a profession that could bring together local ways of knowing and cultural practices with global understanding and awareness of universal rights. Openminded and open source.

If only there were a profession rooted in every community in the world. Imagine the power if its practitioners were also active, trusted and influential members of those communities.

Such a profession might be able to bridge the possible with the desirable and lead informed debates using facts and information. Of course, the emergence of such a profession onto the current scene would immediately draw the ire of those who benefit from inequality, unconscious consumption, insecurity, fear, ignorance mistrust and well… a globally rigged system. Such a profession would need to have its own democratic structures and political and financial independence to assert its influence, rights, values as it bravely shines its lights into the encroaching darkness and defends the vulnerable. Such a profession would need to count on solidarity at its core as it would never be able to purchase the influence and tools that would be marshalled against it. Such a profession would require a union of purpose that defends its autonomy and rights in law and in practice.

If only there was a profession that organized locally, nationally and internationally to inspire and empower. Such an organized, respected and principled profession might be able to chart a different course, construct a different architecture and maybe even elevate fairness and decency as priorities. 

Colleagues, the time for strongmen, technical advisers, privatizing entrepreneurs, fearmongers, nativists, market fundamentalists, demagogues, narcissists and managerialists must be brought to a close.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

We braid the knowledge of our profession, with the strength of our trade union movement and the conviction of our social justice ideals.

We are much more than knowledge workers, we are organized wisdom workers.

We speak all languages.

We bear witness to all atrocities and accomplishments.

We defend the truth.

Collectively, we seek a better, more just bargain for our societies, our schools and our students.

The banner we rally around is a simple word that frames our narrative and aspirations: 

“We”