Dave Gibson - Teaches English and his own brand of politics

Having witnessed Gibson's presence with students opposing the BNP in Barnsley, it made me wonder what kind of man influences students with his own brand of politics.

Thanks to a letter printed in the Barnsley Chronicle, which reads:

As a former student of Barnsley College, I, like most, am worried about government cuts and in particular tuition fees.

I love the idea that new modernised schools are being built around Barnsley for our children's
education and for a comfortable learning environment. Not like when I was at school in cold porta cabins or with my coat on because the boiler was broken.

On the front page of the Chronicle last week I loved the thought some students had been to London for a peaceful protest.

Then I read the article and looked at the people involved. I was then appalled that the students had been on the front line of violence, led by a senior college lecturer.

As stated, as a former Barnsley College student I'm well aware of Dave Gibson's politics, as are most of Barnsley's shoppers who in recent times have witnessed him with students getting into heated discussions with a certain right wing group.

I'm all for freedom of speech from all sides of the political spectrum but I doubt if Dave Gibson is, as he is bringing his own view of politics into the classroom onto impressionable young students. This is totally wrong.

Politics should be left out of the classroom to let students decide for themselves what view they have when they are old enough to vote.
Daniel Cooke, Highstone Rd, Barnsley

I totally agree with Daniel's letter to the Chron, politics should be left out of the classroom.

What's more disturbing about Dave Gibson is that he blatantly encourages students to commit acts violence to get his own political point across. To prove this point please read the letter below that Dave Gibson put his name to on the Socialist Worker Online.

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The protests last week were a breath of fresh air and we celebrate them.

The government’s attacks on education will wreck millions of young people’s lives, throw workers on the dole and transform education into something shaped by business and the market.

It’s no surprise that students are angry—and they are right to make sure the Tories feel that anger.

We think Sally Hunt, the general secretary of the lecturers’ UCU union, is wrong to condemn the Millbank protest. She blamed it on a “mindless and totally unrepresentative minority”.

That’s wrong. Thousands protested at Millbank. Far from being mindless, they were clear about who their enemy is and determined to show that they would resist.

We think education is a right for everyone, not a privilege for the rich. We need more militant action against the Tories.

Sean Vernell, Jim Wolfreys, Dave Gibson, Alison Lord, Malcolm Povey, Laura Miles and Tom Hickey UCU executive (pc), Andy Stafford UCU rep (pc)

Read more letters here

Dave Gibson in action