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At the chalkface: Charlie at the chalkface

Teaching staff
Has Charlie Hebdo had any fallout in your classrooms? We’ve been here before – and the fallout wasn’t good. Scene: a classroom in west London in the Spring of 1989...

We’ve been here before – and the fallout wasn’t good. Scene: a classroom in west London in the Spring of 1989. I’m teaching a rather large 6th form. We’re doing an exam called GCSE “Mature” English. “Mature” is a euphemism for “Re-sit”. Few of the pupils are English. Many are fleeing the war zones of the world, especially the present horrors in the Lebanon. The class is a rich mix of religions and races, multiculturalism on legs, and thus a delicious Daily Mail nightmare. This is usually one of my favourite lessons. The pupils are very bright and considered and passionately engaged. But not today. Today we trade in dogma. Why?

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