[Campaignforrealdemocracy] Report from the Coordination meeting of a National Assembly of Education

[Mark Barrett]

*This report has been collectively written by Jamie Woodcock, Manchester
occupier and Andrew Sanchez, LSE occupier. Please re-post*

On Tuesday 14th December, around 70 students from a variety of institutions
attended a meeting at the LSE to coordinate a national assembly of
education. Present at the meeting were groups of students from the following
institutions: UCL, LSE, Sheffield, Manchester, Kings College London, SOAS,
Oxford, Cambridge, Camden La Swap 6th Form College, London University of the
Arts, Middlesex, Kent, Queen Mary’s, Essex, Sussex, Warwick, Brighton,
London Met, Birkbeck, NUS Black Students’ Campaign, NUS LGBT Campaign, and
UEL.

This process was initiated by motions passed by the following occupations
calling for a general assembly of education early in the New Year; Kings
College London, LSE, Sheffield, Manchester*, *UWE and UEL. Tuesday’s meeting
followed a previous planning meeting attended by 80 students and supporters
with students present from further universities, including Hull, Westminster
FE College and others. In total, delegates from 13 universities were
present.

The meeting started with an open session led by the floor on what a national
assembly for education could be like, with students giving examples of
successful student assemblies in Cambridge, Manchester and Sheffield. People
also discussed how the need for such a national body arises out of the
democratic deficit in society.

The second half of the meeting debated and voted on proposals. This was
carried out in a serious and democratic manner; the following five proposals
were voted upon and subsequently passed by a large majority of those
present:

1.       That the assembly should focus primarily on the direct tactical
questions facing the movement in the new term, and propose actions which the
movement can unite behind.

2.       Whilst aimed predominately at students, the assembly should be open
to attendance and participation for all supporters of the movement.

3.       Voting at the assembly should be open to all those present. The
meeting rejected a delegate-based voting model

4.       That the meeting supports the calls for a national demonstration on
Saturday 29th January, as the movement needs a national demonstration in
January that all can
attend[1]<http://educationactivistnetwork.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=565&action=edit&message=6#_ftn1>
.

5.       That the assembly should take place on the day after, Sunday
30thso as to maximise the ability of those from outside London able to
attend.

Other suggestions for items of discussion at the assembly were alternative
visions of education, dealing with legal issues, and how to conduct
successful occupations. It was felt by the co-chairs of the meeting that
there was consensus that, although not the primary focus of the assembly,
space could be found at the assembly for these issues and others.

A motion proposed by LSE students came up with a formula that different
sections of the movement (school, FE, HE etc) should have the space to meet
and formulate their own suggestions. These can then be supported by the
whole assembly in a plenary. In this way we maximise the solidarity of our
movement whist maintaining space for independent action. Although not
directly voted on, this proposal was seen as a sensible way to proceed in
this matter.

It is now the aim to hold an open organising meeting very early in the New
Year to plan the conference along these lines voted in this meeting.
 ------------------------------

[1]<http://educationactivistnetwork.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=565&action=edit&message=6#_ftnref1>this
was decided in order to work in solidarity with UCU’s proposed
demonstration on that day
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