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At the chalkface: Outside any classroom

It’s the Ugly Mob – panicking parents, quisling inspectors, craven managers, performance-relating buffoons, profoundly ignorant ministers or foaming rabid tabloids. Among others. What do they want? A scapegoat.

The teacher stands inside the classroom. The darkness gathers outside. The clocks go back. Shadows put on weight. The classroom gets lighter and brighter with learning and laughter. The teacher, who is young and talented, smiles at her tough and sprightly pupils. A hand goes up. “Please, miss! They’re out there!”

Another hand goes up. “They are though, miss! Voices!” The teacher knows. She’s been trying to block them out. The darker it gets, the louder they get. Shapes and shadows like Halloween spooks, their ghost train faces banging like bats against the windows. What is this malign chorus? These clamorous voices from some dark, public world?

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