Editor’s letter newint.org

NEW INTERNATIONALIST The New Internationalist workers’ co-operative exists to report on the issues of world poverty and inequality; to focus attention on the unjust relationship between the powerful and powerless worldwide; to debate and campaign for the radical changes necessary to meet the basic needs of all; and to bring to life the people, the ideas and the action in the f ight for global justice. The New Internationalist magazine was founded by Peter and Lesley Adamson in 1970. Together with a range of other publications it is published by New Internationalist Publications Ltd which is wholly owned by the New Internationalist Trust and co-operatively managed: Accounts: Samuel Gormley. Advertising: Michael York. Design: Andrew Kokotka, Ian Nixon, Juha Sorsa. Editorial (Magazine): Vanessa Baird, Kelsi Farrington, Dinyar Godrej, Hazel Healy, Chris Spannos, Jamie Kelsey-Fry, Alessio Perrone. Editorial (Publications): Chris Brazier. Mail Order: Bev Dawes, Emma Dunkley, James Rowland. Marketing (Magazine): Amanda Synnott, Rob Norman. Marketing (Publications): Dan Raymond-Barker, Natalie Taylor. Production: Fran Harvey. Web and IT: Charlie Harvey. SUBSCRIPTIONS Website: newint.org/subscribe Email: subscriptions@newint.org Phone: +44 (0) 1604 251 046 Phone (from Ireland): CallSave 1850 924 331 Fax: +44 (0)1604 251031 Post: New Internationalist, 3 Queensbridge, The Lakes, Northampton, NN4 7BF, UK . ANNUAL PRINT SUBSCRIPTION PRICES UK: £45.85; Institutions £70. Rest of World: Individuals £49.85/�59.85. Institutions £90. Despatch by air only. Subscribers in Canada, US, Australia and New Zealand should contact their local subscriptions office whose addresses can be found at newint.org/about/contact/ UK OFFICE New Internationalist, The Old Music Hall, 106-108 Cowley Road, Oxford OX4 1JE. Tel: +44 (0)1865 403345; Fax: +44 (0)1865 403346; Email: ni@newint.org Advertising (magazine & web): Michael York 01865 403339 michaely@newint.org Contract enquiries: ni_cg@newint.org Web queries: tech@newint.org Permissions & general enquiries: 01865 403345 office.manager@newint.org News trade distributor: COMAG Specialist Division, Tavistock Works, Tavistock Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 7QX, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1895 433800. Fax: +44 (0)1895 433801. The New Internationalist is published monthly except that the Jan/Feb and July/Aug issues are combined.

facebook.com/newint

@newint

It helps us occasionally to allow carefully screened organizations to mail our subscribers. If you do not wish to receive their material, please write to your subscription office. © New Internationalist Publications Ltd. 2017 ISSN 0305-9529 ISO accreditation 9001-2008

Regulated by IMPRESS: the independent monitor for the press www.impress.press For Complaints Scheme see: newint.org/about/complaints/

Being the best

Do you ever get that ‘I wish I’d been a teacher’ moment? I get it, sometimes – usually at my seven-year-old son’s ‘sharing assemblies’. Hundreds of children fill the school hall, which is decorated by supersized creations – paintings, mobiles, 3-D shapes. Parents squeeze in at the back, teachers line the sides, using emphatic sign language, fingers to lips, to keep this jiggling, fidgety mass quiet and seated.

The headteacher welcomes everyone and cracks a few jokes. On stage, Year 2 pass around a microphone with excruciating slowness, making mostly inaudible statements about a recent school trip, to parents’ collective, ill-concealed delight.

The older children are gracious. They are used to this. Everyone gets a turn here – it’s built in the fabric of the school. The assemblies are all delivered under the motto over the stage that reads ‘Live, love, learn and be happy’. This order is important and not coincidental. Headteacher Rachel Crouch – a lifelong subscriber to New Internationalist, from whom you will hear more shortly – has always made hers an inclusive, welcoming school with equity at its heart.

But in this magazine we look at how the noble endeavour that is education – the kind that gives you the ‘wish I’d been a teacher moment’ – is under threat from powerful business interests, while introducing you to those working to take things in a different direction.

Elsewhere in the September edition, we unpick why stories that claim to reveal a biological basis to differences between men and women are so persistently popular and learn about how private corporations in Peru are hiring out the police to do their dirty work. n

Hazel Healy for the New Internationalist Co-operative newint.org

This month’s contributors include:

Sawsan Al-Refaei is a Yemeni civil-society activist, based in Amman, Jordan who works on advocacy and gender issues. Since 2016, she has worked as a Policy, Advocacy & Research Coordinator at the Arab Campaign for Education.

Mónica del Pilar Uribe Marín is a Colombian journalist who specializes in environment, politics and human rights. She is the founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Prisma, an independent newspaper based in London. theprisma.co.uk

Yong Zhao is a Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas and a Professorial Fellow at the Mitchell Institute, Victoria University. He is the author of an upcoming book Teach for Greatness: Personalizable Education.

Julio Etchart is a documentary photographer, photojournalist and web reporter who grew up in Uruguay. He is a cofounder of Reportage Photos and has travelled the world photographing for international media and NGOs. julioetchart.com

A special thank you to our ‘Club of 500’ This magazine’s back cover has been handed over to our special ‘Club of 500’. These wonderful 196 people generously invested £500 (US$650) in New Internationalist’s Community Share Offer last April. As a small token of our gratitude we’re highlighting their names in print and online (at newint.org/about/500club). We’re still moved by the incredible support so many gave us at this critical time. In total, more than 3,600 internationalists in 42 countries took the historic step to become coowners of NI. All share certificates and ‘Buy into a Better Story’ t-shirt rewards have been sent out or should be en route. If for some reason yours doesn’t turn up, please contact us on factsandheart@newint.org Helen Wallis for New Internationalist Co-operative helen.wallis@newint.org

New I nter nat io nal ist ● september 2017 ● 3