Badge - SOS Save Our Schools
Object
Badge
Production date
c. 1981
Object number
2024.94
Physical Description
Metal circular badge with an orange and white striped background. The text plays with the word 'SOS', which becomes the acronym for the slogan 'Save Our Schools'.
Object history
This badge was owned and worn by Peter Kahn, a teacher at Hackney Free and Parochial School.
In 1981, education secretary Mark Carlisle announced plans to close of merge 1000 schools by 1990, in response to falling pupil numbers. The move was criticised by the National Association of Head Teachers for prioritising immediate cash savings and for not recognising that the fall in pupil numbers provided an opportunity for the currently overcrowded schools with classes taking place in cloakrooms, staff rooms and halls.
In Hackney, the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) had already proposed plans to close some of Hackney's 15 comprehensive schools in 1979. Between 1963 and 1975 the number of children born in Hackney had halved from almost 6,000 to under 3,000. The drop in local pupil numbers was made even more dramatic by the general population trend of families leaving the borough for the suburbs, meaning many of these children would not go on to attend a Hackney school
In 1981, education secretary Mark Carlisle announced plans to close of merge 1000 schools by 1990, in response to falling pupil numbers. The move was criticised by the National Association of Head Teachers for prioritising immediate cash savings and for not recognising that the fall in pupil numbers provided an opportunity for the currently overcrowded schools with classes taking place in cloakrooms, staff rooms and halls.
In Hackney, the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) had already proposed plans to close some of Hackney's 15 comprehensive schools in 1979. Between 1963 and 1975 the number of children born in Hackney had halved from almost 6,000 to under 3,000. The drop in local pupil numbers was made even more dramatic by the general population trend of families leaving the borough for the suburbs, meaning many of these children would not go on to attend a Hackney school
Associated Person
Peter Kahn (Owner)
Material
Metal
Plastics
Dimension
Diameter (Front): 4.4cm
On display?
No
Inscription
SOS Save Our Schools