Let me recount an experience with the educational correspondent of a nameless Conservative national daily paper when I was teaching in London in the days of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA).
The school and its headmaster were well known, the school for its success and popularity, and the Head for his traditional values. This sat uncomfortably with the marxist ILEA.
The journalist came to interview me and another teacher of more leftist leanings. We were to talk about what was good or bad about the ILEA.
I started by getting him to agree that everything I said would be unattributable - anonymous. I then told the ugly truth about the Authority and its preference for ideology over education. Hot stuff. I named names, starting with the abominable Bramall..
My colleague was a very loyal ILEA employee, but not so smart. He gave the journalist a loyal defence of the Authority.
My highly negative views were printed. His were not.
However the newspaper in question seemed to attribute my comments to him.
He was not happy, nor was the ILEA. I was.
