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Dear All Nancy and I have managed to put the internal workings of the EBEA on public display. Sincere apologies to anyone who has been offended. It has, however, highlighted the difficulties faced by the EBEA. These are not new. We have been fighting falling numbers for a long time. All subject associations are facing the same problems - we just have more to lose. The others have National Curriculum status so people at the DfES are responsible for making things happen. The people who look after us at QCA and Ofsted (yes Ofsted wants to promote business and economics education) do a fine job but in the big picture we are still 'Not National Curriculum' - a mantra I've heard so often. Even the DfES doesn't seem to realise that at KS4 it means very little. We've had to fight for recognition at every step. A lengthy dialogue with BECTa , for example, finally gave us a proper space on the VTC. It took a Secretary of State to get that under way! Without an independent organisation, that would be very hard to do. Many people don't realise that this sort of work is constantly going on. Large subject associations like ASE and DATA run enormous offices with many staff and are constantly pursuing people who matter in the decision making process. So - what can be done about it? Who can help? Any thoughts? Jenny Wales EBEA Vice President Jenny Wales Citizenship Co-ordinator Nuffield Foundation