Signposts or weathercocks?

Are teachers signposts or weathercocks?

I heard an interesting interview with Tony Benn and the weekend (on the Worriker show on 5 Live.) He basically said there were 2 types of politician; those who show the way (signposts) and those who follow which ever way the wind of poularity is blowing (weather cocks). Interestingly he associated himself with Thatcher on this one by saying that she at least kept true to her guiding principles, unlike other more recent Prime Ministers one could mention...

This got me thinking about my profession. Ideally teachers should be able to be signposts. We should have the time and resources necessary to direct our students in the direction which is most suitable for their education. We do after all spend quite some time with them and get to know them. However how often do we feel we are forced to turn off a sure path (in our own professional opinion) to follow the fickle winds of political popularity. Take today's announcements of language learning in primary schools in England (of course we already have it here in  Scotland). Sounds great, it is great, but have they consulted those who will have to deliver it. Where are the languages teachers to deliver it. Successive governments have consistently reduced the importance and relevancy to pupils of MFL and as a consequence there is no way on this earth that the required number of QUALIFIED teachers will be found to pull this off. OR, as seems to be a worrying trend in my homeland, will teaching assisstants be "trained" to deliver language lessons. It is at this point that I thank my lucky stars that I camr to work in Scotland. For all the problems that exist in our education system here at least we are trying to iron them out in a concrete and consultative manner (ACfE). I really feel for my friends and colleagues working down south who have to put up with constant interference and messing around  clueless politicos.