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Ian Cushing

@iancushing.bsky.social
2.4K followers 844 following 293 posts

Reader in Critical Applied Linguistics, Manchester Metropolitan University. Documenting and dismantling linguistic injustice in schools. Editor, Critical Studies in Education. Leverhulme Prize 2026-2029. www.mmu.ac.uk/staff/profile/dr-ian-…

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Reposted by Ian Cushing
Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
'The University of Nottingham has confirmed that it will close its music and languages departments as it presses ahead with more than 500 job cuts despite widespread opposition from staff and students.' A blight on East Midlands and UK higher education.
timeshighereducation.com
Nottingham confirms course closures with hundreds of jobs affected
Languages and music departments to close despite strikes and protests but university insists it has addressed staff concerns in revised plans
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
i am working on some transcript data of a teacher telling a group of children that they must 'speak in full sentences' in which he pauses, coughs, says errm a lot, repeats words, apologises, gets confused, is confusing, and my god how is this idea of 'speak in full sentences' still alive
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Isabelle Finn-Kelcey @isabellefk.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
“Schools become sites of linguistic sanctuary … There would be a moratorium on classroom tools that function as powerful mechanisms of linguistic injustice [eg] AI, standardised testing, punitive discipline policies & commercially produced curricula” Yes please 🙏 #postnormalpossibilities
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
schools are one of the most efficient and well-oiled spaces for maintaining linguistic injustice, but they can also be radical spaces for imagining otherwise. in this work in Applied Linguistics i offer some design principles for institutional linguistic justice in schools.🌸 doi.org/10.1093/appl...
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
💜💜
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Miguel Pérez Milans @mpmilans.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
📣 Call for expressions of interest to register for the London Doctoral Training School on Data Analysis in Ethnography, Language and communication which will take place at the UCL Institute of Education during July 5-9, 2027. 🔗 More information here: www.bloomsburytheatre.com/event/2027/0...
bloomsburytheatre.com
London Doctoral Training School on Data Analysis in Ethnography, Language and Communication | Bloomsbury Theatre
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Dr Abigaël Candelas @consentcactus.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This article by was an illuminating read
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
thanks !
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
according to these school discipline policies, children who use these language patterns are ‘misbehaving’. open access article exploring this in depth: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
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EngLangBlog @englangblog.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
We remember Deborah Cameron in this piece by the emag editors and Lia Litosseliti, Jo Angouri & @iancushing.bsky.social
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Reform Party UK Exposed @reformexposed.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Reform UK Conference 2026 This is all it will be remembered for.
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
in new work published in Applied Linguistics i propose a set of design principles for the design and creation of linguistic justice in schools at an institutional level, rooted in imagination infrastructure and place-based activism 🌸 open access here: doi.org/10.1093/appl...
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Nick Covington @covingtonedu.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Jesus Christ: '...a two-year ethnographic study of scripted math curriculum found decreased teacher innovation and creativity as well a new definition of “good teaching"...this teacher came to believe that the poor and minority children in her classroom “needed” such restrictive teaching.'
Over time however, fears about the impact of the scripts on pedagogy appear to be replaced by a belief in the power and expertise of the scripts. For example, a two-year ethnographic study of scripted math curriculum found decreased teacher innovation and creativity as well a new definition of “good teaching”. A teacher participant ruefully reflected that she was no longer creative but accepted the necessity of the scripted methodology without deviation. Most concerning however, was how this teacher came to believe that the poor and minority children in her classroom “needed” such restrictive teaching (Parks & Bridges-Rhoads, 2012).
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Warda Farah @wardasworld.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
We need to show rightwing newspapers that actions have consequences. Add your name: goodlawproject.org/s/abb8a1
goodlawproject.org
Jason Arday: Demand a public inquiry now | Good Law Project
Commission an immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press given its contribution to Dr Arday’s tragic death.
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
when racist academia and racist press converge, this is what happens. RIP.
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Charlotte Lydia Riley @lottelydia.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Or, in fact, not really a news story at all. I don’t believe at all that this was nationally important and certainly not “third on the BBC 6 o’clock news” important as a story. Cofnas started all of this because he’s a racist and the media ran with it.
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Petra Boynton @petraboynton.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
This is appalling and tragic. Cambridge University, the media, and those far right 'scholars' and hangers on who sought to capitalise on this case for social media clout surely bear responsibility for what feels like an entirely predictable outcome. www.lbc.co.uk/article/jaso...
lbc.co.uk
Former Cambridge professor Jason Arday found dead aged 41 | LBC
Mr Arday is understood to have been found "unresponsive" at an address in Battersea on Friday afternoon
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Chris @oakymoron.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Hounded to death Very sad www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
independent.co.uk
Former University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday found dead
The academic was found unresponsive at an address in Battersea on Friday
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Something is Being Born @nabelew.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Go check out @geraldroche.bsky.social's review of @sophiasgaler.bsky.social's "How to Kill a Language" for a surgical dissection of the history of language oppression denialism, clear and informed reminders of its political nature, and a buncha links to good research (incl. by @chirila.bsky.social):
theconversation.com
Languages are disappearing, and the problem is political
Language loss is often a reluctant choice made to escape violence, not a willing choice made to gain benefits.
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Anne H. Charity Hudley @acharityhudley.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
We have four open positions at @stanfordeducation.bsky.social : teacher education, early learning mechanisms & interventions, Social Sciences/Humanities of Education in a Rapidly Changing World, & K-12 Ethnic Studies Education! Spread the word! ed.stanford.edu/faculty/jobs
ed.stanford.edu
Open Positions | Stanford Graduate School of Education
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
in new work published in Applied Linguistics i propose a set of design principles for the design and creation of linguistic justice in schools at an institutional level, rooted in imagination infrastructure and place-based activism 🌸 open access here: doi.org/10.1093/appl...
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Educational Review @edreview.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
What does a linguistically just oracy framework look like? @iancushing.bsky.social & @mschoudrey.bsky.social reimagine oracy in England's schools through the lenses of social justice, anti-racism, anti-ableism, and linguistic diversity. 📚🗣️ doi.org/10.1080/0013... #Oracy #LinguisticJustice
Educational Review journal title appears at the top. On the left is the article title and author name(s): ‘An oracy framework for England’s schools: linguistic justice edition’ by Ian Cushing & Sabah Choudrey. On the right is an image of colourful speech bubbles. The words “Open Access” appear in a red circle.
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Isabelle Finn-Kelcey @isabellefk.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Just 1 reason to love this #anti-ableist oracy framework: “Children have the right … to not answer when prompted. Staying silent can be a powerful form of refusal - especially for children who reject curricula … who feel let down by schooling … or for children who simply do not feel like talking”
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Lecturer in Critical Applied Linguistics at MMU (p/t; fixed term). Deadline August 16. The role would suit people with interests and expertise in issues concerning critical language pedagogies, language and social justice, and educational linguistics. manmetjobs.mmu.ac.uk/jobs/vacancy...
manmetjobs.mmu.ac.uk
Lecturer (Critical Applied Linguistics) - (9121) | Manchester Metropolitan University Careers
All about Manchester Metropolitan - an exciting, modern university in the heart of one of the UK's great student cities.
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
that is very kind !
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Rob Drummond @robdrummond.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Just came across this amazing documentary. Expect some more clips today!
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Mr E @theniceman.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
Ouch. The curriculum review oracy focus made no reference to multilingual abilities if pupils. Only deficit in English. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
An oracy framework for England’s schools: linguistic justice edition
It is September 2028. All schools in England have just started teaching the new national curriculum. As part of this, they are adhering to guidance contained within a new oracy framework, named as ...
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PL Thomas EdD @plthomasedd.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
Follow the Word Gap: The Social Life of a Deficit Concept - Cushing - 2025 - Reading Research Quarterly - Wiley Online Library ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
ila.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
<em>Reading Research Quarterly</em> | ILA Literacy Journal | Wiley Online Library
This article uses a ‘follow the thing’ methodology to trace the trajectory of the so-called word gap from its original conception in 1990s US academic knowledge production through to a teacher educat...
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International Literacy Association (ILA) @ilatoday.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
In an article for Reading Research Quarterly, Manchester Metropolitan University Reader in Critical Applied Linguistics Ian Cushing follows the “word gap” across time, policy, and classrooms—exposing how deficit ideologies stigmatize families and constrain teachers: buff.ly/cXdttbR
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Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
"In education systems such as England, which are characterized by an increasing level of state power and surveillance, it becomes urgently important to challenge word gap ideologies which exacerbate social inequality under seemingly benevolent guises of empowerment and social justice." --Ian Cushing
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Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
"Word gap ideologies operate on the myth that the language practices of white, able-bodied, middle-upper class communities are objectively higher quality than those of racialized, disabled and low-income communities. " --- Ian Cushing www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Word rich or word poor? Deficit discourses, raciolinguistic ideologies and the resurgence of the ‘word gap’ in England’s education policy
Educational linguists across England and the USA have long critiqued deficit-based language ideologies in schools, yet since the early 2010s, these have enjoyed a marked resurgence in England’s edu...
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
our framework offers an alternative to oracy initiatives which reproduce deficit thinking about language, treat oracy as a depoliticised entity, overlook multilingual abilities, reproduce ableist ideologies about communication, and frame oracy as a language-based solution to structural problems.
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Language on the Move @languageonthemove.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
In the latest episode of the Language-on-the-Move podcast @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social, @brynnquick.bsky.social chats with @nelsonlflores.bsky.social about bilingual education in the US, and why it's not the path to reducing disadvantage it is cracked up to be languageonthemove.com/genealogy-of...
languageonthemove.com
Genealogy of Bilingual Education in the US
In this episode of the Language on the Move Podcast, Brynn Quick sits down with Dr. Nelson Flores to discuss his 2024 book entitled Becoming the System: A Raciolinguistic Genealogy of Bilingual Edu…
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
yeah but why tf are the guardian - or any media outlet - continuing to give that irrelevant old dude any space? as long as humph gets given a platform then he’ll carry on humphing
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
our linguistic justice oracy framework intervenes prior to the publication of the ‘official’ DfE framework. it offers a vision for an anti-racist and anti-ableist oracy which sustains the linguistic dexterity that all children bring to school with them. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
An oracy framework for England’s schools: linguistic justice edition
It is September 2028. All schools in England have just started teaching the new national curriculum. As part of this, they are adhering to guidance contained within a new oracy framework, named as ...
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
thanks Andrew !
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Andrew McCallum @andrewemc.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Fascinating piece by @iancushing.bsky.social + Sabah Choudrey that challenges the deficit thinking informing lots of current work about oracy www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
An oracy framework for England’s schools: linguistic justice edition
It is September 2028. All schools in England have just started teaching the new national curriculum. As part of this, they are adhering to guidance contained within a new oracy framework, named as ...
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clarefeeneyuk.bsky.social @clarefeeneyuk.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
There's much to think about & act on here for those designing the oracy framework.
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
thanks so much clare !
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... An oracy framework for England’s schools: linguistic justice edition Open access and out now in Educational Review
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clarefeeneyuk.bsky.social @clarefeeneyuk.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Have a read! We include 2 case studies of linguistic justice efforts with teachers and students.
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The English Association @englishassociation.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
This! Have a read of our most recent Position Paper, ( they provide brief overviews of key issues in English Studies). This time the focus is on #linguisticjustice #injustice With huge thanks to our esteemed members : @iancushing.bsky.social and @clarefeeneyuk.bsky.social 💫
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
april baker-bell and davena jackson are in Manchester next week and we are delighted to host them at MMU for a seminar 'Resisting anti-Black linguistic racism and building linguistic justice'. in-person or online - details here! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/resisting-...
eventbrite.co.uk
Resisting anti-Black linguistic racism and building linguistic justice
Seminar: 'Resisting anti-Black linguistic racism and building futures of linguistic justice in schools', April Baker-Bell and Davena Jackson
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
it was fun to collaborate with @clarefeeneyuk.bsky.social on this position paper on linguistic in/justice for the @englishassociation.bsky.social, where we point to the need to conceptualise linguistic in/justice in structural and intersectional ways 🌸 englishassociation.ac.uk/position-pap...
englishassociation.ac.uk
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Dan Isbell @danielrisbell.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
"These findings demonstrated that LLMs not only differ linguistically from human experts but also appear to compress and simplify the rhetorical space through which scientific uncertainty is conventionally expressed." www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
sciencedirect.com
Modeling scientific uncertainty in language: Applied linguistic insights from human and artificial intelligence texts
As generative AI systems increasingly function as substitutes for traditional information-seeking tools, concerns have emerged about how these systems…
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Ian Cushing @iancushing.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
i am in beautiful Detroit for collaborations and writing with April Baker-Bell and teachers on global linguistic justice and it is 🌸
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Alexander Chee @alexanderchee.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
“Rowling has made it abundantly clear that she thinks attacking transgender people via the legal system is a worthwhile cause and a good use of her vast personal fortune…there’s no way to watch this show without supporting Rowling’s bigotry and the structural violence she’s inflicting…”
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Dr Ruth Churchill Dower @ruthchurchilldower.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
So happy to say our book is now published! Working with the amazing editorial team has been a privilege, including @abihackett.bsky.social, @davidbenshannon.bsky.social, Vishnu Kkn, Christina MacRae, Rachel Holmes, @khawlabadwan.bsky.social, Rosie Flewitt and @wardasworld.bsky.social. Thanks all! 🌸
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Nelson Flores @nelsonlflores.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
Many describe Trump as acting like a child. This assume children are inherently less developed than adults. But children often have a much more developed sense of empathy & justice than adults. Trump is not acting like a child. He is acting like an imperialist. US leaders have always acted this way.
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BERA @beranews.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
📝 NEW BLOG POST One million suspensions: How English school policy is failing our most vulnerable children By Sade Ajose, Swansea University Read here: www.bera.ac.uk/blog/one-million-sus…
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