In November of 2001, the general secretary of a British teachers' union, Nigel de Gruchy, was accused of calling classroom teaching assistants "pig ignorant peasants." What a lovely and evocative phrase!

My own experience with pigs, not unlike that of Lord Emsworth at Blandings Castle, is that they are rather clever. I once raised a pig, during my undergraduate years, by the name of Orwell, who was quite capable of unlatching gates in fences and other witty tricks. He also had a quite engaging sense of humour.

One wonders if this phrase is a slander of pigs and a compliment to peasants? One also wonders whatever became of Mr. de Gruchy?