Alexander Ewing spares a thought for people in the French Alps

It has come to my attention that I’m in this year’s Christmas issue of The Oxford Times. So, I begin with an obligatory ‘happy holidays’. Full disclosure, I’ve written this column well before the big day.

In fact, as you read this over your porridge, I’ll be in a sub-Saharan location far away — and far warmer than I bet you are in Blighty. Although, with climate change you never know.

Others headed to colder climes — that is, historically speaking — face the same disclaimer.

I kindly moved my last theory of politics tutorial from late Friday afternoon of eighth week so one of my students could head off on the ‘Varsity Ski Trip’ to France — by coach.

Don’t be fooled. ‘Varsity’ may suggest it is an elite trip, but it actually includes hundreds, and mainly applies to accomplished drinking, from what I gather.

Nor is there any snow (at the time of writing).

The poor locals.

Still, this particular student deserves a bit of R&R.

It is his final year and he worked diligently this term, even though he told me he already has a job lined up for next year.

Wish I could say the same.

I felt the course went well until the end when I tried to summarise with a relevant passage from Plato’s Republic.

Referencing one of the most important works of all time proved to be a damp squib, however.

One student replied that “it is a book I hope to go through life without ever having to read”.

For a political theorist this is as bad as it gets.

Luckily I can place blame elsewhere — mainly on the economists — along with those who set our core paper reading list.

Never mind.

A colleague and I held a reading group for first-years on ‘The Education of Politics and the Politics of Education’.

We read Book VII of the Republic in the first week.

One enterprising student even offered an interpretative drawing of Plato’s allegory of the cave. There is hope.

The other good news I have to report is that Oriel College, where I am a junior dean emeritus, recently voted to become an accredited living wage employer (as did Hertford).

St Catherine’s, my other affiliation, has led the way on this, and I’m very proud of Oriel for following suit.

It is a college often burdened with an out-dated (and somewhat unfair) reputation for pastel trousers, male chauvinism, only caring about rowing and an aversion to any form of progressivism.

Hopefully this can be put to bed.

I’m told university staff also receive a living wage, but I hope Oxford will gain accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation.

This means a decent wage for employees, contractors and casual staff in one of the most unaffordable cities in Britain.

In my opinion, at least, there is a sad irony that Oxford dons, many of whom teach on subjects like the good, justice and fairness, have in the past allowed such a poor wage structure.

Political theory, although perhaps not Plato in this instance, can show us a better way.