Those who can ...
Did you see Real Story on BBC1 tonight? It was a documentary following a team of specialists who went into an under performing school to identify any children with learning difficulties, to help them improve their basic skills and to introduce new teaching practices.
I was shocked by the attitude of some of the teachers. Admittedly some of the pupils had learning and behavioural difficulties but much of that was due to the system letting them down. The staff was resistant to change and new ideas. Some were verbally aggressive to the pupils. I can't begin to imagine how stressful teaching must be but I really wonder why some of them are teachers.
Shockingly the average literacy age was 9 in a group of 11/12 year olds. 40% were under the required standard. They were having to teach basic reading and writing skills which should have been achieved much earlier. After a while, one of the teachers was pleased with the progress of a particular boy's reading but to be honest it was still slow and stilted.
I couldn't help but think, at the age of 9 I was reading The Hobbit and by 11 I had read the Fellowship of the Rings and was starting the Two Towers.
I guess I should be thankful for my good education :o)
posted by Rhea at 12/13/2006 08:00:00 pm
3 Comments:
How frightening - that's just dreadful.
Didn't see it (on account of it being on the TV) but none of your account surprises me, I've read quite a bit about this in the Guardian.
How did your move go? And your November writing month?
A friend of mine took her children out of school because the teachers attitude was so awful and they shouted foul language at the children.
Another friends daughter had to put up with the same environment at a different school, but she was reluctant to take her child out of school to be home taught. Her daughter has ended up being home taught anyway because going to school was making her ill and she ended up in need of counselling.
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