Why are we punishing school children?

[Gerrydelasel]

You said it was due to socialism which is wrong. The problem is as touched by Notch and further expanded above about the pedagogy of teaching and the marketisation of education where competition somehow will improve standards.

Socialism isn't just about who pays, it's about centralised planning. The centralised planning part is the main bit that screws it up, because one size almost never fits all. A single national curriculum; centralised standardisation, does not fit all. Devolve more choice to teachers/local school administrators; it doesn't matter if the funding comes from the treasury or the parents directly.

 

[ellal]

The centralised planning part is the main bit that screws it up, because one size almost never fits all. A single national curriculum; centralised standardisation, does not fit all.

Yep, Finland's education system is really f ucked isn't it

Decentralisation leads to the type of elitist system that we have in the UK. And we can all see how 'successful' a business model that is here

 

[SirGalahad]

Socialism isn't just about who pays, it's about centralised planning. The centralised planning part is the main bit that screws it up, because one size almost never fits all. A single national curriculum; centralised standardisation, does not fit all. Devolve more choice to teachers/local school administrators; it doesn't matter if the funding comes from the treasury or the parents directly.

Agree stupidity is not partisan.

If we devolve everything to the teachers then we leave them to their own devices. Which leads to too many inconsistent results, ie a postcode lottery. The focus should be on removing barriers to let teachers teach but also provide the correct support structures and national curriculum but not to the point of testing for testing sake.

What you argue for is Academies that have more freedom and what have they done with it? Banked the money and many are still failing.

Kids should come out of the education system with strong basic knowledge and skills so they can make informed choices of what to do next and not just onto higher education.

 

[JohnD]

Socialism isn't just about who pays, it's about centralised planning.

That is perfectly untrue.

 

[Gerrydelasel]

That is perfectly untrue.

No it isn't. Socialism is statism; any other variant is merely voluntary collectivism.

 

[Mottie]

↑
“Correct the students spelling?
Yep. If a say a geography teacher points out errors in spelling which should be areas covered by the english teachers then rather than create more workload for themselves they let the child be.”

I wholeheartedly agree but if you look at the rest of my post, I was having a dig at the bloody personal tutors that are assigned to the students that attend my centre when I followed that with “I have to correct the spelling of the tutors that come with the students!”.

In fact, I had to admonish a bloody 43 year old tutor a couple of weeks ago when his student hadn’t revised for an exam he was supposed to take. When the student told me he hadn’t revised (as part of his so-called education package in the 4 days he’s not with me) the tutor had a go at the student saying something like “I told you to do that at home”. I told him in no uncertain terms it was his bloody job to sit with him and revise, the lazy bar-steward.

They’re assigning personal tutors who can’t bloody spell to teach these kids. WTF?

 

[SirGalahad]

↑
“Correct the students spelling?
Yep. If a say a geography teacher points out errors in spelling which should be areas covered by the english teachers then rather than create more workload for themselves they let the child be.”

I wholeheartedly agree but if you look at the rest of my post, I was having a dig at the bloody personal tutors that are assigned to the students that attend my centre when I followed that with “I have to correct the spelling of the tutors that come with the students!”.

In fact, I had to admonish a bloody 43 year old tutor a couple of weeks ago when his student hadn’t revised for an exam he was supposed to take. When the student told me he hadn’t revised (as part of his so-called education package in the 4 days he’s not with me) the tutor had a go at the student saying something like “I told you to do that at home”. I told him in no uncertain terms it was his bloody job to sit with him and revise, the lazy bar-steward.

They’re assigning personal tutors who can’t bloody spell to teach these kids. WTF?

I am surprised the tutor cannot spell as they would have been brought up without using computers in schools as the tutor is 43. Now its too easy to rely on the software to correct spelling mistakes so it becomes less of a need to spell correctly. Perhaps it's why I cannot stand text speak and never use abbreviations in text messages.

So many kids have been branded SEN that it has meant those with real SEN issues have become even more disaffected.

 

[EFLImpudence]

No, I remember a parent-teacher evening thiry five years ago when I was informed that spelling and grammar were not important as long as the meaning was clear so he will be one of that era.

She did not know what to do if the misspelling made the meaning unclear.

 

[Gerrydelasel]

Yep, Finland's education system is really f ucked isn't it

In Finland the national core curriculum is a only framework around which local curricula are designed. In Britain the national curriculum is so rigid that there is virtually no scope for local variations in what is taught. So you've just made my point for me.

 

[JohnD]

In England, the national curriculum is not an obligation on all schools.

Not even all that are publicly funded.

 

[noseall]

Gerry is just poorly educated, leave him be.

 

[noseall]

What about getting him some extra tuition outside school or even sit with him yourself each evening until things improve?

We've done as much as we can without actually sitting the exams and doing the writing for him. His spelling has improved and we are exploring other ways to combat his illegible scrawl.

 

[SirGalahad]

We've don as much as we can without actually sitting the exams and doing the writing for him. His spelling has improved and we are exploring other ways to combat his illegible scrawl.

Stick with it. All the perseverance will pay off. The only thing that's guaranteed to make the difference is spending time doing it over and over again. I know there are tools and techniques but in the end time spent is what matters.

 

[Notch7]

In England, the national curriculum is not an obligation on all schools

In theory.

 

[SirGalahad]

In theory.

No. Academies and Free schools do not have to follow the national curriculum.