C4's "Kids can't read" series

[securespark]

Mrs Secure & I have been watching these progs. Eye-opening. Cracking stuff.

The kids who can't are either very quiet & withdrawn or the opposite, noisy, disruptive & frustrated.

To see them learn to read & become gradually less frustrated is heart-warming to watch.

I actually cried watching one particular pupil (who was a complete non-reader at the start of the school year) proudly read his first few words.

But this leads me on to a more serious point.

2/3 of all prisoners have some form of illiteracy.

If we as a society could get every single child reading before secondary school, how much do you think that would cut crime?

 

[Shutpa]

2/3 of all prisoners have some form of illiteracy.

I could be wrong, but is it not a fact that 2/3 of all prisoners also come from broken homes?

If this is the case, (and I am not saying that it is), would I be correct in saying that illiteracy is a consequence of being a member of a broken family?

 

[libby lou lou]

If we as a society could get every single child reading before secondary school, how much do you think that would cut crime?

Iwould say it could help, not that it would, i know a few millionnaires that can't read n write, they are the minority sp

I left school as a good read,n writer, but, no jobs for me in my, or the local area, hang on the street with nothing, crime starts.

 

[bernardgreen]

When I first met my wife in 1973 she was a primary school teacher in that area and most children left primary school able to read and write.

Over the years and in different schools she has seen a gradual increase in the number of children leaving primary school unable to read or write.

The blame is landed by the public in general on teachers who "need to improve". To a small extent that may be true but to a far larger extent the blame is on the parents of the child who cannot read. In 1973 a lot of children under the age of 5 could already read basic words and schools enhanced and expanded that ability.

The blame lies with those parents who stick their children in front of a TV and spend no time with them and a reading book at home.

 

[Adam_151]

In 1970 I guess a lot more families had one parent who stayed at home to look after the kids rather than work, whereas today high property prices mean quite a lot of the time both parents go out to work.

 

[Nige F]

left primary school in 1966 and could write, read and do mental arithmetic 10 years later I realised that houses would never be affordable.41 years later I`m retired with no mortgage in a 5 bed house and I don`t give a shyte for the illiterate scrotes ........Hey, I`m a Thatcherite Ps. I`m allright Jack

 

[Shutpa]

When I first met my wife in 1973 she was a primary school teacher in that area and most children left primary school able to read and write.

Over the years and in different schools she has seen a gradual increase in the number of children leaving primary school unable to read or write.

The blame is landed by the public in general on teachers who "need to improve". To a small extent that may be true but to a far larger extent the blame is on the parents of the child who cannot read. In 1973 a lot of children under the age of 5 could already read basic words and schools enhanced and expanded that ability.

The blame lies with those parents who stick their children in front of a TV and spend no time with them and a reading book at home.

On another post some weeks ago, I stated that there is an increasing number of children who, during examinations in S4, require the assistance of a reader and/or scribe. This is despite the fact that they have had Learning Support for a number of years. Yes, I agree that there is a fair percentage of parents who, for whatever reason, fail to encourage their offspring in reading and writing especially in the early years. But there are also children out there who will never be able to read or write because, simply put, they dont have the brain power.

I once taught, or tried to teach, a boy who could not read and could write only 3 words ( and, for and then) and yet played a very active role in class. Another pupil in another school never ever in four years wrote a single word in any class. Met his mother a few years ago and he still cant write. At school he ended up playing with an abacus in all classes apart from PE and Technical.

 

[Nige F]

Bet he was good @ maths, with that abacus Brain Power never heard of specific learning disability, or joe 90 P.S should that be I`m allright , Jack

 

[securespark]

P.S should that be I`m allright , Jack

Or even "I'm all right, Jack."

Or, "I'm alright, Jack."

BERNARD!

Nail on the head, me old son!

I feel too that that is the biggest problem. Too many parents believe that it is the teacher's job to "learn me kids to read", and that they should sit back & do nothing while the kids magically absorb anything with zero input outside school. Why???

 

[ricicle]

That can also be said of youth generally that their parents have no time for them - especially (maybe) single parents who are pre-occupied with the mess their own lives are in.These kids then find security from the estate gangs they run with.
It is my personal belief that couples find it too easy to just break up and, hey, family broken.What happened with trying to work at things.
Sadly one parent families are the norm now

 

[Shutpa]

That can also be said of youth generally that their parents have no time for them - especially (maybe) single parents who are pre-occupied with the mess their own lives are in.These kids then find security from the estate gangs they run with.
It is my personal belief that couples find it too easy to just break up and, hey, family broken.What happened with trying to work at things.
Sadly one parent families are the norm now

I tried very hard to work things out but after 30 years gave up and left. My biggest regret is that I didn't leave after just a couple of years when I knew that the marriage wasn't working.
Now, married again with another two kids, life, even though it means helping with homework almost every evening, couldn't be sweeter.

 

[Nige F]

28 years maybe You`re the slow learner

 

[Shutpa]

28 years maybe You`re the slow learner

My tolerance is legendary.