The School Revolution

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

OK, I admit it - I'm a teacher. It doesn't make me automatically pro-school, but I do know one or two.

But I just wanted to get out why I think schools these days can be pretty good places.

I have loads of bad memories of school. Being kept on reading grade 6 when I was in Junior 2 because I wasn't "allowed" to go higher: I was reading adult-standard books at home, but oh no, stupid teacher wouldn't let me up a level. (Junior 3, day 2, I was told to read whatever I wanted and could bring in books from home because I was off the reading grade standard for Primaries.) Yes, I am still bitter. Maths lessons that were copying from the board then solving 50 identical problems with just a couple of numbers changed. English writing lessons that gave no thought as to time for editing work. The fact that I have a thicker Yorkshire accent when speaking French than I do English these days. I had my students asking me about my exam grades yesterday, how come I could teach them without the top grades - well, as it happened, I was going to pass so didn't have teachers give up their lunch to help me get the top grades. I was going to pass - that was the key statistic. And yeah, knowing how much I do for my students, it hurts that no-one cared. I gave up wearing school uniform the last year it was compulsary - no-one said a thing. I wore 4" heels for the last two years. Jewellery, make-up, false nails, random scars - no-one cared.

So, schools today. I spot a student who is starting to go off the rails, I want to know why. I spot a child bursting into tears in a morning, I find out what's wrong. And it isn't just me - every single person I work with is the same. In fact, in the five schools I have seen behind the scenes, there has only been one teacher who behaved inappropriately about the children she taught. I check make-up and nail varnish not because of school policy, but because it's a sign of rebelling and I want to know why they want to rebel, what's going on. Young people are people, after all.

I have seating plans I agonise over. I don't sit students with their besties, not unless said bestie needs some emotional support from a friend. I sit them with a student with whom they'll get on, but haven't had much to do with before. I sit them with a student who will help their work, not pull them down. I don't sit the autistic child with the child that will trigger panic. I have extra support material for slower workers and keep pushing the higher workers, asking them to think about other dimensions to the work rather than the obvious. (And seating plans to make Molly sit with Johnny are no better or worse if Molly and Johnny are your two children and they're having to work together on a project because it's just them or because a teacher pairs them up.)

I have children who can get out their places. I teach science, but last week I saw Louis Pasteur argue with Joseph Lister on Jeremy Kyle. We considered growing giant hamsters we could ride like horses to teach artificial selection. We sang songs about anion tests. We tell bad jokes. Yes, I focus on exam results, but then you need good results at secondary level to be considered for some Uni courses these days. And I care about every single child I teach. Even that slightly annoying needy one who just won't let go - maybe that child just needs someone to care. You never know.

I love teaching. I love that we do get to be creative, have fun, laugh - and learn.

And I am also pro-homeschool, if that's best for the family. So long as the child isn't disadvantaged in any way, and that's unusual. You can teach the school day in just the morning with a motivated and focussed child, then have field trips in the afternoon. You can cover all the necessary parts of learning quickly then have a research project, even at infant school age (trust me, I did). The curriculum is pretty small, it really is bare bones of what is needed to have a full and productive life - it's up to the person running it how much is done of what, so long as the basics are there. You can start the school day at a different time each day rather than dragging yourself out of bed for a commute. You can learn school skills and life skills at the same time. OK so my son thrives by playing with other children his age and he is having a few social problems, but his current bestie is in another school year to him, they met outside of school. His last bestie now lives in another country, although they did meet at pre-school.

But I just wanted to put it out there that schools these days should be great - modern teachers have been through a revolution. I just wish people would realise how hard most teachers work to make it that way.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

It's great that you care hun and i know teachers work their butts off.
I wish my little brothers had a teacher like you, they are smart kids with so much potential but they are the kids not being pushed because the teacher has to worry about the 'troubled' kids who cause so much disruption the kids who want to learn are not given the attention.
My brothers are lucky my stepmum has all the time in the world for them (when she's not doing shift work or cooking & cleaning for them ), encourages them to read whatever they like, learn to sing, play sports, ride motorbikes, explore the world.
They are very smart kids and i hope once they hit high school they get the attention that they need to stay focussed and on track, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the norm where they are.

[RhiChiChi]

You sounds like my sister. She is an excellent teacher who only wants what is best for all her children. She too doesn't allow besties to sit together etc... I actually went to her school and helped her last week for half a day in her classroom and it is a real eye opener what she does (she has Prep/1 composite class) and how much planning and thought goes into all aspects of her teaching. She is very valued at her school & I am so glad she is b/c she works so damn hard!

My school days were similar to yours TFB, except I didn't rebel with no wearing uniform etc... I just flew under the radar and was left to my own devices and pretty much failed Year 12 :-(

[Phteven]

Kudos to you and all the other awesome teachers out there.

I'm so impressed with the quality of education my children are receiving at their school and with how much they are enjoying it. They never cease to astonish me with the things they are learning and the inventive ways they learn them.

[Heaven]

That's great TFB. I only hope we can find an awesome school for my DDs too!

[Nai]

I loved school and had some pretty awesome teachers, my mum is also a teacher and she was really great. She is retired now but still keeps up to date with curriculum and developments in education and does a lot of education activities with my girls.

My DD1 is in her second year of school and she loves it - she has had 2 wonderful, creative teachers so far and I am amazed at the things they do at school and how they learn. There is so much more variety than when I was at school! DD1 also has some wonderful teachers in art, music/choir, cooking and PE. They really seem to care and encourage her development through all of her subjects to ensure that she is getting a well-rounded education.

[Purple Penguin]

I'm sitting here nodding through everything you've written, I can't wait until I graduate so I can start teaching.

[Shanti]

My mum is a teacher and I have always admired the hard work and dedication she puts into her job. She finds it stressful as I think lots of schools put too much pressure on teachers (well her school does anyway) to perform & she spends a huge chunk of her day controlling the 'difficult' students.
I have always said to her I could never do the job she does!!

[Phteven]

Years ago I looked into homeschooling and decided it because I love my children and I want them to be well rounded citizens it wasn't for me. Now that my children have been in school for several years one of the things that I have come to realise is that schools as portrayed by home schooling gurus such as John Taylor Gatto are totally unlike real schools in the real world. To the point that I wonder if they have set foot in a school in the last 20 years or if they just have no grasp on reality at all. It's kind of hallucinatory.

[nothing2lose]

I think schools have come a long way Onyx. I teach my dd all the time but I also send her to school because there are so many things she will learn there that I can't teach her; both academically and socially. I actually think it is also a good training ground for the world of employment.

I also want to leave all options open to her so she can be whatever she wants to be. Formal education is often essential for university entrance and other tertiary qualifications.

[Butterfly Dawn]

schools are a great place to learn all kinds of life skills. math, English and how to get along with people you don't like, competitiveness, that there are people with more and with less then yourself.
I don't think education should finish when the school bell rings for the day and luckily a lot of parents don't.
Parents and teachers that can work closely together is an ideal system. flexible and supportive.

you can't get through life without bad experiences. but school can offer a lot of great ones.

living at the moment, where wrote learning is still the formula and high school starts at 7am and finishes at 9 pm, and its not doing the ave person any extra good. I sure appreciate our school system where there is a lot of freedom and choice.

[~clover~]

My DD1 is your average quiet, polite student, who gets along qretty ok. Not at the top, but above average.

My beautiful DD2 is the slightly annoying, needy one you mentioned. She's struggled right from day one, but she's been so lucky. She's been to 3 schools, & her 2 main teachers have been exactly what she needed. Her kindy/yr1 teacher is the one who suggested she was having difficulties & was trained in special needs, to pick up on these things that may be missed or ignored.

Her teacher now is excellent. Has made her a weighted vest HERSELF to try to help as much as she can. DD2 can be intolerable. She has no volume switch & no self control. Though she really only wants to love everyone around her, it can be way too much for some. But the teacher has figured out how DD2 works to get the best results from her. She's very slowly picking up

I'm very greatful for teachers like them & you. I see the difference in teachers between now & then. Teachers now make things way more fun & laid back than they used too. (On a primary school level anyway)

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Right, I want to address another issue now. And don't want to be told I'm argumentative when someone spouts lies I want to counter because I do adore the idea of free-schooling/unschooling and linking ALL the curriculum into a topic or an interest (eg I am writing Angry Birds stories for DS to read that include his spelling words for this week to make learning spelling fun).

What do schools "churn out"? Identical "factory workers"? Well, looking at us, uncaring schools "churned out" caring mothers, teachers, lawyers, scientists, engineers, all round "good people". Is anyone on BB who went to school a factory worker? And should I think less of you because of that?

Interestingly, when schools taught us not to think, our jobs gave us freedom and autonomy. These days, schools impress on students the importance of thinking and individuality, but WORK demands the drones: the people who are measured by the keystrokes on the keyboard, the "computer says no" attitude, the people with timed loo breaks.

The school teacher is just as likely to ask "why" as the child these days. Not because of a lack of curiosity on behalf of the child, but because the teacher needs to check understanding as well as superficial rattling off.

Slight non-sequitor, but I've been reading The Mill On The Floss recently. Never one of my favourites, but Jasper Fford inspired me to read it again. What is schooling there for? Pumping heads full of Latin that will never be used, but so the child will not be a factory worker, or miller, or labourer, or farmer. So the child can go into a career. Schools were seen as opportunities, not to pull people down. I just wonder when the table turned. Education (ie schools) for all was set up to give the children of factory workers similar chances to the children of the rich. The school leaving age was 14 in living memory. Because education is important, because knowing "stuff" is important, because qualifications give you the freedom to pursue a career, now people have to be in school until 16, and in some form of education (even employment training) until 17, soon to be 18.

School rocks. And skipping "boring" stuff because you don't like it... well, teachers generally teach what they like so don't see it as boring. Give your child the chance to be inspired by someone who isn't you.

[nothing2lose]

Give your child the chance to be inspired by someone who isn't you.

I love this line TFB

[Butterfly Dawn]

ditto
thats an awesome idea

[Rouge]

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[Shanti]

I think schools have come a long way Onyx. I teach my dd all the time but I also send her to school because there are so many things she will learn there that I can't teach her; both academically and socially. I actually think it is also a good training ground for the world of employment.

I also want to leave all options open to her so she can be whatever she wants to be. Formal education is often essential for university entrance and other tertiary qualifications.

I was going to stay away from this thread out of respect for it's title because it is about the great job that teachers and schools do and I commented above earlier saying how I admire my Mum so much she's a TEACHER herself and she does a FANTASTIC job. Hats off to teachers. I don't think I could (or want to) teach a class of 20+ kids, not for me!

However N2L I will comment on your last sentence..... sorry but I don't agree and that's not really fair to say that unless you really understand what HE involves. (HE- home education).
There are MANY home schooled children being accepted into universities all across the country, there are statistics out there..... I will have to find a resource I have if you want to see it? So it's not fair to those who home educate to make statements like that because it's simply untrue.
You CAN be home educated AND enter university at an age when you are ready to
If I thought my children would suffer by home educating them, then I simply wouldn't do it.

Schools are for some people, home education is for others.....

Onyx - with all due respect, home educated kids can turn out 'well rounded citizens' too I know because I have met some.