Comments on: Double standards as school teacher’s internet mistake leads to sacking http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/07/08/double-standards-as-school-teachers-internet-mistake-leads-to-sacking/ Looking Forward to Freedom Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:29:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Julian H http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/07/08/double-standards-as-school-teachers-internet-mistake-leads-to-sacking/comment-page-1/#comment-1400 Julian H Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:32:01 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=1981#comment-1400 Some kids I taught Shakespeare to once composed a rap about Lear which was subsequently banned for containing the word "horny". Head of year didn't share my liberal view on this matter. Some kids I taught Shakespeare to once composed a rap about Lear which was subsequently banned for containing the word “horny”. Head of year didn’t share my liberal view on this matter.

]]> By: tim leunig http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/07/08/double-standards-as-school-teachers-internet-mistake-leads-to-sacking/comment-page-1/#comment-1399 tim leunig Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:43:19 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=1981#comment-1399 As a sixth former I once covered a history lesson of 11 year olds. They were bored with the preset work. I asked them what they wanted to do, and they said a play. It was after end of year exams, and thought "that's a good idea". I told them their teacher would let them, and they were so excited. They wrote a historically accurate play on the Roman's Battle of the River Medway, physics rigged up some lighting, and they performed it at the next open school open day. The history teacher backed me to the hilt on his return, and he had a very happy bunch of kids, even if it meant a further 3 lessons devoted to learning and producing a play. These things are needed, and need to happen. As a sixth former I once covered a history lesson of 11 year olds. They were bored with the preset work. I asked them what they wanted to do, and they said a play. It was after end of year exams, and thought “that’s a good idea”. I told them their teacher would let them, and they were so excited. They wrote a historically accurate play on the Roman’s Battle of the River Medway, physics rigged up some lighting, and they performed it at the next open school open day. The history teacher backed me to the hilt on his return, and he had a very happy bunch of kids, even if it meant a further 3 lessons devoted to learning and producing a play. These things are needed, and need to happen.

]]> By: Angela Harbutt http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/07/08/double-standards-as-school-teachers-internet-mistake-leads-to-sacking/comment-page-1/#comment-1397 Angela Harbutt Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:59:02 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=1981#comment-1397 Mark - I thought this was as you say "another teacher gets too close" story - and yes I certainly think her methods were unorthodox - and maybe even - in todays climate anyway - "risky". But I actually want our teachers to have THE FREEDOM TO TEACH - to use their skills, ingenuity, and experiences to get the most from the children (or in this case young adults) that they can. As an 11 year old child I remember my history teacher terrifying the wits out of us all as he rampaged around the classroom growling, shouting and throwing books around as he explained what a Viking assault on a Saxon village entailed (well minus the "adult" bits). I am certain there are a dozen rules that would have him thrown out of teaching today - yet he kindled in me a love of history I have never lost. More of that. Less of bureacrats issuing page after page of rules on every aspect of school life that will inevitably lead to those who show a spark of individuality falling foul of some technicality. Mark - I thought this was as you say “another teacher gets too close” story - and yes I certainly think her methods were unorthodox - and maybe even - in todays climate anyway - “risky”. But I actually want our teachers to have THE FREEDOM TO TEACH - to use their skills, ingenuity, and experiences to get the most from the children (or in this case young adults) that they can. As an 11 year old child I remember my history teacher terrifying the wits out of us all as he rampaged around the classroom growling, shouting and throwing books around as he explained what a Viking assault on a Saxon village entailed (well minus the “adult” bits). I am certain there are a dozen rules that would have him thrown out of teaching today - yet he kindled in me a love of history I have never lost. More of that. Less of bureacrats issuing page after page of rules on every aspect of school life that will inevitably lead to those who show a spark of individuality falling foul of some technicality.

]]> By: Keith Elliott http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/07/08/double-standards-as-school-teachers-internet-mistake-leads-to-sacking/comment-page-1/#comment-1393 Keith Elliott Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:30:05 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=1981#comment-1393 Well as a former teacher, I'd like to hear 'what the other ways to engage with dissafected pupils' might be. I worked in some tough schools and could usually reach 95% of the children I taught...of course it's the 5% (and more) that are being completely failed by the system of education in England and if this teacher managed to grab their interest and engage with them to good effect, then that is fantastic. I hope she is able to rebuild her life. Well as a former teacher, I’d like to hear ‘what the other ways to engage with dissafected pupils’ might be.

I worked in some tough schools and could usually reach 95% of the children I taught…of course it’s the 5% (and more) that are being completely failed by the system of education in England and if this teacher managed to grab their interest and engage with them to good effect, then that is fantastic.

I hope she is able to rebuild her life.

]]> By: Mark Reckons http://www.liberal-vision.org/2009/07/08/double-standards-as-school-teachers-internet-mistake-leads-to-sacking/comment-page-1/#comment-1391 Mark Reckons Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:16:18 +0000 http://www.liberal-vision.org/?p=1981#comment-1391 Interesting twist in what would on the face of it seem like a standard "Teacher gets too close" story. However even if the Head allowed this to happen, and the only reason it got out is due to an administrative mistake the idea was sailing very, very close to the wind. Teachers have to be very careful in this sort of area and it is unsurprising that this furore has happened. They must have known there was a risk of this given what they were doing. I have sympathy with this Teacher but there must surely have been other ways to engage with the pupils than this? Interesting twist in what would on the face of it seem like a standard “Teacher gets too close” story.

However even if the Head allowed this to happen, and the only reason it got out is due to an administrative mistake the idea was sailing very, very close to the wind.

Teachers have to be very careful in this sort of area and it is unsurprising that this furore has happened. They must have known there was a risk of this given what they were doing.

I have sympathy with this Teacher but there must surely have been other ways to engage with the pupils than this?

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