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Original poster

Advice about talking in class in private schools

40 replies

Tabliope · 06/10/2010 16:15

My DS is trying out a private school to see if he likes it. He does but says there is much more talking in class going on than in state school. Not even whispering but talking in normal voices. I've heard similar from a friend's DD about another private school. Is this normal? He says the teachers don't seem to be able to control it.

OP posts:
MmeBlueberry · 06/10/2010 18:12

It depends what the talking is!

If the talking is discussing the points of the lesson, then that is a good thing. If it is about nonsense from TV, they should shut up when the teacher tells them.

Nowadays, lessons are expected to be active, where children develop their thinking skills by discussing the work with one another, improve each other's work, etc. It is very rarely the teacher talking and children listening.

There should be ground rules for whole class work, such as only one person talking at a time.

pagwatch · 06/10/2010 18:02

there are some seriously shit private schools out there.
i wouldn't put up with that if it was state. I don't know why people would put up with that when they are paying

My Dcs are encouraged to contribute in class but they also have to learn to listen and attend

hocuspontas · 06/10/2010 18:00

I would pull my children out of any school that told them to 'shut up' Shock. A sign that the adult isn't in control I would say.

MassiveKnob · 06/10/2010 17:57

ds in private school - allowed to listen to ipods during certain lessons, and says there is alot of general chitchat too Hmm

pagwatch · 06/10/2010 17:55

if they are messing around and the teacher has no control, and this is in 50% of the lessons then it is a crap school.

I would pull DCs from ANY school where this was happening. It doesn't happen in any of the schools mine have been too...

RatherBeOnThePiste · 06/10/2010 17:29

I think a mistake to make is to think all children in the independent sector are well behaved and that all teachers are good- and vice versa. The private bit has nothing to do with it.

There are good states and bad states
Good independents, bad independents
Good teachers, rubbish ones.

SandStorm · 06/10/2010 17:23

What age group are we talking about?

Original poster
Tabliope · 06/10/2010 16:45

The 'advice' I wanted pixie was is this common in private schools? I have no experience of them so really don't know. It's a very small school and they don't seem to have sanctions for low level stuff (from what my DS tells me) so I thought that might be why - there's no deterrant - so, yes, it might actually be a difference between state and private. Maybe it is just this school but it made me think it might not be after a friend's DD saying the same - which is why I'm asking.

SandStorm, no they're not on task with the talking, it's a lot of messing around, good natured but probably annoying for the teachers. Teachers in a number of lessons are saying shut up to them but they don't pay any attention. Not every class but about 50% of the ones he's been in.

OP posts:
pagwatch · 06/10/2010 16:36

I don't understand what you are talking about?

do you think there is some secret rule book where every private school in the country operates in the exact same way?

This school could encourage lots of discussion. This school could be shit.
But the private thing has fuck all to do withthat

SandStorm · 06/10/2010 16:33

The actual question you should be asking him is what are they talking about? If they're on task then there isn't really a problem.

PixieOnaLeaf · 06/10/2010 16:24

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myredcardigan · 06/10/2010 16:22

Do you also have another friend who has a friend who has a friend whose wife went to private school and she finds it difficult to mix but is also just a barmaid? Hmm

bundle · 06/10/2010 16:19

surely the private thing is a red herring? it doesn't sound like the teachers are v good at their job, private or not. why are you even considering it?

PixieOnaLeaf · 06/10/2010 16:19

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PixieOnaLeaf · 06/10/2010 16:18

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