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Original poster

Go to war for the introverts?

105 replies

PiqueABoo · 04/12/2015 11:50

Naturally cheerful Y8 DD has been saying she “hates” school a lot this week and for her that's new and troubling.

That is because we’ve had another parents’ evening where despite some pleasant comments, the most common critical message has been that she must participate more in the classroom in order to improve in their subject. The presentation of that message in the child's presence has ranged from sensitive to jaw-droppingly brutal.

The assertion is absurd because she is one of their very highest academic performers who is constrained by the pace of the teaching and assessment, not by her failure to be an in-class attention-seeking Hand-Up girl.

I. Am. Sick. And. Bloody. Tired. Of. It.

If it's like this for DD then $deity help the ones with less shiny academic performance because they can't obtain the same certainty about what does or doesn't affect their performance in school-stuff.

So what to do? I'm simmering, want to shove a mountain of the system's sanctimonious platitudes about inclusion/diversity down their throats until they choke on them, surrender and stop expecting every child to conform to a specific shallow stereotype. But if they have the wit to absorb the message they wouldn’t need one in the first place, so that would probably be futile.

OP posts:
AgonyBeetle · 04/12/2015 12:16

In many countries pupil assessment is based far more on presentations than it is here, so I think the UK is just starting to catch up in that regard.

Tbh I think being able to present your ideas verbally and contribute to discussion is an important life skill, so if your child finds it difficult, you should be looking at ways to support her in developing those skills rather than raging at the school.

It's not about being an introvert versus extrovert, it's about learning and practising different communication methods. I have a similar-aged dd who will happily talk fluently and articulately in front of any size of crowd, but really struggles with writing. So we keep looking at ways of helping her develop writing speed and accuracy, because she needs to get better at it. The school would think I was bonkers if I suggested they stop relying on written assessment just because my child hates it and finds it difficult, yet that's effectively what you are doing wrt spoken presentations.

dodobookends · 04/12/2015 12:16

Pique totally with you on this one.

patterkiller · 04/12/2015 12:14

My Dds are great at presentations and debate, they don't however enjoy the me me me aspect of some children in school and sit back and go unnoticed sometimes. They know how and when to step up they just won't shout to be heard.

Russellgroupserf · 04/12/2015 12:02

If she plans to go to University she will be expected to join in with discussions and give presentations. So while I do get your annoyance in the department I worked in some marks were based purely on these aspects. So better now than when chucked in to that environment.

The teachers shouldn't have been brutal in their statements but I imagine we will all have different ideas as to what constitutes brutal.

I write this an introvert myself.

patterkiller · 04/12/2015 11:59

I have two dcs both very reserved in the classroom and had it shoved down my neck every parents evening. At the same time same teachers are telling me that there are some big characters in the class. So what do they want? All big characters? I think not.

My stock answer is Dds are not shy they do however value quality of speech rather than quantity.

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