To think - how awful schools really are

[Ippimi]

I remember hating school when I went to school. But that was a long time ago now. I'd kind of forgotten about it.

I work for a training company that usually delivers training programmes to businesses. I usually teach adults. I'm not working in the UK at the moment. I'm working in a different country in Europe.

However we recently got asked to design a training programme for a local school. So for the last couple of weeks I've been going in and talking to the children in a school about a topic.

Going into the school- and looking at it as an adult - I just think it's so so awful. Why do we do this to children

The children are not allowed to move , they're not allowed to talk. The teacher yells at them to be quiet all the time.

I understand this is the school system everywhere. I remember that I hated school as a child and I felt trapped. But when I look at it from an adults eyes, it looks even worse.

when I look at it as an adult, it really seems like emotional abuse of children.

It also seems like such a waste of their young years.

They should be playing and having some fun.

They're not allowed to move or talk. And they get shouted at A lot. It just seems like they're getting indoctrinated to not think for themselves and to follow orders. The school system is just awful and needs to change in my opinion

Primary school teacher here, I would love to be a kid in school these days. School is fun, social and interactive. They are completely child centred. Of course the children have to be quiet at the appropriate times. The teacher needs to ensure everyone is listening. If a child needs something then they can of course put their hand up and ask. Children 100% need to learn not to interrupt and show respect not just for the adults but for eachother by not stopping eachother's learning.

I don't care in the slightest if you don't believe me. Why would I?

I think there are a lot of disgruntled teachers on this thread OP 😂

I agree with you, I hated the way some of the teachers screamed and shouted at the kids at my dc's primary school. Some of them aren't fit for purpose and act like they hate children.

Obviously there are some good ones too.

Not everyone thinks school is fun, social and interactive.

You do - as the teacher.

I have no issues with the blazer thing. They can wear what they like as far I care.
The toilet thing is an issue that is hard to understand unless you’ve taught children.
Constant requests for a wee is very disruptive and easily abused.
I do believe that systems should be better to ensure that using the toilet between lessons is easy and that children with medical issues are given passes for whenever they’re needed. Most children above the age of 7 should be able to wait for the length of one lesson to go to the toilet.
And before anyone says it - many adults have the same constraints in their jobs. I do. I have to wait from 8:30 to 12 before an opportunity to use the loo presents itself.

So what are you doing about it OP? I can't take you seriously because you obviously have not reported something you have described as 'screaming and shouting' and 'emotional abuse'. You say your colleague has also commented on it and yet you have done absolutely nothing about it except make a mumsnet post.

OP I am in France and I have found that some of the schools and teachers are amazing and some not so much. It depends on the head, basically. The French mothers I know see things the same way. But I agree that shouting at children as a daily habit and as the go-to method of discipline is not going to do the children any good.

I think it’s fair if some teachers on here are disgruntled. OP is implying that all schools are horrific based on one that she visits, in an unnamed country. And can’t seem to hear it or believe it when people say they work in lovely schools in the UK. I work in a great school where Oracy is literally the biggest thing on our agenda this year and we do so much around talk tactics and discussion etc.

The vast majority of schools aren’t draconian, you only hear about the ones that are because people need to complain or unhappy, there are thousands of schools in the UK, and most of the time you don’t hear anything about them. In the UK you absolutely wouldn’t be screaming at children or telling them to shut your mouth as it goes safeguarding and we take safeguarding very seriously. Go and watch any school in the town where I live and you’ll see children go into school happily. Is it the right environment for everyone, no it’s not, but does it suit a lot, yes it does.
Teaching here isn’t like some countries, which is very didactic and text book based, but much more interactive, lots of discussion, variety of tasks etc. Lots of schools have a much more nurturing side to them as well.
The reason you’re getting a hard time, is you are taking what you’ve seen outside the UK which is different and applied it to our schools. Now our schools aren’t perfect, but I’m going to defend my DC’s schools to the hilt as they’re nothing like you describe.

Yeah I would like for it to be a bit better.

I don't really want to work in a school again after this. It's sad and depressing.

If I can, I'm going to try to get moved off this particular training project. I much prefer teaching adults.

Where does she report it to?

I never said you did but this is a chat forum and everyone is entitled to give their opinion wether you care or not?

Sadly you've come across one bad school. I'm betting it's part of an academy chain? Sadly some of them go for this option because they think it's impressive and it's much easier than ensuring that they employ good teachers.

What do you suggest this teacher does then! Makes all her pupils shut up and work in silence? Oh wait…you don’t like that either. No one can win here unless they agree with you.

Again I don't care in the slightest that you don't believe me. Why would I care?

Oh my God a random stranger on the Internet doesn't believe me.

Pass me a tissue

In which case, MN protocol requests that you contact them and report, and otherwise engage in good faith with the poster or not at all. Have you contacted MN and reported, and asked them to delete your post as it was inadvertently (I am sure) troll hunting?

I very much doubt OP is expecting 20 conversations. But good teaching involves encouraging discussions and questions from pupils, as well as the teacher questioning and challenging them.

Where did I say I didn't report it?

I didn't say that did i

You just made that up didn't you. Yes you did.

Why are you being so cagey about which country you live in ? We are generally UK based here but you could be talking about a school experience that nobody else here knows about.

You have stated that your employer is in a different country.

Are employers all over the world so completely glued to mumsnet? So much so that posters working abroad need to constantly change their already anonymous usernames for fear they are recognised by their employers.

Intriguing.

I already answered this.

I never give any personal or identifying details on any chat forum. Not just this one.

It's first rule of online safety. I did an online safety course with a job last year. And they said to never ever give any personal or potentially identifying details online.

Good point on it

It's a primary school not in the UK, we think France.

It's my choice.

I've already said no.

Why are you asking again. Don't you respect a no. Don't you respect what other people want to do online .

I haven't asked you where you live, have I.