to think the teacher should at least attempt to teach my DD something

[xmasmeltdown]

.... on the last day of school?
DD 14 went to school yesterday and said in many classes they were left to watch a film, and in her English class he told them just to 'do their own thing' and listen to ipods, whatever while he sat there. She said she actually wished that he would do some sort of lesson as sitting around seemed pointless.

I may be flamed for this but presumably her teacher was paid to come in to work yesterday and do his job. I accept it's the last day and maybe a more light hearted lesson such as reading Xmas story or writing about Xmas holidays, but to not even make a pretence of doing his job seems a bit much, I don't send my child to school to be babysat and sit around but to learn!

I was getting a bit over involved in a thread once and posted that surely the OP had the 'intelligince' to see what she was doing was wrong.
I hid the thread.

I remember from my first teacher practice explaining to a Y9 girl in an dreadfully patronising tone that "I think you will find 'amongst' is spelt with a double 'm' "

I checked it that evening, and had to do a very grovelling apology to her the next day. (I'm sure she loved that bit, I was only 22 and as a male student teacher I was very naiive)

But I learnt a lot from the experience.

YANBU.
I used to teach and could not think of a more boring and wasted day than just sitting in a classroom with kids who are listening to their iPods.
There are so many ways of having fun (and learning something at the same time)!

Every last day of term last year my ds did absolutely fuck all, they were told to bring their Nintendo to school in Y3. Even thinking of it now my blood starts boiling. Fortunately for us the teacher left school in the summer otherwise we would have.

whilst normally I will argue against any teacher flaming in this case you are not being totally UR!

It is lazy to not plan anything for the last week/day of term. I usually plan more for this period than any other time!

For instance, this week my Yr 10s have had to relaunch the sprout (which cost me a fortune in ice cream, doughnuts, threads, pizza dough!).

ICT students created kids quiz books which meant they had to do their own spot the difference, word searches etc, yr 11s had to complete a logo quiz and a taste challenge.

In fact this week has cost me so much money in terms of resources and prizes but it is worth it! My students and I gain so much from taking part in activities that we don't usually do but are linked to the subject plus it reinforces our relationships.

*A teacher's job has many facets, but it is very unprofessional (imo) to put the admin side ahead of the fundemental role of educating and engaging children and young adults.

You don't do paperwork while there is a class awaiting your input.*

So speaks someone who has never been a teacher. On a normal day I'd agree but you but on the last day of term...? No.

In my school if we didn't do paperwork on the last day there'd be nothing for the children to come back to in January. It's the only chance we get to prepare for the spring term and even then it's a desperate struggle to get it all done.

Or maybe you are a teacher? In which case you cannot make assumptions about every other school in the country based on your own experiences.

Yanbu. It's schooltime.

Jeez, the last day before the holidays, let them have a bit of fun.
Up here it's only a half day and they do the Krypton Factor (don't ask) as even though ds 17 is in his final year I still don't know what it's about.
Except it's a bit of fun for teachers and pupils alike.

YABU - Guess what we did on our last day!? We had a fair in the playground.... A reward for all the hard work on every other day this term.

YABU. It's Christmas and I'm sure most of the dc appreciated a bit of time to chat with their friends and relax. If they've done all of the work for the term then it would be silly to start a new topic just before going away for a couple of weeks.
I'm sure the teachers weren't doing nothing. They were probably doing admin or planning or marking or something so still earning their wages.

I think it'd be fine IF parents had the choice whether to have their children attend! Then those who wanted to take advantage of cheaper fares/ parents' leave times inconsistent with school holidays / long international journeys to see family/ whatever (good) reason could do so without risking ridiculous fees on the basis of "truancy". Schools, councils, governments can't have it both ways. If it's ALWAYS ESSENTIAL TO ATTEND EVERY MINUTE OF SCHOOL then there had better be something educationally optimised and engaging pretty much all of every day, and especially on days that would be very very convenient, cost effective, and/or offering DC opportunities to see people and things they otherwise wouldn't. Doing their own thing on the last day? Fine. Legally required to attend to "do their own thing' instead of going to India for a wedding, to Canada to see family, to another part of the UK to see family, seeing a parent who works for the NHS and doesn't get much time off during school holidays, or who works any late shifts anywhere, spending time with a sibling living apart, whatever? Not so much. If this is how it is on the last week of term, it has to be optional.

I am a teacher and I agree with you.

I generally try to do a quiz/challenge/subject based creative activity/play fun learning/circle time games only right at the end of the day might we watch something.

The problem with secondary (I have taught both) is that every teacher ends up letting the class watch something which basically means sitting there chatting and listening to ipods while the teacher gets on with stuff. By the end of the day the kids are bored and behaviour begins to deteriorate.

Hmm afussyphase I think your argument is unfounded. Most people I know go overseas for family reasons on average about two weeks before the end of term...one day I wouldn't care at all.

I've been a HOY for 4 years.

"Schools, councils, governments can't have it both ways."

Schools have to do what the government/Ofsted says I'm afraid.

My favourite memory of school was always the last lunchtime from Christmas was always Cheesy Christmas Songs in the School Hall - everything from Slade to Cliff.

I do know we worked that week, but not really on the last day. Thing is it was a great bonding experience and was one of the only times I really think the 'pecking' order went out the window and everyone just had a good time together.

I actually think that was a good thing to learn. Not everything you learn should be part of the curriculum. It really was peace and love and all that (and no I don't have rose tinted specs; I tended to be on the receiving end of shit the rest of the time). A real break from playground politics.

I find it's actually much less work to teach a lesson than it is to 'let them do their own thing', becyase of discipline issues. Maybe that teacher, like me, isn't allowed ino the school over Christmas so was ensuring he had everything ready to take home (two crates of controlled assessments in my case) to work on during two of his thirteen weeks holiday (UNPAID, btw, and yet still full of work (UNPAID WORK)).

/and breathe....

DontYouJingleMyChristingle
"The problem with secondary (I have taught both) is that every teacher ends up letting the class watch something which basically means sitting there chatting and listening to ipods while the teacher gets on with stuff. By the end of the day the kids are bored and behaviour begins to deteriorate."

What a crass and uninformed generalisation.

Sorry wasn't meant to be a generalisation, should have read ' is that if every teacher'. Was typing one handed while breastfeeding. Should have proof read.