Why do you think behaviour in schools is so much worse than even 10 yrs ago.

[soul2000]

This is not a joke thread. I am generally interested as to how much the standard of behaviour has deteriated in the last 25 years since i left school.

What amazes me, is that teachers are not shocked when watching programes like educating yorkshire, that just shows how bad the behaviour of some pupils is.

Another shocking thing is that pupils who in my time would have been labeled a menace "ME INCLUDED" are now seen as upstanding pupils.

How has the standard fallen so far and what can be done to re address the balance.

This thread is in support of teachers.

that is my own cross to bear though

Actually..sorry for all the posts..I am at work and people keep going past.

I dont know why I am being so negative today. We are doing ABA with DD to try and get her communicating so that her ability (its there but masked by autism) can be seen and she may even move setting, if another one is more suitable). We live in hope we can unlock her potential.

But don't want to hijack thread to make it about me

was just having a wobble

Fanjo, if the ballpit-session has learning outcomes that are appropriate to my child's stage then it is absolutely a good thing. If it is used as a way of containing him and keeping him happy until he becomes the budgetary responsibility of social care then it is not.

I can do fun things with him at the weekend, at school I expect him to be taught things and more importantly, to learn things (in an enjoyable way), so that he achieves whatever he is capable of.

Fanjo

Sometimes I find a bit of Jarvis can help,

Fanjo - think I am one of the guilty ones - apologies. I meant it to read as Starlight has put it that special schools in our area at secondary level are not meeting the needs of my sons - not that the other pupils are pulling them down. ds1 is actually at a very good primary SS and doing well - it's the next step I'm worried about.

i love Pulp.

I get ya Star :)

probably the most quoted reason for LA's refusing SS placements to children

It was one of the reasons that the LA initially refused SS placement to DS1. They said he was too advanced academically to go there, even though the SS said they could easily meet his needs with individualised study programmes. The woman we spoke to from the LA even tried to discourage us from pushing for the SS because (in her words) "even if he managed to get into the SS, the moment he showed progress, we would deem him able to attend MS and we'd be required to pull him out of SS and put him back in MS. Do you REALLY want to disrupt his education like that??" SOOOOO not true!!! That's not the way it works. But she was counting on us not knowing it. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. They really pushed the guilt thing, playing on most parents' concerns - she told us that we were settling for a lesser education, that he wouldn't be able to sit any GCSEs when he got older so no opportunities for further education, and that it would severely limit his future potential. I was not impressed.

We still fought the LA on it, and they gave in at the last minute, instead of going to tribunal. He is doing so much better at the SS. But all the time and money the LA spent on fighting us could have been much better spent on other things. It just defies logic.

And yet, I am quite happy to defend the right of any child with disabilities to attend MS if their parents feel that is best for them. If allowances must be made in the classroom, then so be it. Life is give and take, and we all have to learn to make adjustments. I think it's important for ALL children to see children with disabilities as part of their school lives - they are part of society, why should school be any different? Yes, kids can be cruel sometimes and tease, but IME a lot of children get their ideas about "differences" from their parents.

No worries Onein :)

sorry all, i just had a MOMENT i think

It's what makes us human, Fanjo.

Strangely, we were told that DD would have a two or three step education, starting at SLD school then moving on.

Its pretty clear to us this is not the intent and she is there for the foreseeable, now she is there.

I think Ed Psychs often just say anything to get you to agree to the school they intend tbh.

Fanjo Very difficult. Don't know really what to say apart from parents having to keep right on top of what their children are capable of and whether their learning needs are met...this is especially true if your child has any learning needs which are considered additional to the norm.

There are so many pre-conceptions out there.....

I think Ed Psychs often just say anything to get you to agree to the school they intend tbh.

I have wondered about this. The EP that assessed DS1 in reception tried to convince us that he would be better at a SS. We weren't convinced at the time - the gap wasn't that big socially and he had a FT 1:1 which meant he could participate pretty fully in activities.

When we were fighting the LA 2 yrs later to send him to SS, they threatened to postpone everything for 6 months or more until they could get a more current EP report. (note that they could REFUSE SS based on EP report from 2 yrs ago but couldn't possibly APPROVE SS unless there was a more current report - how in god's name does THAT work?!?!! ) When I told them I'd be happy for the original EP to see him again as she "off the record" attempted to sway us towards SS and I couldn't see her as anything but supportive to our argument for SS. The LA dropped the request for the EP.

Oh and I find watching whole seasons of "Yes Minister", good for making yourself aware of the wiles and ways of devious bureaucrats!