To think this head teacher has lost the plot?

[pointythings]

link here

I read this today and was just . In what world does this make any sense? By all means let's have rules about walking in an orderly manner between classes and enforce them, but this smacks of the Ministry of Silly Walks to me. I don't understand how anyone could think this was a good idea.

Its not a great rule, but its not asking them to walk along on their hands/with their eyes closed. It not going to harm them.

Gigi you earn respect by demonstrably acting in the best interests of the children. If this head had said 'OK, we're going to really crack down on running in corridors at school and silly behaviour because it's likely to cause accidents' then most of the parents would be bang alongside that idea. OK, there are always a few crackpots whose little darlings can do no wrong, but that's the same in every school.

A silly rule which does not solve a problem and in fact may cause accidents (because children will be unable to use their arms effectively for balance) does the opposite - it erodes respect. And rightly so.

My DDs go to our local secondary. It is a good school, not OFSTED outstanding but improving fast with record GCSE results this year. The school is strict on many things - the main one being bullying, there is genuine zero tolerance. The head uses common sense in deciding school rules and it works - the vast majority of parents support the school. It isn't a nice leafy school full of affluent, engaged middle class parents, it has a very mixed catchment, but it still works. Pragmatism and common sense work and earn the support and respect of parents and children alike.

I actually thought this was a wind-up when I first saw it. Then I remembered that some of my UK friends have kids in schools where the headteacher inspects socks to ensure that they do not have anything so wayward and rebellious and attainment-destroying as a solitary stripe.

Tell me, those who think that this is evidence based, where the evidence comes from? If there were an evidence (hint: there isn't) then this HT wouldn't need to come up with such ridiculous bollocks to justify it.

I think this will increase falls, and is potentially disablist (less likely to be able to achieve is dyspraxic/mild CP/hypermobile....and if individual children are exempt then it would make their disabilities more visible).

I want G1veMe to come and work in my school I would SO play music for each themed walk!

I can sort of see where the idea came from, as I traipse my lively lot from one end of the school to the other while trying to discourage Jimmy from demonstrating that he really can do parkour off the hall door, while Milly, Molly and Mandy argue about who's going in front, Harry-with-ADHD has to try to touch the top of every door frame and Angela tells tales on all the rest of them...

But it'll never work, for all the reasons that others have given.

I work for a hospital and spend vast times going up and down corridors - one half a mile long - I'd love us to start musical walks! I can just imagine doing the macarena whilst walking to MRI! [Grin]

At first I thought "what as silly rule", but here are some of my memories of when I had to obey "petty" infant school rules and routines, from the 1980's. The school had a very long corridor, with the school hall and playground entrance at one end, and several times a day 100 youngsters aged 5-7 would walk along it. The school had an endless myriad of rules and rituals to keep us children in order, which I remember being fascinated and annoyed by in equal measure:

• When leaving the classroom, we would line up in twos inside the classroom door; we would then be counted through the door (a good lesson on learning even numbers), and line up again outside. The teacher would then lock the door (so children didn't murder each other with scissors? They were sharp in those days!), and was known to say "anyone still there will be locked in!"

• At the end of playtime, woe betide any child who moved a muscle after the bell was rung. Offenders would be ordered to "get back to where you were" (think Lord Business), or if the fearsome deputy head was on playground duty, they would have to make a walk of shame across the playground, and would miss their next play.

• Any child who was restless in assembly (or who didn't sing) would be made to sit apart from everyone else, occasionally physically dragged. On one occasion a pushchair was brought out, and the headmistress battleaxe cheerfully asked an offending child if they would like to sit in it (for being a baby).

• Before lunch, everyone was sent to the toilets splasheries for washing hands. On the orders of patrolling dinner ladies, two children would use each sink at once. We then had to line up outside the hall, each person standing in a "square" (a floor tile, which were just the right size for one child to stand in). Nobody would get any lunch until this was done. This entire process would be directed with a lot of shouting.

• If a child was sent on a message, they would nearly always be told to take another child with them (I'm sure there was a safety reason for this).

• Before going out to lunch play, there was often a sort of competition (organised by the dinner ladies) to see if the boys or the girls could go out more silently. When we had finally been allowed out, the girls would often gleefully dance round the playground chanting "girls beat the boys!"

• The walk along the long corridor had several sets of fire doors: one person would have to hold them open to let the rest of the class through. This would be either a teacher or a child. I remember asking my teacher why the school was so full of swing doors, even though I could read the labels which said "fire door, keep shut".

• Fire drills were never explained to us; all we knew was that we would have to line up in the junior playground (which we normally never set foot in), for a register to be taken.

• PE was always in the school hall. We got changed in the classroom (down to vest and pants), then we had to put shoes on without socks for the walk to the hall, then do PE barefoot. Reverse process coming back.

• There were all sorts of places in the playground where we were not allowed to walk, such as on the grass; near the bins; over the line that was near the exit gate; near the caretaker's house.

The only rule we didn't have was school uniform! Were these rules draconian? Most of these rules and rituals I just accepted as being part of the school day, although I was annoyed by some of them (notably the lining up "in the squares" before lunch, pointless waste of time).

A heads role is stressful enough without The Guardian (and parents) having an opinion. I think the best thing to do is butt out.

So why increase the stress by imposing petty, pointless rules for everyone to try (and fail) to enforce?

1960s - One of my primary schools had this hands-behind-backs rule. We also had to walk on the right, greet any passing teacher with the time of day and their full name, salute the headmaster and be ready at all times to answer some suddenly barked question, usually on current affairs but could be anything. Punishment for all infractions and wrong answers. Walking like that with a loaded satchel and gym bag is quite a skill. Can't see why anyone would need this skill?!

I also recognise some of wandering's rules!

It was bloody batshit. All it achieves is an atmosphere of fear, and goes a long way to instil a habit of self-doubt, usually accompanied by an urge to rebel pointlessly against imagined rules.

A culture of being grateful to heads and teachers, for the work they do with our children, ignoring the small stuff would help retention.

They are comparatively well paid professionals doing a job which, whilst like many other jobs is demanding and involves long hours, fawning and gratitude shouldn't come into it. Doing the job they are paid to do properly and sensibly is the very least we can expect.

Yes we should respect teachers - but that respected needs to be earned rather than automatically granted by mere virtue of the fact they are a teacher.

Seriously?

mrs Trunchball is real it seems.

when I drop dd off i see groups of children smiling and exited about going into school.

we are still walking reception children into the class room and as much as I disagree with parebts being in the way like that it is nice to see the kids happy and pointing stuff out.

I'd rather that than the "walk like you have been arrested" scene.

Funnily enough, I actually loved being at that infant school: although it was full of rituals and discipline, it was mostly very fair, you knew where you were. I was less impressed by my junior school which regularly did group punishments - now that did erode my respect for school in general (but that's another debate).

I have worked at a University, I certainly didn't walk around it with my hands behind my back. I think the Head has seen Brideshead Revisited and projected a bit. Which University did the Head attend?

Which University did the Head attend?

My junior school, perhaps

Gigi, respect is a two way street. What sort of respect are you showing other adults by expecting them to 'butt out' of having views of issues that affect their children and their children's education?

Bizarre. I'm of the school of thought that thinks some involvement in their education by their parents is a good thing, and if a school does things not based on sound evidence, they should expect to be challenged. Head teachers aren't perfect, and if they want to command respect, they need to earn it and reciprocate it.

If you were a 3 year + trained professional in your discipline why does/would your respect need to be earned?

Anyone i meet doesn't 'earn' respect. I respect them unless they do something to harm someone else. They are human. They might make a mistake but if they do, do they really deserve to have it highlighted in a national newpaper unless it is really bad?

Take this example. What is this guy going to do.(i'm pretty sure he isn't sleeping right now but weighing up his options, is he going to:
i) junk his new rule, which he probably introduced with the best intentions, thinking it was minor, as a trial, to curb physical bullying in corridors, because he thinks crap, im in the guardian, loads of people hate me, i'll just look for another job.
ii) keep the rule but feel totally insecure about introducing any other form of change into the environment because he will be told he is ridiculous
iii) walk proud into the playground and keep introducing some new stuff?

In a nutshell. Is this sackable? What do you want? Are you calling for his resignation?

if I were a parent in the school, I would not be calling for her resignation, but I would ask for her to reconsider the policy.

Walking round with hands clasped neatly behind back - isn't that the Duke of Edinburgh?

That's all very dramatic Gigi.

The HT also has the simple option of accepting that this realistically is not going to work.

A great way to earn respect is being able to admit when you are wrong.

Head trying to make a name by championing a pointless issue.

Seems like a ridiculous rule, but then schools are full of ridiculous rules. Part of being at school is being taught to comply with rules. This is going too far though.

Wonder if the Head is now regretting this!?

Is there any research on exam performance / behaviour and uniform??

If you were a 3 year + trained professional in your discipline why does/would your respect need to be earned?

I have many years of training and more of experience in my field. However I know that training and experience doesn't automatically equate to competence, and that if I'm asking people to trust my judgement and my decisions I need to earn and crucially maintain their respect in my abilities.

I don't buy the 's/he is the head teacher so is automatically right and immune to challenge' argument.

You don't sound like you respect students' parents very much, saying they should 'butt out' of issues that affect their kids.

I suspect it has been instilled because there is evidence to suggest it improves behaviour and hence learning in the classroom.

It hasn't and there isn't any. A colleague's DC goes there (also an academic, hope I haven't outed the family) and we are telling them she must challenge the HT to produce this (non-existent) evidence.

My understanding is this school has a nursery too, so they are trying to get 3 year olds to do this. Good luck with that.

She seems to think this is what has made her other (previous, I think, though the reports seem to suggest she's HT there still) school Outstanding. Of course, maybe she is a great HT in all other respects and that's why the other school is Outstanding but just rather deluded, maybe it is just massively selective in who it takes due to a tiny catchment area so all the children are really well behaved, or maybe it has good teachers.

A great way to earn respect is being able to admit when you are wrong.

Indeed.

I would be threatening a discrimination lawsuit if they tried to get my severely dyspraxia DC to do this, and I'd also threaten a lawsuit if they singled out dyspraxic children by asking them to walk differently to the other kids in order to adjust for their dyspraxia. It is disablist and deluded.

I am so happy that my DC went to a school that was able to work with children as they are and should be rather than schooling them in some regimented way. A happy atmosphere, children being kind, and all on the example of the Head and teachers. No uniform, everyone on first names, excellent discipline and exemplary results. State school In a inner-city london environment with way above average levels of barriers to achievement.

Schools have different styles. The zero tolerance discipline style, silence and formality, is not for me and mine.

Has the Guardian really got nothing better to write about?