to feel my children school have joined a cult

[Schoolcultworry]

I have 2 children at primary school. It's a lovely warm school which I was very happy with.

Recently they signed up to 'Leader in me'. Looking at the information it feels a bit cult like to me and I don't feel comfortable with it.

Does anyone else have children who go to a 'leader in me school'? What are your thoughts? There are very few in the UK (only 12 according to the website) most are in the USA.

Sorry I posted that ages ago but it has only just appeared so I have cross posted and lost half a post as well. What I started saying is that it depends how they're approaching it really. As a light hearted thing as part of broader curriculum then probably no harm, but if they're completely obsessing on it then it's a bit weird.

The reason I say cult like is that to me it seems so ridged to follow these 7 habits and the schools are supposed to use the language to support them during the school day.

Argh sorry OP no idea what I'm doing wrong this evening but I will slink off somewhere now

Prob because people are scared of being better or all that America happy clappy bollox crap. I get that, I really do and I was one of them.
But now I am not and I have learnt and grown and become what I see as successful. Very much happier in life as a result of it.
Very much a personal choice so I would see the concern of something new that seemed odd to existing context and values.
For me though, I would be very happy for my child to have this in school. It would support how I am trying to raise her at home :)

And some of it is based on a lie. You can not always have a win win situation.

Rely was for you Raisin :)

UpLighter So you wouldn't care that there is no independent evaluation to show if this programme works?

The Steven Covey approach is pretty good, but not sure what primary school kids would get out of it. It looks like a very expensive rip-off to me.

Is it actually from the Franklin Covey Institute, or some 'third party' company?

Brasty I would review the content yes and ensure it was not crossing the values/morals I have and hope my DD grows up with. I do this with everything as I brings me comfort.

To say I wouldn't care sounds a little goady but taking it on face value perhaps we need different levels of validation.
Do I need to see a document from a scientist or a teacher or and MP saying it works because of x / y and z? No.
Do I know happy, rich people with love in their heart and actions that show a more structured way of thinking has been developed by using methods and strategies from long time best selling books such as 7 habits. Yes, that is my 'proof' that it can work if it is right for that person.

It is right for some and not for others and fully appreciate that.

Isn't this just a repackaged version of 'growth mindset' stuff? Agree with pp who said about context - broad and flexible = fine, weird and controlling = not fine

Shades of learning styles

Yes! Or brain gym.

For people say it is nice, my school nurture leadership (like others I've worked in) without buying some expensive fad in.

Or think about it this way, $50,000 is about £38,000.

You could have an extra teacher with money for resources.
You could have 2 teaching assistants
You could employ hourly paid interventoin tutors to help children catch up
You could get a specialist PE/languages/music teacher in

I personally would rather have any of those options over a 'repeat after me' fad.

It sounds awful. I think this is the mission creep that changing schools into academies was bound to lead to - non-regulated governing bodies making decisions about what to spend money on without proper oversight.

Hard to pick my least favourite 'Habit' but I think it's Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind • Have a Plan - are we saying that human activity is pointless and to be discouraged unless it has a pre-decided 'outcome' attached? Sounds like a strategy to suck all the joy out of childhood and education, never mind the whole of the rest of your life, if this is the claptrap you've been indoctrinated into in primary school.

I'd be looking for a new school, if possible.

Sounds like the speil from a MLM

It sounds very me, me, me. Where is there anything about caring for others or for the environment? It's a charter for people who put themselves first. I wouldn't want my children being brainwashed with this philosophy and I don't think it is the answer to finding happiness.

There is nothing at all cult-like about 7 secrets. Nor is it about sucking the joy out of life.

Whether you think it is a worthwhile use of the academy's funds is another matter. OP, if you think the school is 'warm' why do you think they would sign themselves up to something that does not support that ethos? What has made you think that the school has done this (gone against their ethos)?

I like the philosophy but sure a school can work out for itself how to promote these values? 50k is a rip off.

It comes from the public school sector. It's used a lot there and is thought to produce better rounded individual. Think it started at Wellington College.

The 7 Habits is very highly regarded. I think it would be beneficial; I wouldn't mind my kids being taught these principles.

Sounds like a. bollocks b. designed to turn kids into little capitalist serfs (who think they are in charge).

The part that I find most repugnant is "work first, then play".

Anyone who is respected in child development and education will tell you that play is learning. In fact most experts are pushing very hard for a play-based curriculum. When children play, they are immersed and engaged and ultra receptive to learning.

So this seems extremely regressive to me and I would fight it tooth and nail on that basis

Does the head get a kickback if the school joins?

As a youth worker, I work in some contexts where there is a lot of emphasis on developing young people as leaders and I think it's the wrong message. We are not all leaders - some don't have the ability, some don't want the responsibility, and some just aren't bothered, and I think that's actually OK. But somehow we set up a lot of people, young people especially, for failure because they are somehow supposed to take a lead and they don't/can't. Plus you can't have a "too Many coaches not enough players" situation - it doesn't work. Can you imagine a bunch of 6 year olds in the playground all trying out habit 1 on each other!

I'm also not happy about the distinction between work and play - educationalists, particularly those involved in early years have spent a long time trying to get across the message that play is children's work. Also, a lot of very large companies are recognising the role play and playfulness can have in promoting creativity.

I think the habits hint at good values we can all embrace, but to call them the skills/habits of leaders might lead to the non-leaders among us to not "seek first to understand etc" rather than saying these are habits of good human beings, whether we are leaders, effective people, or whatever. And yes it's based on Covey's 7 habits of Effective people and I'm not wild about the notion of effectiveness as a measure of human worth.

Not everyone can or should be a leader.

The world can't function if everyone tries to lead. You need team working skills as well as team leading.

How on earth does a state school have that kind of cash to spend? (Or any school for that matter? According to many politicians state schools don't have money and need more - this is s great example why they shouldn't have more!