New headteacher wants pupils to 'Superwalk'

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

New head at our primary has decreed that children should walk along corridors with hands clasped behind their backs at all times.

Possibly he's striving for Outstanding Ofsted, but it sounds bonkers to me (and I'm usually happy to back the school in most things).

Idiot. The first thing I thought of when I read this was physical disabilities including dispraxia.

I’d have serious problems with that.

A properly managed school shouldn’t have any problem getting children to walk sensibly in the corridors.

I’d lose all respect for the leadership team if they had to resort to parade ground or prison measures on school children tbh.

This could provide superb material for much academic enquiry:

1. Sociology: Discipline, enforcement and the dynamics of revolt against arbitrary rules - a case study

1. Biology: Load-bearing and balance in the human skeleton in cases of distorted gait

1. Debating: How to defend an irrational idea

1. Architecture: Can school layout facilitate unnatural walking behaviours?

1. Politics: Cultivating conformity

1. History: What explains the demise of the backboard?

1. Maths: Mathematical modelling of postural policy policing

1. Psychology: Symptoms of incipient megalomania in the educational hierarchy

Shame for the kids in limited's article about Michaela School that they don't do Art, design tech or computing. It might be where a child's talent lies.

Yes and creative skills will be needed when robots are doing all our jobs

I'm thinking about the Montreal Python sketch about the Ministry of Silly Walks...

The disciplinarian tendencies of modern schools are crazy!

My first point: I completely agree with the OP that this is completely silly. I've worked in a fairly strict secondary school and the only rules for walking along the corridor were (a) keep to the right, and (b) walk in silence to assembly (not at other times).

But, my second point:

it just didn't occur to him to throw his hands out to save himself as most people have a normal reflex reaction to do this.

I was once taught that this natural reflex actually has a disadvantage - the angle of impact when the weight (in falling) lands on the hand, can significantly increase the chance of a broken wrist.

It was then demonstrated to me that, bizarre as it may sound, having hands in pockets is actually safer. Because there is no time to get them out before landing on the shoulder and, with practice, the faller can roll such that the energy is absorbed gradually. We (the class) then practised this, deliberately falling without using hands and, counterintuitive though it might be, it seems to work. (But it does need to be taught/practised.)

Why University Walk? Do students balance their bags and files on their heads?

Shouldn't they be wearing jeans if they want them to look like university students?

Sadly there are loads of parents out there who love this sort of nonsense, also posh uniforms etc. I think it's very cargo cult like - a kind of emulation of what people think private schools look like. Private schools get good results (or that's what appears to happen), private schools have some weird discipline habits and stripey blazers, therefore we should do the same....

I do get that there are some schools with entrenched behavioural issues which need addressing in a very firm manner, but if this school isn't one of them it's just the ego of a new HT.

Our Catholic primary has all the kids coming in for assembly with hands in prayer position - and someone to open the doors for them I can't imagine them all doing it all of the time.

They have to walk like this at the dc's school (since 2011). It's surprisingly fine, I thought it was a bit wanky at first. Stops them flinging their arms around and being silly. They still look cheeky when they file into assembly, just more organised.

I remember doing this in primary. We where only in the corridors for assembly or lunch though....

I just walked down the office like this and felt a right twat. YANBU.

Shouldn't they be wearing jeans if they want them to look like university students?

The SuperWalk, which will obviously enable children to learn better, reminds me of uniform rules and regs, which of course also help children learn better and achieve higher. Schools are ridiculous with uniform these days, and particularly in 6th form. I'm just waiting for Universities to bring in 'office wear' as uniform. [Eye roll]

I’ve worked for a HT like this, an awful, awful man.

The walk sounds crazy to me.

leonardthelemming

Who told you this? You actually believed them?

Sorry if I've missed the joke here...

isnt that how they walk at the girls school from 3 men and a little lady . it seems a bit ott to me

leonardthelemming

Who told you this? You actually believed them?

Well, the thing is, it was many years ago and I can't actually remember. But I do think it may have been some sort of training course.
And no, I didn't believe them. I don't really do believing. But I did try it. And, like I said, counterintuitive though it may be, it seems to work. And, now I'm thinking about it again, there may have been something about escaping from upstairs windows in it too - without getting hurt, I mean.
I'll try to find out more.

I remember the case from a couple of years ago. The school had to back down in the end as many thought that the "University walk" looked like a prison chain gang!

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2016/09/23/primary-school-forced-to-back-down-on-controversial-rule-orderin/

Ha ha at
Children do not naturally walk with their hands behind their backs - they are not Lord Snooty, they are little kids trying their best to learn.

It encourages walking sensibly and slowly.

We use it when going into the auditorium for assembly but nothing else.

It does work.