school is going to be very boring for our teens

[Sarah510]

So the school are arranging the desks with everyone facing forward, like I had in school 40 years ago, with the teacher stood up the front. No moving around. No science experiments. None of the 'fun' stuff. Just 6 hours of teachers talking "at" them. I loved ds' secondary school when I saw how the tables were set up in groups, and how they taught with a little bit of the teacher talking, and then group work, and children free to walk about (within reason), and he loved going to all the different rooms. I'm worried he is going to not like school - being a boy of 12 he has boundless energy. I know there's nothing we can do, it has to be like this, but I hope he is ok. If it's all "book work" he's going to be very bored, I hope he doesn't just switch off. I know I will probably get slated here, but I don't think this kind of teaching suits a lot of kids.

And I don't "lecture" to my rows. I teach them. I explain something, they practice. I ask them questions, they ask me questions. They show me what they've done, I move them on or go back over things.

@AriesTheRam

It will be less boring than sat around at home.Its school not a social club.

Exams and grades are important, I'm not devaluing this. However, school and education is more than that - developing skills, social interaction, learning to deal with conflicts , and even just enjoying a lunchtime activity with others who share the interest. So much more that "a social club".

No PE - no changing allowed so outside walks only

Why don't the school just get them to go in their PE kit?

@bettsbattenburg

No PE - no changing allowed so outside walks only

Why don't the school just get them to go in their PE kit?

This is what our school is doing. Handy for not having to carry an extra PE bag.

I don't understand how I, and many others of my generation and earlier, managed to achieve excellent qualifications facing forward and listening to a teacher talking at the front of the room. But now school is about "fun" and "moving around"?

Shouldn't worry: if 1 or 2 pupils in your child's year test positive they will all be home for 2 weeks any. Repeat again and again. With the current guidance, it will be very hard for any secondary/sixth form pupils to get any time in school at all until the virus either goes away or everyone is vaccinated.
The threshold is much lower for secondary and sixth form: about 0.5% (2 out of year group of 200) whereas for primary it is 3% (2 out of class of 30).
Current guidelines disproportionally disrupt the education of secondary and sixth form pupils compared to primary pupils.

Could have been avoided if government had really prioritised education and not re-opening all the non-essential sections of the economy which has meant that the virus is widespread in the community before schools go back.
Also government didn't buy enough tests, the right tests, or early enough. So our testing is in the stone ages. Long and unreliable.

This is what our school is doing. Handy for not having to carry an extra PE bag.

It's the obvious answer isn't it. School have said they can go in a tracksuit on colder days and that they would prefer it to be in school colours if you are buying one but recognise that pupils might already have one in different colours which they can use.

But lessons ARE generally boring for teens. The laughs happen in assembly or when the Christmas tree is put up and inappropriate items are hung from it. The socialisation occurs at lunchtime. If the children are being taught, if the words to hymns are changed to something silly, if Katie sticks a note on Miss Hughes' back saying 'Big Bum' and Louise Smith from Y11 gets off with Emma Blenkinsop's boyfriend behind Iceland, the full school experience will not be ruined.

I used to prefer front facing desks at school - the silly pupils couldn’t cause as much disruption and I felt I could learn better.

I’ve no idea what the plans are in our school, for lunches, practical lessons, start/finish times etc. They go back a week on Monday so I assume plans are still being out in place.
Even if they have to stay in one room at forward facing desks all day, I have faith that their teachers will do their best to engage with all types of learners as they always do.

Teachers won’t be talking at them the whole lesson, they’ll lose their voices. Front facing desks are far better imo and ime. Less temptation to mess about when not facing friends.

Plus the government are currently priming us for a second national lockdown, so more reasons to be grateful for each day the DC get inside a school.
(but at least casinos and bowling alleys are safe to open again - wonder how high up the government's priorities education really is)

Sitting in groups has been the bain of my life; I'm so glad it became a school policy last year to go back to rows. Students can rarely control their 'little chats' between the teacher talking and when getting on with a task to the point where low level disruption was becoming a real problem for many schools.

We have been working on making the lessons as engaging as possible; I've re-written nearly everything to take into account the limitations, but school isn't there for entertainment (and that view is what causes us many, many problems).

Our school have been back for a couple of weeks now. It’s all double periods to lessen the moving around and a one way system through the school. Each year has an indoor and outdoor area for breaks and lunch and they clean their desks and equipment after use. However they have a hot meal choice each day, are doing science experiments wearing their masks and are using all equipment in music and music technology except woodwind and brass. They are also having PE (double periods to ds’s horror), mostly athletics so far and socially distancing in the changing rooms. It doesn’t seem too bad so far!

Front facing desks doesn't equal lecturing or boring lessons. Teachers will be working hard to engage children in learning and making up for 5 lost months of education! Almost everyone will be excited to be back in school and, although different, it will fun to be back together. We have all had to adapt and except restrictions in these strange times. Just try to be pleased that children are getting face-to-face education at last.

Can't see the problem with forward facing, individual desks...some schools do this anyway, long before COVID (my previous job in a school for instance). Best way to learn...which is what they are in school to do. No need for it to be "fun", it's learning.....

I find when kids sit in rows they get on with there work better, so am pleased with this. In tables is good for primary, but is too sociable for teens who need to focus more on the teacher and not each other

Im ok with facing the front. But i am concerned that not doing the practical bits of subjects is not just boring but actually will affect learning. lot of people learn by doing and doing helps memory.i hope they find away to do practicals.

@Toddlerteaplease

I don't know how we survived our school days. With desks in rows, having to ask permission to take our black blazers off in hot days. Standing when a teacher came into the room. And a very strict uniform policy.

It doesn't matter if school is a bit boring, at least our children are getting an education.
As for excess energy most sports clubs are back (my daughter's football, kickboxing and dancing have all started again). Maybe that would help?

It will be fine. Mine have been back for a couple of weeks and after a bit of eyebrow raising at the changes for a day or two (Cleaning desks, assigned seats etc) it’s just like normal school to them now. I expect another couple of days of rolly-eyes from Monday when they have to wear face coverings but again it’ll quickly just become their new normal.

Yep agree with everyone who said not as dull as staring at a screen.

DD’s school has taught from the front with everyone facing forward for years now. It’s a massively oversubscribed school due to being the best school in the area for results and also from how it’s rated in all other ways. Kids rate it highly from their happiness point of view. Progress 8 is terrific. Just voted best school in the local press too.

What I’m trying to say is... Not all teaching facing/from the front is boring. Good teachers will adapt it to engage the pupils and it’s been shown that it can be used well here for years now.

You might be worrying for nothing.

Maybe your son will benefit from less wandering around, fewer social distractions, pupils paying more attention to the teacher and the lesson, than each other? .

    Please don't transmit your  doubts and fears to him, that's just setting him up to reject change and FAIL.