Head teacher doing “shout outs”

[Atalune]

Head of large secondary is doing positive shout outs for children who are deserving.

And as bloody usual it is the majority of really bloody naughty kids who are doing sweet FA! Or those who are struggling with their mental health ( I do not grudge these)

As an ex teacher I KNOW it is important to motivate the ones who need it. The ones who are low. But I am so fed up.

Dd- she really thought he would get one this week- full marks in the work, work submitted is of a high quality, she’s joined all the lives. SHe’s keen she’s engaged. Did she get one? Nope. Her friend who is doing fuck all and crying all day long and doing no work is getting them all the time.

I DO understand that those who are struggling need more. I do I do. But I am so fed up of the kids who are working hard, doing well. What about them? Always overlooked! And so now she’s crying and saying what’s the point?! It is unfair. I can’t email the school we will look like total brats.

Grrrrr, life isn’t fair.

Just a vent. I’m on the edge today.

You have me in general.

But the bit about her friend doing fa and crying all day

TheLeapHome
6 a day were available and she still couldn't get everyone included? You'd think if several parents had been in touch and been reasonable she might had taken 5 minutes to reflect.

I had a colleague who used to do something similar with chocolate and sweets. They didn't get a good reputation as all the well behaved students quickly decided the colleague was trying to bribe the disruptive students because they weren't a good teacher. In the name of professionalism I bit my tongue, but they were very perceptive students.

Quite frankly these public displays of 'recognition' should be scrapped. A teacher marking a book/piece of work with a 'well done' 'good effort' 'very well thought out' is individual and recognises effort.

I was in the 'middle lump' and underestimated at school. I had a DM who left it to school and was never that interested beyond a cursory 'have you done your homework?' I slipped from 'very bright' in reports in middle school to not being recognised by my form tutor from one year to the next and bland 'she is a helpful girl' .
My own DC , I was determined that wouldnt happen even though we were poor, on benefits I sought out indie schools giving scholarships and out of school activities to broaden their horizons. It didn't lead to stellar careers but they are articulate, educated and interested in the world around them adults.

In the world of work I had the pleasure of meeting one young man who told us all about his awards, certificates, results etc...he was arrogant , lazy and condescending to everyone 'beneath' him. He was most put out at not getting a 3k payrise 3 months into a basic retail position.

I worked in a school within a deprived community and were always told that the children who deserve the shoutouts (the ones who engage and try hard) will get praise and support at home but the children who get the shoutouts even though they least deserve them are pretty much neglected at home and so as a school, our duty was to praise them even more. We literally had targets for the PP children to get a gold brick a certain amount of times a term.

I didn't like philosophy. It was poor behaviour management imo so I left.

@ThinkAboutItTomorrow I like that answer. It is much better to learn to be proud yourself for the hardwork you put into something, than waiting for someone to praise you. School is so different to the real world, nowhere else do you get praised for just turning up. It does no one any favours in the long run. Maybe if your DD is so upset contact school and tell them.

My DD’s large secondary school are sending the parents of children, who do all their work an email for outstanding engagement every week. This is not linked to achievement but they’re working well / hard. I would email the head and ask if they can do the same.

There should be a balance between rewarding children who need the praise to boost their confidence and those who have worked hard to achieve a high standard. Kids aren’t daft, they can see what’s going on, and constant rewards for those who need support while ignoring the hard workers degrades the award. All children are deserving of praise at some point, what makes it a good school is spotting that moment when it happens and giving the praise that is due to whom ever has earned it.

What I hate about this is that it treats the children as if they are stupid. Which mostly they aren't, even the ones with troubles.

They know when they are being pandered to and it does not make them feel better.

If you have some sort of real relationship with the children, it's almost always possible to find times to give them positive feedback and encouragement. Specific, real stuff that is meaningful.

My dd has had the same for years she was 7 when she first mentioned about how all the naughty kids her words got team points for being good for 5 mins ! She is 10 now and mentioned she is just being left to it during lockdown as teachers need to concentrate on other kids she was exceeding in all subjects.

@ringydinghy

What many don't get is...a lot of the scummy naughty kids are the happiest. They have a good home life. Their parents are just rude, spoil them rotten, teach them no respect and think its perfectly acceptable for their kids to bully different/less fortunate people (I once witnessed a scummy mummy point at a poor child in a wheelchair and laugh, made jokes about it with their DC. I was fuming )

And the school helps reconfirm this scum's belief that, treating other people like shit to get what you want is rewarded.

When I was in primary 2, I was friends with a girl who lived in a caravan. To me, it sounded really cool and unique. But other kids bullied her for it and had clearly picked up some nasty opinions about travellers/ caravans from somewhere (i.e. their parents). In PRIMARY TWO. I’m totally horrified, thinking back on it.

This happened to DS all the away through Primary School. It’s really not fair 😡

I remember working so hard on a project when I was 7 it involved most of the work being done at home, I was never particularly interested in school but I was desperate that my project would be the best , and I knew it was bloody good. There was an award for the top 3 all went to the kids that were always causing disruption in school I was devastated and I can still remember that crushing what’s the point feeling nearly 40 years later 😞

I think it’s time they scrapped the whole reward scheme completely.

Basically, schools seem to either give every class member a turn (what’s the point of that, rewards are for the deserving, not because it’s their turn) or they’re awarded to the class clown for not disrupting the class for 10 minutes.

I’m not sure if things are culturally different across the border but I’ve not witnessed the ‘naughty kids’ being rewarded in my part of Scotland either now or when I was a kid. The ones up here who are most favorably chosen for things are teachers’ kids and kids with parents on the PTA/Parent Council. This opinion is based only on my own experience and that of my children’s’ years at school, but it’s rock solid.😂

The old me would’ve kept quiet, but f that now. One teacher sent my dd a pretty horrible email last week. She is trying so hard, is getting up & dressed early and has been so positive about online learning. She saved her work in the wrong place & teacher didn’t explain. I’m sick of it... and emailed to tell them so. Her little face dropped when she read the email. She was upset, but never likes to show it. Eldest child is being incredibly lazy, but seems to be getting lots of praise. Bonkers!

....Childrens’ Typing failure here. It’s been a long week....

Her little face dropped when she read the email.. That’s so sad. I have a little girl and she would be the same. This is all so hard for them.

I would email the head with your concerns. I guarantee your daughter will be mentioned next week which will raise her self esteem I am sure.

I do wonder what behaviour management suggestions people have for engaging those children who have a shit home life or are not the best behaved for whatever reason. I don't believe children are born naughty, there will always be something underlying which is the cause of the behaviour.

I think it is really easy to criticise as a parent when you are on the outside looking in and you don't have the knowledge of what is happening with some of those children at school.

I have shouted out a child before who stopped having emotional outbursts, tipping tables, acting violently and calling everyone in the class some choice words every other day. The behaviour built up over a short period of time and there were emails from parents demanding the child was expelled from the school with immediate effect. Parents also demanded they were removed from the classroom due to the impact on their child. I got and get it - it is shit for those dealing with the aftermath and the immediate of the behaviour but what later came out and unfortunately was spread over social media, was the reason for the behaviour - this child was being raped at home.

Many of the most vocal parents wouldn't look me in the eye for a while after it came out.

I totally agree. I see the devastation in my childs face, when someone else name is called out, this is the 3rd week theyve done it, he is like "eh, I'm surprised they're doing any work at home, they don't do any in school".. he works so so hard. He puts pressure on himself to achieve and do his work. Two of the kids that got awards have been known to cause disruption in class.

My oldest boy is a nightmare to motivate. He really couldn't care less about school. He got an award just to see if he would improve more at school. He thought it was great for all of 5mins. He hates school, he is very talented in other ways but school doesnt recognise that. He would much rather help the care taker, fix the tables for the teacher, get ready for big events at school. This is all over seen because he doesnt reach targets.

On the other hand. It is the same for appointing head girl, school counsel or other activities. It's the high achievers, the mums who are very involved with the school; kids that get those jobs.

It's not fair either way. I just make it my point to push belief onto my kids. Never compare, never diminish someone else's achievements. Although, at times it maybe disheartening know that you do your best! Then we go celebrate their hard work!

Very annoying. Motivation doesn't have to be public, for the high, low, vulnerable... All of whom need that supportive voice, just no need for the publicity.

Yep, but this has been going on since I was a kid. Always the twts who dont get enough attention at home, who play up in class, get all the attention and praise for doing f-a.

Same here. Both my children work hard to be in the top and once in a while they receive awards from school. They always tell me the disruptive kids get awards more often. But they know school's trying to encourage those kids, so they don't complain much. I always tell them to live without paying attention to other people's comments, good or bad. This year, one of our teachers sent out private messages to us on the teaching platform to say how excellent my child's work was, which really boosted my little one's confidence. I think this is a great way to encourage hard working kids while they are not getting any rewards from school.

Not exactly the same but similar...one of my DC teachers pissed me off today by thanking all of the Children who'd made it to all of the online lessons and telling them not to do any work over the weekend. Well that's great but mine can't do all of the online lessons because we both have to work and they have to do work on a weekend to make up for the days I am out of the house from 5am until 9.30pm working in a hospital. I am a key worker but school know my DGM has them in school holidays for us so asked us if she could have them instead of them going to school despite me saying this would mean it would be very difficult for them to get schoolwork done 😡😡 I wouldn't care but I have mentioned this to him and we can't be the only family in this situation so I just wish he would shut up and stop pointing out to my kids that they are missing out on things their classmates are accessing because I'm the one that has to deal with that!

“Dear Form Teacher, thanks to all in the school for providing all the work and support during these very different and difficult times. Dd is thankfully managing to engage really well with her work and isn’t aware that I’m contacting you.
Dd has been working hard at her own work and helping a good friend of hers with both her work and life in general as she is finding it hard. Dd is being a good friend which is a lovely lesson to learn and so lovely to see her do.
I was hoping that you may be able to help me as my Dd has noted to me/us that even though she has been engaging with the work set for her and working hard it hasn’t been acknowledged by the HT in his “shout outs”. I/we have explained that it will be noted by the teachers, just not included in the public recognition, but she seems to be still really disappointed and has asked what is the point of working hard when it’s not recognised. I/We will continue to reinforce that it will absolutely be recognised by her teachers but I was also hoping that you may be able to include her in the public recognition? I hope you don’t mind me asking, I just wouldn’t want her work ethic to drop if some encouragement from the HT could help.
Many thanks for your time.”