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Education

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Original poster

I resent school.

192 replies

spidermama · 21/09/2005 15:51

I have a sneaking feeling I'll be the only one thinking this .... again ... but I'm really wishing I didn't have to send my kids to school five days a week.
It seems school presents something new to irritate me every day. Today brought news that parents who take their children out of school during SATs (don't even get me started on SATs [agnry]) will be fined.
I think this is outrageous interference.

OP posts:
stitch · 21/09/2005 16:30

i think education all over the world is crap. really really crap.
but i m a depressive person who9 sees the worst in stuff always.

Original poster
spidermama · 21/09/2005 16:31

True stitch and you're right. I just fear that home edding places a person on the margins of society and they may never again be able to join the mainstream. It's more of a worry for DH than me to tell you the truth.

OP posts:
JoolsToo · 21/09/2005 16:33

how can it be crap when results are improving year on year and everybody is getting A's and going to University?

merrygoround · 21/09/2005 16:33

I think (only an opinion) that school was never designed to meet the needs of individual children, but to meet society's need for a reasonably well educated work force. It is not meant to be that flexible, although in the modern world there is more emphasis on recognising individual strengths and weaknesses and trying to play to them a little. I have a similar heavy heart about school, I am sorry to say, as I look back on my many years of being educated and am not hugely impressed with the outcome. Having said that, infants school was streets better than what came later.

stitch · 21/09/2005 16:34

sorry spidey, havent really thought it through that much. i have a friend who home educates though. maybe i can get her to give you some links to help you look into it.
for me its just not possible as i cant wait to get them out the house.

MrsSpoon · 21/09/2005 16:37

Should add it's just the routine, so far our experiences with School have been very positive and DS1's teachers have been lovely and very good at their jobs.

happymerryberries · 21/09/2005 16:41

'i think education all over the world is crap. really really crap.
but i m a depressive person who9 sees the worst in stuff always. '

Great, I've spent today, and yesterday and will spend tomorrow knocking myself out to give the kids I teach the very best, but it is 'crap'

Thanks for that, realy gives me a lift as I sit down to try to plan new and exciting ways to teach my sixth form next week

bundle · 21/09/2005 16:42

hmb, that's not the opinion of all of us and you know it

happymerryberries · 21/09/2005 16:44

No, I know that, but it does get to you a bit when there is a nice big generalisation like that.

I had 18 kids from a class of 24 put down Biology as one of their chosen A levels (my subject) so I suppose I can't be all crap

Original poster
spidermama · 21/09/2005 16:47

HMB stop taking things personally. Can we not have a debate on education without it being specifically about you?

Someone wrote a thread on whether or not news should be toned down because of sensibilities. I'm a journalist but I didn't assume that thread was accusing me of doing a bad job.

OP posts:
Mud · 21/09/2005 16:51

seems to me an d ive only read a few of your threads that you have a problem with any kidns of system. so there is only one answer take them out and home educate them. its a put up or shut up situatuon. i think you risk damdaging your kids by insisting they go to an instutution that you then take eveyr opporutnity to berate and demean

stitch · 21/09/2005 16:55

hmb, stop feeling everything so personally. its not about you.

and for what its worth, im also a chemistry teacher. but i still think the system sucks.

happymerryberries · 21/09/2005 16:56

It is hard not to take something seriously when someone says that education is crap everywhere, which by definition must include the school I work in, and me.

I don't think that the education system is perfect, far from it, but neither is it 'crap everywhere'.

Part of the reason that I take it 'personaly' is that I teach children who's parents have no respect for education or for my role as a teacher. This rubs off on the kids. This does not make them easily fit into the school environment.

Mud · 21/09/2005 16:58

and you're not only damagig your own kds but other peoples too which would make me really corss if my kids went to your kds school. its always the cynical that seems cool and that lack of resepct from parents just goes through the kids and gets demosntated in school

JoolsToo · 21/09/2005 16:59

sooooooooooooooooooooooo-zeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

happymerryberries · 21/09/2005 17:00

Is that a subtle 'has this kicked off yet' reference that has gone over my head?

stitch · 21/09/2005 17:01

hmb, i also taught such kids before going on maternity leave with ds2. and the interaction with the kids was the part off it i loved.
i hated the system. felt it was failing the kids.
ive also taught in the middle east and been to school inthe middle east as well as in pakistan. and i think the system there also fails the majority of the pupils. fantastic teachers. but the entire system is all wrong. i wouldtn know where to start when describing its shortcomings.

i know i was a good teacher. i did my best within the constraints of the curriculum, and the school culture. from what i ve heard from you, you take pride in your vocation. im sure you are a very good teacher. please dont take to heart comments made in passing that are not thought out. i do suffer from foot in mouth disease

JoolsToo · 21/09/2005 17:02

obviously it didn't

cos you're very bright!

happymerryberries · 21/09/2005 17:09

I can agree with the short comings, oh how I do! I am still realing from dealing with some of them today.

THis is just a generaly bad timefor teachers on MN. It is understandable that people have lots of 'issues' with schools at this tie of year. The vast majority of them very well founded. Trouble is that you read them all and end up a little punch drunk. THis time last year I got so fed up I had my only (short lived) 'flounce'

You just get to the point where you feel that teachers can do no right. You get one parent upset from the lack of HW and another upset because there is HW sort of a thing. And in the end you think, 'what the hell can I do that it right ffs'

Which is, of course, paranoia. But as I always say, just coz you are paranoid, it doesn't mean that everyone isn't out to get you

Just put my grouchyness down to a bloody hard day coping with faintly neurotic kids!

stitch · 21/09/2005 17:10

dont flounce though. its fun chatting to you

happymerryberries · 21/09/2005 17:21

I'll make a confession here. I came into teaching late in life, having done lots of things first. I thought it was an 'easy' job and that anyone could do it. Now that I do it I realise how wrong I was , and that sometimes I seriously doubt that I will every get it right.

I know that all jobs can be tough and demanding if you put enough into them, before anyone posts and says , 'it isn't just teachers that work hard you know'

But to everyone who is convinced that they could do a better job, I'd say, have go It is a real 'education'

saadia · 21/09/2005 17:32

Ever since I had ds1 I've thought it's such a shame he will have to get on the treadmill - nursery, school, college , uni (hopefully) etc - but I do want him to be part of mainstream society and learn to co-operate, follow orders etc so I do plan for him to attend school.

But what spidermama says has struck a chord with me, I think that what I have taught him over the past three and a half yrs has been very valuable and given that I can give him one-to-one attention I'm not convinced that a school setting will promote his development as much.

zippitippitoes · 21/09/2005 17:54

Spidermama

Have you investigated home school, from your posts I think you would enjoy it and provided you are a sociable person yourself there isn't any evidence that home ed children are less socialised than their peers (unless there is something in the family background which would call into question their well being anyway)

I didn't home ed my children but did a lot of research into it both at university and college and once I had children myself.

I think it is an alternative to school , considering it doesn't belittle the role of regular school for most children and parents.

If I was you I would look into it, contact your local home ed groups and do some work on how you would implement it and whether your partner supports the idea.

And seriously consider whether you could visualise it as a way of life and not start to lose interest or want to get employment yourself.

gigglinggoblin · 21/09/2005 18:01

have only scanned thread so not sure if this has been suggested, but have you looked for a steiner school near you?

Majorca · 21/09/2005 18:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.