Are the majority of classes in state schools as disruptive as the class on Jamie Oliver's Dream School?

[mummynoo]

After watching Jamie Oliver's dream school, I am wondering if all state school classes are as rude and disruptive as the class featured in this programme. Since my daughter is due to start infants school this September?

Can any teachers who might be reading this give me their opinion. Is it impossible to teach because the pupils are constantly talking over you?

That is good then Exotic.

How does being a SAHM extrapolate into wanting less for your DD's?

Mine will have absolutely the same opportunities. Why wouldn't they?

I never said it didn't.

But if we fall into traps of saying all women would prefer to stay at home or that it would be better for them and their children if they did...it's only a hop skip and a jump to saying they really don't need an equal education.

No one said all women prefer to SAH.

I did say a lot do. And, IME, many women, if they had the choice would not work.

TBF, many men wouldn't either.

'I refuse to sacrifice my happiness'

That's fine but my point is that there are lots of particularly women who make a decision not to work based on happiness and end up being very unhappy as a result of this decision.

Anyone could say they'd be happier not working today but what about tomorrow?

EF, nobody is telling anyone what to do. There's a big difference between this and expressing the potential problems of one model of living and beign concerned about inequality in our society.

'I also have the sort of job that I can have breaks from and then get back into'

What job is that exotic?

fivecandles, you seem overly-concerned about life assurance, death, pensions, separation etc. Carpe diem!

So by your logic, fivecandles should all women carry on working just in case when they stop they find it's the wrong decision?

Fivecandles "Women who make a decision not to work based on happiness and end up being very unhappy as a result"

I agree but you can equally say "there are many women who make the decision to work based on happiness and end up being very unhappy as a result of that"

Don't you see, there is no one answer or thing we should all do. We should all be free to make our own choices based on what is best for our families/relationships, without fear of being judged.

I think it is so sad that some women feel the need to tell other women what is good for them. It really is as bad as a man telling a woman she should stay at home next to the kitchen sink. In fact it's worse.

But surely, if you are unhappy working/not working you can- finances permitting- just you know, NOT??

'should all women carry on working just in case when they stop they find it's the wrong decision?'

That's silly.

It makes sense to be in a position to support yourself and your family.

This is what you would expect of anybody without kids. If you do have kids than you have a responsibility to them as well as yourselves.

'you seem overly-concerned about life assurance, death, pensions, separation etc. Carpe diem!'

You can't really be overly concerned about these issues. Women are extremely vulnerable and often very ignorant about financial issues as this post shows yet sadly they're more likely to live longer and in poverty than men. If you live until you're 90 then that's 25 years on a state pension. That's not a happy end to your life!

If you start thinking about your pension at age 40+ having spent a considerable portion of your working life earning nothing and your partner has made no provision for you then this is really very late to do much about it.

This stuff should be taught in schools to everybody but particularly to women who are more likely to live in poverty than men so they can make informed choices.

'Women are twice as likely than men to live in poverty during their retirement, according to Age Concern, with women receiving an average of £124 per month less than men. The result is that about 1.4 million female pensioners are living in poverty. '

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/reader_guides/article6805408.ece

'Figures from the Scottish Widows UK Pensions Report, published today, reveal that the gender gap between male and female pension savers has increased since 2008, with 59 per cent of men on track for a comfortable retirement, compared with just 47 per cent of women.

Although the amount of people saving adequately for their pension pots rose to 54 per cent ? up 6 per cent from the lows of 2006 ? the over 50s are most likely to have cut their savings in the last year.

Indeed, the number of women aged 50 and over who said they are not saving at all for retirement has increased from 14 per cent to 22 per cent.'

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/pensions/article6609635.ece

www.thisismoney.co.uk/pensions/article.html?in_article_id=522760&in_page_id=6

'I agree but you can equally say "there are many women who make the decision to work based on happiness and end up being very unhappy as a result of that"

Well, no I don't think it's the same at all.

If you work and don't want to it's because you have to to support yourself and your family and that's life really.

I do find it odd that people are making decisions which could negatively affect their whole lives based purely on what makes them 'happy' for now.

FiveCandles Yes you do have a responsibility to your kids-and money isn't the only responsibility. Providing a loving, stable home is also a responsibility. If that can be done with only one parent working then so be it.

It would be completley ridiculous for me to work, it doesn't suit our family arrangements. I do a lot of voluntary work, but I don't want or need to have paid employment.

You can write another 300 posts, but can you not accept that women can have a different view to you? You seem so stubborn in your belief that you are right and anyone who disagrees with you is wrong. Can't you see that everyone is different and should beable to make different choices?

'But surely, if you are unhappy working/not working you can- finances permitting- just you know, NOT??'

Out of interest, do you feel the same way about people who don't have children just not working?

But what does 'finances permitting' mean?

Personally, I think a woman or man who is dependent on his or her partner needs to be confident that if that partner died or got made redundant tomorrow they and their kids would be able to cope financially.

'a loving, stable home is also a responsibility.'

Yes, but this is a responsibility for all parents surely and not just one where one parent stays at home?

Working parents don't abdicate this responsibility.

And neither should SAHP abdicate their financial responsibilities surely?

FC,I am very well provided for now and for the future. DH is life insured to the hilt . I would be a very wealthy widow.

I am also highly qualified and experienced in the profession I was in for many years before children.

So you really, REALLY don't need to worry about me.

I'd save your concern for full time working mothers on minimum wage living with men on the same.

'You seem so stubborn in your belief that you are right and anyone who disagrees with you is wrong.'

I'm not sure what you think I'm arguing. I've never talked or considered that anybody is right or wrong.

Is there something wrong with suggesting that some SAHP could/should be more aware of the long-term consequences financial and other of being a SAHP?

That's a matter of human concern and not a question of judging others' lifestyles.

That's great Shirley. I think perhaps that you need to accept that according to the stats above that makes you in a minority.

'The result is that about 1.4 million female pensioners are living in poverty. '

I think we should all be concerned about this!

Do you really think a woman working full time on minimum wage in Asda is better equipped to deal with being a single parent than a highly skilled and experienced professional woman who has been a SAHM for a few years?

There are probably a similar number of male pensioners in poverty, FC.

What's the point of that comparison shirley? I don't follow.

Er, no shirley. Read above

''Figures from the Scottish Widows UK Pensions Report, published today, reveal that the gender gap between male and female pension savers has increased since 2008, with 59 per cent of men on track for a comfortable retirement, compared with just 47 per cent of women.

Although the amount of people saving adequately for their pension pots rose to 54 per cent ? up 6 per cent from the lows of 2006 ? the over 50s are most likely to have cut their savings in the last year.

Indeed, the number of women aged 50 and over who said they are not saving at all for retirement has increased from 14 per cent to 22 per cent.'

www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/pensions/article6609635.ece