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Original poster

Jamie's Dream School

75 replies

MarathonMama · 16/03/2011 20:46

Has there been a thread about this already because I really need to rant...

Is anyone else watching this and getting annoyed? The sense of entitlement these kids (and Jamie!) have drives me mad, they seem to think their education should be handed to them on a plate, with no personal effort or accountability. I can't see how instilling a belief that the education system has failed them and it's got nothing to do with their attitude or behaviour is going to help them in later life?

I really wish someone would give them some home truths instead of pandering to their whims.

Rant over Wink

OP posts:
optimist66 · 16/03/2011 22:03

I don't see why they are working with kids who are post-16. They are handicapped by their attitude. If they don't want it bad enough, then a few weeks won't give them hearts and soul buy-in to the benefits of a good education.

Surely any such experiment would at least use school-children who, for whatever reason, are prsently underachieving.

Also, sorry to say this, but Jamie Oliver comes across as a self-righteous prig.

MaureenMLove · 16/03/2011 22:15

Agree MarathonMama.

I took a class this morning, where a yr 11 lad didn't do anything for 25mins, because he didn't have a pen and I hadn't noticed. It was my fault apparently! He actually said, 'well, if I ain't got a pen, how am I supposed to do any work?'Shock

I know this is a very simplified version of what you're saying, but it amounts to the same.

It's always someone elses fault that they don't achieve!

MaureenMLove · 16/03/2011 22:16

One of Jamies Dream School kids, went to my school, btw! Grin

usualsuspect · 16/03/2011 22:18

I hate JO ..and I hate this programme

wtf does he know about teaching ..stick to cooking you twat

stillenacht · 16/03/2011 22:19

Was it Conor? As he was at a school of a friend of mine. I haven't watched it in weeks but caughta last few minutes of Jamie pleading on about how all children should have these chances...cheers Jamie..as a teacher of 16 years standing I am really grateful for you putting us all in our place.

MaureenMLove · 16/03/2011 22:28

No, not Connor.

sue52 · 16/03/2011 22:31

Interesting that they all seemed to respond to Alvin Hall. He demanded that they pay attention, threatened to take away mobiles and insisted on being called Mr Hall. His tactics looked like they worked.

cyb · 16/03/2011 22:36

I find the 'you say we have to respect you the teacher) but you dont respect me' atttitude of these kids very strange. I don't think they even know what the word respect means.It seems to mean to them 'dont answer me back or disagree with me or tell me things I dont want to hear'

They talk to that Head as if they are on a level with him but they aren't. He is educated, he learned, he worked through his difficulties.

They expect everything on a plate and are not willing to help themsleves, but want to blame everybody else. Some parents seem to collude in this.

But I agree Alvin Hall was a great teacher

MaureenMLove · 16/03/2011 22:42

Is it any wonder that these kids have left school with nothing and why the hell should teachers even want to make an effort with them? Angry

notrightnow · 16/03/2011 22:45

The bit that made me rofl was the voiceover solemnly intoning that 'Alvin Hall would teach the class fractions with only a board and a pen'. Blimey, that's really stunt teaching. Imagine, that you could make kids understand something just by explaining clearly and writing it down...

sue52 · 16/03/2011 22:50

I've just noticed that Mary Beard has posted on the thread in telly addicts.

edam · 16/03/2011 22:50

Grin rightmove

Loved the bit where the mother was shown the VT of her dd's outburst. Boy, did she change her tune!

Roastchicken · 17/03/2011 10:29

Agree. I was totally shocked. I can't believe the self-confidence and self-entitlement some of the kids had.

Alivin Hall was totally right about self-discipline.

wheelsonthebus · 17/03/2011 13:35

yes, Alvin Hall had it all sussed in an instant. He was spot on - these kids are not bright, they are wily and egotistical

bitsyandbetty · 17/03/2011 13:52

In my opinion it would be better for them to have been given work experience in a really hard job not just in an office to make them appreciate school better. They would also learn to respect others better. The attitude of the girl last night was the behaviour of a 5 year old, with life revolves around me mentality. Her mother may have backed her up too much in the past. Why does the HM insist on saying aint. Makes me cringe!

Original poster
MarathonMama · 17/03/2011 14:32

I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I hope Jamie doesn't go on one of his country-wide crusades to "rescue" these "poor" children who have been so let down by the education system Hmm

And the parents need a kick up the backside too!

OP posts:
GabbyLoggon · 17/03/2011 14:45

I suspect the TV channel will make it work at the end. As is the way with this type of series.

I never know how much producers are manipulating
things. ( it is their job, I suppose)

JoanofArgos · 17/03/2011 14:48

Now that he's told them they are 'on their knees' without any GCSEs, why is Jamie getting them taught loads of stuff that is going to have no practical use at all in getting them a GCSE? They might have fun, but it is fundamentally not addressing what his objective would appear to be.

Also, the kids are encouraged far too much to whine about how their schools let them down, and then this seems to be taken as gospel, with no-one realising that perhaps the kids might have a vested interest in the 'school never cared about me, so I din't turn up' line, as it absolves them of any responsibility at all! I think they should be taken back to their old schools and made to bloody apologise, most of them!

mumonahottinroof · 17/03/2011 14:52

Agree I hate the head saying "ain't." Speak grammatically ffs

Plus he was useless and wet in his dealings with Harlem - having said he'd kick out anyone who misbehaved he then let Harlem rant on and on - and it looks like he'll take her back. Alvin Hall is the only one to have them sussed.

alemci · 17/03/2011 14:54

yes i agree. also the girl who mouthed off at the headmaster was a nightmare and her mother was so weak. Her father had died but does that give her the excuse to behave like that.

It was great when her mum saw the playback. she probably wanted the earth to swallow her up. she had spawned a monster IMO.

Clumsymum · 17/03/2011 15:01

Oh I'm sooooo pleased to have found this thread. I watched the program, feeling really annoyed that these children are DEMANDING 'respect' when they have no respect at all for anyone or anything (I was appalled that they burnt a hole in the biosphere so one of the boys could smoke thru it !!! The cameras showed it, but no-one apparently explained the cost or damage to them).

Yes, Alvin hall managed to get to them, thank goodness someone did. But the 'meeting'that the headteacher held was a complete shambles, why did that man not take control ? Harlem took control of the meeting, pulled it apart, and walked off, victorious in her indignation.
The head needs to get some spine, and quickly.

In the first show David Starkey got a severe telling off, cos he had the temerity to tell these kids that they were here because they had failed (ok, he also called one of them fat - shock horror!!). But they HAVE failed, and they need to know that the failure is AS MUCH their responsibility as anyone else's.

Sorry, ranting I know.

JoanofArgos · 17/03/2011 15:07

Oh no, see I do think Starkey was a rubbish teacher and he deserved to be hauled over the coals for that.

I did find myself thinking though, that probably one rreason a lot of them might have kept getting into trouble was probably for smoking - I know it's usually a code red misdemeanour. So, how to solve that so they won't be in trouble? Let 'em smoke on school grounds, natch! Hmm

Clumsymum · 17/03/2011 15:12

Joan I agree Starkey wasn't the right man for the job - but I do think the whole political correctness of not being able to tell someone when THEY have failed is stupid and misplaced.

JoanofArgos · 17/03/2011 15:21

he was in more trouble for calling the kid fat than for the failure comments, though.

And to be honest what I thought was worst about that was the way he refused to admit that HE STARTED IT! And just kept lying and lying like any dumb 9 year old who doesn't know she's got chocolate all round her mouth!

What a pathetic man.

However.

CrosswordAddict · 17/03/2011 16:08

mumonahottinroof I agree with you. Alvin Hall had them sussed. The girl Harlem's Mum had a hard time when she watched that video tape of her daughter though - I felt sorry for her! TBH you didn't need to be a financial whizzkid to draw up that pie chart of Alvin's did you? I enjoy this programme - it has a lurid fascination - car crash tv I suppose.