For teachers- do your pupils learn something new every day?

[jasper]

I am asking this due to the thread about taking kids out of school outwith holidays, where some of you explained it disrupted the teaching programme.

My question is do you really teach your pupils something different every day? This is a genuine question, not intended to provoke or criticise. I admire anyone who chooses teaching as a profession and the friends I have who teach are , to a woman, remarkable and inspiring individuals.
It's just that my memory of school (particularly primary school ) was of weeks and weeks of repetition of the same things.

That was my biggest compliant about school - it was boring and repetitive and I felt I hardly ever learned anything.

We were taken out of school for a week or two most years and there was never any notion of having to catch up or missing anything. Have things changed or am I suffering from false memory syndrome ? Might I have gone on to acheive greatness if it hadn't been for those fortnights in Harrogate?

So to repeat my question,which was not intended to rehash the holidays issue, do you teach a different thing every single day?

[popsycal]

good point raised by singingmum
can we please let this thread die?

[singingmum]

Haven't been online for a while as have been busy.Want to make a few poiunts:-
I have looked at the krebs cycle and thank you for the mention of it as my son(aged 9)enjoyed this topic.I do not understand what is so difficult about it.
I have not once said that teachers have wasted their time getting qualifications,I believe in getting these however some people do not get them not because they are incappable but because they cannot afford it or other justifiable reasons.
Not once have I stated that the whole of the teaching proffesion was a load of rubbish.I did however state that in my experience there are many who are obviously badly trained or just ill-suited to this proffesion.
HMB stated that I believed her to be against HE again if you re-read my posts you will find that this is untrue.
I myself have a wide variety of teachers some excellent but in my case most were atrocious.Any proffesion has good and bad sides.
I would never unilaterally describe teachers as awful.
I have stated that it is the educational system that is mainly at fault.
Some of the posters here have become abusive and quite frankly have over reacted to things which have been said.Robinw has gotten annoyed at being belittled by others and has responded in kind.The comments made by a lot of the teachers are disproportionate to what has been said.
I would also like to point out that yes Ihave been and helped in a local school when I was a teenager and I found it enjoyable.
I wanted to learn at school but like many other children who wanted to learn I was overlooked and ignored.I quit working and decided that I no longer cared what happened.I left school with a total lack of confidence in myself both as a human and in my abbilities so excuse me if I feel I have a right to be annoyed when told that I must therefore as an unqualified person be unable to do the very thing I am doing ie HEing my children.
I have to not only pre prepare certain lessons and mark work done but I have to teach different subjects at different levels and I have to study myself to make sure that I know what I am teaching.I do this so that my children have the best life I can provide them with.
Not once in my life have I believed teaching to be an easy job,but I have realised that there are many types of teachers.Congrats to hmb for her obvious hard work and the same to any other teacher who can honestly say that they have done their job the best way they can,but realise that their are others out there that don't.
In answer to the why don't I become a teacher point made(I am taking this as a personal thing).I have not become a teacher as I 1) do not believe the education system in this country to be conducive to learning and 2)am an agoraphobic through many reasons.
I do teach my son certain subjects at GCSE standard and yes it is possible.HE is not the easy way to go.My son has suspected ADHD and mild dyslexia and dyspraxia,my daughter is hyperactive so realise that I have put up with violence etc.I also have 2 ADHD brothers who have done numerous things including threatening with knives so do not try to tell me about dealing with such things as I learnt a long time ago exactly how to do so.Also I have done a lot of work with mentally and disabled people both adults and children and have taught them basic math amongst other things.I was a teenager when I did this.Assuming that a person could not do something because they did not get a deegree or qualification is absurd and highly insulting.
I find it very sad that so many personal,rude and childish things have been said here from some otherwise polite people.When I origionally posted all of my messages I tried to make the points generalised so as not to be misunderstood for some reason things I had said were twisted.I repeat that I did not mean any offence.

[Lisa78]

I drove DS2 to school again yesterday - the wonders of maternity leave, wouldn't be dressed till noon if I didn't agree to drive him most days - and en route he was having a good old moan about his new English teacher. "Everytime someone is talking, she blames me" he ranted "Why?" said I (being one of those mums that always supports his teachers, even when it sounds like they are wrong - cos naturally DS1 is perfect and gives a totally unbiased accounts of his wrongdoings! )) She says I have one mouth and two ears and I should use it proportionately, he moans. I roared laughing, (he's 14 BTW, quite able to deal with blunt comments) he's been told he talks too much by every teacher since reception, this one got his measure in 2 weeks flat.
On the way home he's having another grumble, he says he asked her to explain the answer to a question they had had for homework. An answer she had just that second explained... Naturally she asked if he had not been listening, and he cheerfully pipes up that he was trying very hard to but Tom was talking to him and winked at her... Teacher burst out laughing, told him he was cheeky and could do the question again for homework since he got it wrong!!!

My point - and I do have one - is that he has been in school 9 years now and has had lots of different teachers, some better than others. But I can honestly say, not one of them has been a bad teacher in my opinion. As he went to high school, the type of relationship he has with them has changed yes, but for the good. When a teacher such as his English teacher, can teach several classes of 30 odd, and get a bead on his personality in two weeks, and therefore a bead on how best he learns, well hurrah for her - I look forward to parents evening! The one thing I always get a feeling for at parents evening is how much DS1's teachers seem to like him, which I admire more than anything else sometimes, adolescents not being the most likable species

Teachers, like nurses, police etc, sometimes get a bad press, and they do, like any other profession have bad apples. But by and large, they do a bloody good job at all levels, under sometimes difficult circumstances (my big mouthed son included!)

[hmb]

Moomin, that was very kind, thank you. But I don't think that I have been that patient

[donnie]

I too have been following and contributing to this thread and I have got to say it has reached a stage where I am just laughing out loud at what robinw says becauwe she is talking such drivel and clearly enjoing herself! most of us agree that the views she has expressed are both ridiculous and riddled with inconsistencies so I am not even bothering to argue any more - it is pointless. Robinw, you maintain that because teachers disagree with you that they cannot accept any criticism, yet you yourself display that very trait - you will not hear or even respond to any of the criticisms levelled at you.....um, maybe this must mean you are a bad mother?? now , that's what I call ironically funny! anyhow ladies why don't we call it a day as popsycal has suggested, no point giving her more rope to hang herself with, she's done a good enough job. GOODBYE ALL!!! I am now off to resign from secondary school in order to take up my new cutting edge, inner city position of assistant Brown Owl.

[Moomin]

I've been following this thread with interest, as a mumsnetter of 3 years and also a member of the (dare I say it) teaching profession. I have to say that I've followed robinw's thoughts on teachers throughout my time on mumsnet, thought that they were ignorant to say the least but also couldn't be arsed to try to justify myself and other teachers because she seemed so "la-la-la not listening, with blinkers on" (and of course, I'm a lazy so-and-so who's never done a proper day's work and sits counting term days until the next holiday )
I stand in awe of hmb and her eloquent, well-argued and patient posts to robinw as she has tried to reason with someone who is clearly beyond reasoning with. It's lovely to read the support teachers are getting from all the others on this thread and we teachers need to get all of these comments into perspective, and see that the positives vastly outweigh the negatives. Unfortunately we've been treating this thread like the typical parents' evening: we can have great consultations and positive conversations with pupils and parents all night but the one we'll go with and brood over will be the one meeting - or even one comment that is in some way negative. And that's because we're conscientious, NOT because we think we're above criticism! Anyway, that's my twopenneth...

[suedonim]

Hmb, I read it like that as well. As parents, dh and I are pretty satisfied with our children's education. (Ds1 has an MA and a pg qualification and is considering doing a doctorate in the US, ds2 is about to gain a probable First in psychology and has two offers to do a PhD.)

With children 'in the system' since 1980 (and still with 10 more years to go!) and experience of eight schools in widely varying geographical areas I really don't think we fit Robin's patronising criteria of people 'who have least with which to compare it'.

Of course there are areas where things have been less than perfect; our main gripe was the lack of attention to our ds's absences from school due to ill health. But even that I am 100% sure would be treated very differently today with the modern emphasis on inclusivity and SN. And there have been teachers here and there who haven't been up to the job but, quite honestly, they've been outweighed many, many times by the good. Ime, the vast majority of teachers want their pupils to achieve their potential. I would have thought that seeing children develop and do well (not just in academic areas) is where the job satisfaction and reward lies. But there again, I know nothing, because I'm happy with my children's education......

[Clarinet60]

I meant I don't have to do a single thing with DS1 for those hours. I have plenty to do with DS2 and work at home. DOH!

[Clarinet60]

I want to echo Ponygirl in that I have been really pleased with DS's reception class so far. There is a lovely family atmosphere and they do learn something each day. They aren't pushed to the point of being stressed either, which is very important, IMO. One of my original concerns was that DS would be put off learning, as I think 4 is too young to start formally, but apart from complaining about having to sit still for long periods, he seems fine. I think the amount of stimulation and socialising he's getting (not to mention sheer entertainment) offsets the drawbacks of starting young. The one-to-one attention robinw probably craves can be provided by me at home.

His teacher and classroom assistant and head and dinner ladies are all lovely. I could take them home and eat them at the moment! It's also a lovely feeling of freedom knowing that he's there for 6 1/2 hours and I don't have to do a single thing!

[Festivefly]

Robinw, i have stayed away from this thread as i didn't want to get involved.I didn't realise what was happening was just petty, unpleasant, generalizations. No wonder people are getting upset, if you want to villify teachers, perhaps its you with the problem. I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, i know everyone has there right to an opinion but your comments are just laughable. Are you seriously building up your argument by suggesting that all teachers have mental health problems(can't relate to adults etc.......)? Is that your point? If it is, its not worth listening to, its just pure silliness.

[hmb]

Yes, having re-read it, I see what you might mean. I'd be the last person to argue robinw's case ( ) but the 'In my experience' lead into the statement makes me think that she means parents of all children, not just parents of children with sn. I think she was having a go at anyone who had the audacity to disagree with her and think that schools did a reasonable job. Obviously having a go at teachers was just the starter.....there are more people out there it insult!

For what it is worth I think that parents of children with sn probably have the greatest right to feel agreaved by the education system. It is sn children that the education system is failing most (with the possible expection of dyslexia which is usualy managed fairly well).

[Jimjams]

I kind of hope that's what was meant hmb as I read it as something worse than that.

[ponygirl]

I've only caught up with this thread last night, but was quite astonished at some of the things I read and wanted to throw in a bit more support for the teachers. My ds1 only started Reception in September, so I would be the first to admit that I have a very limited experience of the 21st-century education system as yet. What I do know, is that my son, to answer the original question, does learn something new every day; school has been hugely beneficial to him and he loves going. His teacher is dedicated and enthusiastic and the school environment is supportive, encouraging and inclusive of parents. Teachers do a hugely difficult and responsible position that I for one would not be equal to. Respect!

[hmb]

FWIW, I read it as meaning that the people who were satisfied with their children's education had the least experience of the education system, ie they are poorly educated themselves, and didn't bother to reaserch schools, check them out. Both of which are rude and simply not true.

[tigermoth]

looked at this thread with fresh eyes this morning. Jimjams, I can see what worries you about Robin's remark. Like you, I'm not sure how to take it. I hope Robin suppies an explanation sometime.

[Hulababy]

Just like to add my thanks for all the support from everyone here. Makes me realise that on the whole we are doing some good at schools. I did have my posts deleted, for no other reason than I hope to kill robin's posts - so she had less to argue against. This hasn't worked unfortuantely. So thanks to everyone who does put some trust in us and your own children's teachers. In all professions there are good and bad, but IME the majority are goos and do care.

[popsycal]

thank you to all of you who have helped to show that it is not just 'robin against teachers'
I thiknn everyone on this thread (bar one) can see the mudslinging.....
we never said that we were perfect......but we also will not take blanket critcisms od a whole profession. that is unfair, inappropraite and dowright rude robin
I have said it before but replace the word 'teacher' in your posts with SAHM, black or gay and you wil see how offensive they are
or maybe you won't

[GRMUM]

I thought I would like to retrain as a teacher but having recently helped out in a nursery school I don't think i could do it.My mum was a teacher, my brother and his partner are and I've seen how hard they have to work and how dedicated they are.Of course there will be a few skivers -there are in any job.

In my humble experience (3 kids of school age -14, 13 and 9 years of age) the most difficult/awkward/disruptive kids in the class are always the offspring of the mothers who sit at parties and moan and complain about school/teacher/facilities etc. If your child hears this rubbish at home of course they are not going to get much out of school. If your attitude is negative how can they be expected to have positive attitudes??

Teachers deserve more than this....

[Lara2]

I put my two pennies worth in about halfway through this thread, went away for a week and found that all hell has broken loose!! hmb, popsycal and all you others who have supported teachers - THANKYOU!! robinw is so unbelievable - more so when you read the whole thread in one go!!! Ditto, ditto, ditto what all of you have said to her. Interestingly, she still hasn't answered hmb's challenge about having the right to tell parents they are shit and don't deserve their children!! Hmb - do we work in the same area by any chance?? I feel SO pissed off now - but after 17 years have come to expect no less from people like robinw. I will NOT jack in a job I love, despite the fact that it makes me totally exhausted, has given me a broken nose (head butt from a 4 year old on my FIRST teaching practice!!) and EVERYONE seems to think that because they went to school (or any other totally crap reason!)they can teach too!!!

[hmb]

I'm afraid I 'read' it the same way as I think you did Jimjams. And nothing that robinw has posted on this thread makes me think that I need to give her the benefit of the doubt (as I'm a mother and a teacher)

[popsycal]

Please listen to what emkaren has said.....
please ignore this thread...
she has upset enough people and I simply will not allow people who have enough on their plate (people like jimjams) to be insulted as we have been!

[Jimjams]

tigermoth-I really hope you are right. I really hope that is what that last sentence meant. At the moment I'm reading it in a different way.

[hmb]

A big thank you to everyone who has posted such kind, supportive comments. We may be teachers but we are human and can get hurt just as easily as the next person.

[emkaren]

Robinw just loves to wind people up - she has transferred her efforts from the breastfeeding threads (where she ended up being reported to MN for being offensive) to this thread. There really is only one thing that can be done - just ignore anything she writes! A serious, non-offensive debate is not possible with her.

[JanH]

I have always found my children quite good at picking up how I really feel about something/somebody even when I mouth platitudes - and it doesn't sound as if mouthing platitudes is ever robin's way. So it's no wonder her dd is "bored" at school - she feels she is too good for it. If she demonstrated her obvious innate brilliance to the teachers I'm sure they would be only too delighted to give her more interesting things to do.

Insulting parents (anyone else remember the frequent mentions of "badly behaved mumsnetters"?) is another long-term hobby. You have to laugh, really...