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Original poster

Claire Short in Teaching

53 replies

hmb · 17/02/2004 20:04

Have a look at this.

education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,5500,1149407,00.html

Ms Short became a teacher for a week. To be shown on TV on the 25th, I think. I'll take a look, it sounds interesting

OP posts:
Hulababy · 25/02/2004 22:03

Can be!

Hulababy · 25/02/2004 22:04

Why do you think I want out (have you not seen my other thread on wanting to quit?)

tamum · 25/02/2004 22:06

I thought it was very interesting, but there was that little niggling voice at the back of my mind all the way through, saying "where is fisil's bottom... where is fisil's bottom"

roisin · 25/02/2004 22:07

I certainly have. Get out now!

fisil · 25/02/2004 22:07

Hmmm. Honest opinions then! I was obviously very biased watching it, so I'd love to know what you think. It was interesting to see the behaviour management being made into such an issue - I thought that was a nice bit of editing!

fisil · 25/02/2004 22:08

Oh yes, my bottom didn't make it in (but I did just catch a glimpse of Robin's lounge, which has a picture of ds in it - is that close enough to fame?)

tamum · 25/02/2004 22:09

I just found the whole attitude of her thinking that she could just get them on her side and that would be that both irritating and slightly endearing at the same time. Some of the time she came across as a bit of a prima donna, which I wasn't expecting.

Hulababy · 25/02/2004 22:11

LOL tamum. TBH fisil I don't think the children's behaviour was bad - on the whole they seemed nothing but noisy, not aggresive or manipulative. I have seen much worse, but then again I have seen much better. I hink it is a lot to expect someone with no recent teaching experience or trtaining to deal with those types of classes from the start - she seemed to have grasped that by the last day. I missed the feedback bit as PIL's were on phone to DH and couldn't hear properly.

I would have prefered for the programme to have concentrated more on the other aspects of the job rather than just the behaviour management - planning all night, marking and assessment, prep for inspections, meetings, losing frees to cover absent staff (even long term absence), report writing, paper work, etc. BUT I guess for the average non-teacher viewer that may be too boring. Behaviour is something everyone cn identify with and comment on.

tamum · 25/02/2004 22:11

Oh yes, the picture of ds will do

My ds was filmed at school a couple of weeks ago for a BBC documentary on Sean Connery (not lowering the tone at all, am I?)

What did your colleagues think of her in the end?

Slinky · 25/02/2004 22:12

After watching that I wouldn't be a Secondary School teacher for all the tea in China! You are all heroes!! Watching Clare dealing with the behaviour issues, could completely understand how she found it wearing.

She did however sum up EXACTLY how I feel about OFSTED and their planning!

I work in a day nursery - and I find it extremely frustrating dealing with the paperwork/planning activities/time plans etc etc. All I want to do is play with the children/read stories/sing etc etc which obviously we do BUT everything has to be planned. I'd like to be spontaneous and s** it, let's do this LOL!

This isn't just for the 3-5yos - it's even worse for them, what with Stepping Stones etc, but I'm working with 2-3yos and even at that young age everything is planned and scheduled down to the last second. Still end up doing stuff at home -my activity tomorrow morning but needed some stuff off the Internet.

However, having said that - just passed our OFSTED with top marks in every department last week

Hulababy · 25/02/2004 22:12

I did think CS came across quite badly on one of the early days - where she was late and then left her class on their own to go to the loo. Didn't go down well that.

miggy · 25/02/2004 22:14

Thought she was really rude telling the dining room man "dont tell me what to do"-no of course he wouldnt know anything, he's only there every day. That dept head was awesome in her class control, I was so impressed and couldnt believe it when Ms Short criticised her for being too harsh. Glad she saw sense in the end. Did agree with her that Richard was cute and lovely smile on his face for being Star of the week.

roisin · 25/02/2004 22:14

I think the 'Claire Short bit' was pretty irrelevant to me - it was just someone trying to cope in an incredibly difficult job. I think she could have done an awful lot worse ... much better than I could do anyway.

Hulababy · 25/02/2004 22:19

From the film I got quite a soft spot for Richard too. But I do wonder what he is like to have in class on a daily basis every week of the year! Mind you, he was really pleased with being star of the week - wonder if he was able to maintain his improvements. fisil?

Tinker · 25/02/2004 22:23

Annoyed I missed this but the late morning thing was a bit of a stitch up apparently. Can't remember teh details now but she was inteviewed by that vile Lynn Barber in the Observer about this.

fisil · 25/02/2004 22:23

Yes, I guess they made the behaviour management an issue because it is of general interest. They didn't mention much about her planning or marking, except the comments about paperwork.

I agree with you about Ofsted Slinky (congratulations, by the way ) but that bit did annoy me, because she had clearly missed the point, Tracey was simply asking her to keep up with planning her lessons, and carrying out her responsibility for the teaching and learning in the department (or am I just too sadly sucked into all the paper work?).

Tamum, I think we were all a little bit fed up with it (her) by the end!

And Hula, they were very nice classes that they put her with!

fisil · 25/02/2004 22:28

More answers:

Hula, the only reason why Richard arrived on time on Friday was because the powers that be put in several well timed phone calls home!

Tinker, the being late thing wasn't a stitch up at all. She was genuinely late, she should have been doing that duty (I know that Celina doesn't usually do that duty, but it is actually a hell of a lot easier and shorter than the duty of Celina's that she missed - plus she did no marking, phone calls home, etc. etc.) Plus, I was actually chatting to Sue (whose house she stayed at) a few weeks ago about the hair drier incedent, and it was a very minor thing - she requested one, it was produced immediately - and a bit of an excuse. For once, I believe Lynn Barber was falling for spin!

Tinker · 25/02/2004 22:30

fisil - I stand corrected. But I like Clare Short and hate Lynn Barber

fisil · 25/02/2004 22:31

At least Lynn Barber got something wrong
And we'll let Clare off just this once for you!

eidsvold · 26/02/2004 06:37

oh I missed it and forgot to tape it so I shall keep reading your comments ....

Original poster
hmb · 26/02/2004 06:43

Fisil, I tip my hat to you, you school looks a lot more 'challenging' than the one I teach in

I LMAO when she was moaning about Ofsted, and shouted out, 'You are in the Government, why haven't you done anything about it', and then I rememebered that they have, they have made it so much easier for a school to end up in special measures!

Loved her take on dicipline, if she was nice to them, they would behave! And typical that every problem class was caused by something other than her attitude!

And din't she touch the kids at lot! Made me wince, as we have been told not to touch out kids. I've even broken up fights by volume of shouting alone!!

I've had an amusing week, told to F off one day, and had a fab revision lesson with my fave class yesterday.....say what you like, it is never boring!

OP posts:
Original poster
hmb · 26/02/2004 06:44

Congrats about Ofsted slinky, great news

OP posts:
suedonim · 26/02/2004 08:57

I didn't see the prog but it sounds interesting. Well done Slinky, on ofsted. My 7yo dd wants to be an infant teacher because she'll be able to 'play all the time'. When do you think I should disillusion her?? But it says something for her marvellous teacher that dd enjoys school so much.

donnie · 26/02/2004 14:31

agreed hmb about the amount the touched the kids...I was shouting out 'stop touching them'! I think someone really should have pointed that out. She was quite sweet although I felt a bit annoyed when, whilst preparing her lesson very last minute, she protested 'I have a secretary who normally does all this for me'. Bloody wish I did.

OldieMum · 26/02/2004 19:55

I thought she came across as arrogant and a poor listener. She seemed to have an over-romanticised view of teaching and just didn't want to learn from the experienced teachers who were trying to help her. Her efforts at discipline were pathetic - she never learned the children's names and treated them as a crowd, rather than talking to individuals. She also didn't seem to listen to them much. I thought the assembly item underestimated the performers and the audience. I had a much more grown up discussion about fair trade with some ten-year olds in a primary school a few weeks ago.

I used to have a soft spot for Clare, before the shall-I-shan't-I resign debacle last year, and she was a very effective minister at DFID, so this was a disappointment.