6th form Teacher

[zafira63]

Is there any teachers on here that are a 6th form teacher that could possibly help me with me a question please ;)

School isn't just about the lessons though as I said before. Your daughter needs to be able to speak up for herself. You will not be able to speak up on her behalf with university. It's not how it works.
Yes, I do have a drink on my desk (never lucozade though - no need for a sports drink!) at parents' evening, when the parents' association remember, it's necessary when you are talking for 3 hours straight!
We, as teachers, are continually being told we need to prepare students more for the workplace. So we're damned if we do; damned if we don't.
Students are all different yes, but that doesn't mean that some people get to not go to registration.

To be honest, I don't care about drinks or hair with students. But I still have to enforce the rules, because that is part of my job.

I will repeat what I said earlier: you are doing her no favors with this mindset. Her form tutor/mentor will be writing her reference. If they put nothing about good attendance, unis will read between the lines. If you want her to succeed, you need to encourage her to play the game by the rules.

"Firstly my daughter is very shy and would not dream of speaking out of turn as much as i have tried to bring her out of herself every school report since having them have read Needs to speak up more! that don't make her a bad person or a even someone who needs to in life, "

Nobody is asking her to speak out of turn. Quite the contrary: they are expecting her to deal with any problem through the appropriate channels. That is the complete opposite of speaking out of turn. (it could be argued that going moaning to your parents about a problem you should be dealing with yourself is speaking out of turn)

Being shy does not make her a bad person, but it does mean it will be harder for her to cope with university where seminars are a major form of teaching and students are required to contribute to the discussion.

Please remember that admission to university is by interview. This is so that prospective students can demonstrate that they have the appropriate skills and willingness to engage in discussion. She will have to explain what she can contribute to the programme if she wants them to take her on. She will have to sell herself, to demonstrate that she has the right positive attitude. You can't do that for her.

You can choose which path you want to go down here: either you help her to achieve the skills she will need to achieve her dreams or you encourage her to focus on feeling sorry for herself. You can't have both.

My own dd struggles with some aspects of her training due to her health problems. I could spend my time telling her how unfair it is- but if I do it is pretty well a given that she will never achieve her dreams. Or I could spend my time helping her to think constructively and see ways around her problems.

One of the requirements for dd's prospective HE interviews is to sing a song during audition. Dd has no singing voice and has no ambitions ever to sing professionally. It's going to be a painful experience.

At this stage she could do two things.

She could either tell them that it's unfair and she's not going to do it because she doesn't see why she should. Nothing wrong with that- except that she certainly won't get a place. They have plenty of applicants who are prepared to jump through hoops, they don't have to waste 5 minutes interviewing somebody who isn't.

Or she could plan how she could turn the situation to her advantage, by preparing carefully in advance, choosing a song that enables her to display other skills, and generally attacking it as a positive challenge. Dd is researching her songs.

I hope she does brilliantly Cory.
They interview for Sixth form both at my school and the local sixth form college. Parents obviously can't help with that. Apparently our interviews can be quite intimidating, but they're there for a reason. Our sixth form students are very self-sufficient.

Zafira, your original question was as to whether a pupils's attendance was measured from September or term by term. We responded that it was from September, and you immediately started ranting about how unfair it was. When someone mentioned that your DD had rather a lot of time off school, you felt the need to explain why you took her off school and when someone mentioned your reasons were rather unreasonable, you started ranting about:

• Whether her teachers are professional

• Whether teachers in general are professional "they are only used to dealing with naughty children" ... "You reward naughty children" (I cannot be bothered to find the exact quotes within your near illiterate postings)

• The "unfair" school rules

• The fact that, according to you at least, as long as work is done your DD and other children can do whatever they want

• And the rudeness of others (who merely responded to you)

Do you not think this has deviated a little from your original posting? If you are not prepared to accept the help you requested, do not ask for help at all and instead ensure you take your problems to the necessary place (eg. The council) or that your DD does so. If she is too "shy" to do so, maybe she is not the mature adult you insist she is.

Well I think you only have one choice: withdraw her from college.

You say the teachers are rude and just take time off whenever they want to- that's totally unacceptable.

They treat her like a child and are trying to prepare her for work and take on the role of social workers/parents. That clearly upsets you, you won't change that. Best remove her.

You want her to be able to attend when you want and not be reminded of attendance or punctuality. If she is homeschooled you won't receive another letter ever again.

She is doing really well, is well motivated and doing better than anyone else- so she'll be fine teaching herself and carrying on with the tuition.

Or you could take a long hard look at yourself, consider how YOU asked for help and advice, we're given it, and then argued with everyone pointing out the flaws in your logic.

Think about what example you're setting for your daughter who is about to embark on an independent life, about rules and authority and following instructions.

Nobody is perfect, your daughter has had a lot of time off. Period pain is not a reason to be absent- if it is that bad you must send her to a doctor. If she had a job, she'd be dismissed by now. A teachers job is much more than just preparing them for their exams. It IS preparing them for society, working, further education, family life- the lot.

I feel sorry for the teachers you are dealing with. You sound like an utter nightmare to reason with.

This is exactly what happens to me every time i point my views on schooling maybe that says it all !!.

Um... I don't think it's your views on schooling per se that get these reactions, not if this is how you normally carry on. It's probably your manner of repetitive ranting and refusing to engage with most of the points that people are making. Oh and slagging off teachers and the entire teaching system when you started your post by asking teachers to answer you!

And I don't really think that saying that you're being incredibly fucking rude is being abusive. Now if I'd called you a rude fucker... that would be abusive. But I didn't, and I'm not.

Zafira - dh us currently teaching in a 6th form/college having previously taught at degree level.

Your dd is in for a big shock at uni. You don't turn up on time, you're out.

Dh absolutely has the best interests ifcthis students at heart, that means his job us also to prepare them for the fact that in the big wide world no one will be interested in excuses. It's a tough world.

Those who make the most of their opportunities which means following the rules & turning up on time will be the ones who succeed

And Cory - do give us a shout if dd needs any advice as that's dhs specialism.

Thanks, Pictures, that's really kind. She'll be applying in November and is already beginning to think about her portfolio. Has just done her NYT audition (had a lovely day).

Ooh, DS has an NYT audition next weekend ! He is stoutly denying any expectation of getting through but hoping to enjoy the day.

(Secretly, he's probably seeing his name in lights already... but at least he has the sense to try to hide it.)

MANY years ago I had an NYMT audition. It was a great experience. I didn't get a place in the show but they invited me to Saturday school. I didn't take the place up, but it was still a brilliant experience.
Good luck to all.

Send your dd to college where you think she will be happier and treated as an adult.
You don't agree with the school rules..have you actually been in to discuss with the HOY?

And please use paragraphs.