Old Timer - dont blame parents

[willvo]

The State Scool System from 1870 to around
40 years ago did not require parental support
for children at home. I had a mere 10 years
education entirely at school, just like
previous generations, and have had 26 years
in I.T. Something has gone horribly wrong
with all these differing methodologies and
political initiatives. The parents just had
to get their kids to school, thats it.
Recently saw Charles Clarke MP, former
secretary of State for Education, on TV
saying that teachers are not wholly
responsible for kids education, that
amazes and frightens me for the future.
This turnaround in the State System from
not depending on parents to depending on
them needs national debate. NUT Bumper
Stickers are what provoked Charles Clarke.,
"If you can read this thank a teacher".
The NUT must have an accurate folk memory
of how things used to be. The politicians
are to blame, not parents or teachers.

Well that is crap, have you written to the governors and the LEA?

I am not hapy with things in my dd primary school, some of which are raised by their shockingly poor OFSTED. I complain freqently and am encouraging dp to become a governor.

Here is a list of kids,who had a chance 40 years ago but are today worse off in state education, because of no parental help,
but 40 years ago got same education as the majority, because parental help was not 'built in' like it is now.
Kids from single parent families.
Kids in care, orphans etc.
Kids who are 'carers' for parents.
Kids from families with no education to draw upon.
Kids from problem families, eg. drink, drugs.
Kids from dysfunctional families.
Kids from families who trust the system (I lost my trust in 1978 ten years after leaving school)
Kids from traditional working class families.(my background, no help at home 1958-1968) in other words
the system did work for most, now it works for half.
THE KIDS ABOVE DO WORSE NOW - the resultant damage radiates throughout society.

Here is a list of kids who do well in the state system and many (half) go into higher education.
Kids whose families have lost trust in the system, and help them (this is me).
Kids from families with middle class ethos.
THESE KIDS HAVE ALWAYS DONE WELL - the resultant attitude is that those who fail are at fault, which is nasty.

I don't for one moment think that schools of any kind are perfect. As I said earlier in the thread I have a lot of problems with my dd's primary school.

I left school 20 years ago from a dysfuntional family, single parent , working class, had siblings in care I got to stay with the abuse ( lucky me), drink and drugs problems - I could go on and I did very well out of my schooling. I was offered my Oxford place. I didn't take it and perhaps my background was in part to blame for that. So I would say that in my experience 20 years ago children from the background also had the chance to do well. I suspect that you also mean 20 years as you are harking back to tory golden days.

There are of course many more children from single parent families, the pool is now greater so the chance of that group containing underachievement will be greater.

I do think that teachers and parents do a lot more to help students today that 20 years ago so perhaps those with that support are pushed to even greater heights while others are left to their own devices. Therefore making the gap even greater.

I think a big difference is that when I was at school (25 years ago) and you got a report saying you were not working hard, your parents told you off for not working hard. Teachers were allowed to say "this child is lazy".

These days the teacher has to say something positive and if they mention any failing of the child the parents seem to respond "well, it's your fault as you're the teacher." The child somehow isn't responsible for their behaviour.

So the parental input is to undermine the teacher while spending a fortune on extra tuition becasue "it is so important not to be seen to be average"

Crazy if you ask me.

I spend a lot of time at work talking to parents and most do not blame the teacher. I know as a parent when my child was naughty I dealt with it very firmly and she has never behaved in that manner again.

Some parents see their child as blameless but most don't IME.

Willvo - have you seen this thread on comprehensive education. Given the questions and points you are raising - you might find it interesting. Some possible explanations for why our schools appear to have 'stepped back' from giving working class children the type of education you received are discussed. Anyway if you an hour or two to spare - have a look.