Children interviewing teachers - ridiculous?

[wedlocked]

Here www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/apr/03/children-job-interviews-questions

No Greensleeves - you will be fine. Good luck!

I'm dubious about the 2:1 idea, it's too simplistic. I think there's a whole world of difference between a 2:2 in Maths from Oxford and a 2:1 from South Bank University, or an old poly, in a more wishy-washy subject that's not related to the National Curriculum. As much as people like to pretend otherwise the standards between universitys vary massively.

For example 2 previous student teachers I've had:

1. almost straight 'A's at GCSE/ A-Level and a Law degree from University College London: 2:2
2. Re-sat GCSES to get 5 'C's, 2 A-Levels and a degree in business studies from an old poly in London: 2:1

Huge huge difference in their written english and academic ability.

Personally I have a 2:2 in Maths from King's (London) and 4 'A' grade A-Levels in English, Maths, History and Biology (plus irrelevantly to my current job a law conversion and professional exams). I worked a full-time week throughout university (even sitting finals in my Tesco unifrom having rushed there from work)largely on evening/night shifts. I'm sure a bit more time and money would have helped me get the few extra marks for the 2:1 with the study time and without the missed sessions, but I still think I'm well qualified for the job. Less places for training teachers and a better interview and selection process is the key in my opionion.

I don't agree with pupils having a say at an interview - leave it adults who are mature enough to make an informed decision.

It is very partronising IMO - mainly for the teacher being interviewed.

What next, nurses and doctors being interviewed by patients to see if they get the job? how daft...

As I said before it has never happened to me but I can't imagine I would find it patronising. An interview is also a two way process, I have pulled out of interviews realising that the school is not somewhere I would want to work. Meeting the pupils helps you form a picture and decide if it is somewhere you would want to work.

I've been interviewed by a panel of students twice, and worked in a school where one of the formal observations was done by a (trained) student- it's not a new thing, and I thought it was useful. It helps students learn about constructive criticism and giving feedback, and who better to reflect on (aspects of) your teaching than the students?

I don't think student voice is in any danger of usurping the voice of an interview panel, line manager or OFSTED (more's the pity), rather it is used in conjunction with it- or should be. I can, however, understand the concerns of the unions that this will be subject to misinterpretation and abuse of the incentive in some schools.

All three of my kids have sat on interview panels as all three have been school councillors. They found it an enjoyable experience and my eldest remembers one candidate who was clearly useless and spoke to them like they were beneath her. I later heard from a governor that her appalling lack of rapport with the children was the reason she wasn't hired as she'd also dne a terrible job when asked to take an
assembly. Lots of job interviews now have practical competancy tests and this is no different. If you can't survive an interview panel of children then you have no business working in a classroom.

I agree trafficcone although all interviews now include you having to teach a lesson so they do see you at work with students.

why is the NASUWT complaining about it now, when it seems to have been going on for the last 10-15 years? Did they used to think it was a good idea?

"What next, nurses and doctors being interviewed by patients to see if they get the job?"

Not a bad idea. It's about time someone told my GP that his bedside manner is seriously lacking but when do we ever get the chance to give feedback?

I think the unions are just getting themselves ready for a change in goverment,.

My DD has been involved in the recruitment of new teachers when she was in Y6. There was one teacher they showed round the school who, DD reported, took absolutely no notice of anything the children said at all whereas most asked the children questions and responded well to the children's directions and narrative about the school.

I think it is a bad idea, but I have got no sympathy for the unions now, if they have suddenly cottoned onto it being a bad idea. They were probably the cheerleaders for it in the past, and weren't able to see where it would lead.

At my DD's school her class (Yr 3 and 4) selected their new teacher. All 3 candidates did a 20min lesson and then the kids voted. Candidate with the most votes got the job. Thankfully they picked a good one.

That is ridiculous stripey. I can't believe it really happened like that.

lovechoc it is becoming the norm for a service user to be part of medical interview panels

Stripey - really, really hope that isn't the full story.

The unions are doing their job- when an incentive is not a compulsory national strategy, they become involved only if they receive a complaint from one of their members.

They are responding to the proposal to make this a national and possibly compulsory process, I believe; correct me if I'm wrong.

I think they may have told your DD's class that that was how they picked the candidate, stripey- but I am quite sure there were other decision makers involved

I think this is a left-wing trend in our society. I think it arises out of the push for child-centred education, which is heavily inspired by the Soviet Marxist Lev Vygotsky
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child-centred
If it is not checked it will lead to Trotsky's dream of democratic schools
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_education

This will destroy standards in schools and continue the dumbing down process. It will eventually reduce the standing of teachers so that they become mere partners or facilitators of the students. Teaching will become de-skilled.

If the Tories win then a lot of this will be stopped.

Your second name's not McCarthy by any chance, is it claig?

middle name

School I'm connected with have used the students for many years as part of the interview process. Head has written articles for educational press on how important it is and how the student panel have never got it wrong yet. But there is general unease at the leading and personal nature of questioning of students during work trawls because they come back and complain to staff.

we had an English teacher who was like the actor Brian Blessed, a huge imposing man with a booming baritone voice. Nobody ever messed around in his classes because when he projected his voice, just like the actor Brian Blessed, nobody wanted to be on the end of it. He was an Oxford graduate who was a brilliant English teacher. If we would have had a student panel we would have made sure he never got the job. We would have chosen somebody less imposing who we could have wrapped round our little fingers.

I don't think that is necessarily true claig.

Would that be the Brian Blessed who was the son of a socialist miner? Or another one?

Yes he was a son of a miner.