TV in school

[kattyo]

I've noticed a few posts in which people talk about their kids watching TV/DVDs in school. Is this normal???? I don't remember anyone watching TV when i was a kid - apart from the silver jubilee, when the tv was wheeled in specially (and yes - this dates me). We don't have a tv at home and the kids only watch at most one DVD a week (a disney movie). They are nearly four. What am I to expect when they start primary school? What kind of DVDs are kids watching? And why? Laziness on the part of the teacher, or is it actually meant to be educational? Slightly panicked as it's reinforcing my fear that early years teaaching is just a fancy form of state funded childcare.

Just an idea but how about asking this question when you visit the school..oh and schools are now using the internet, calculators, computers and interactive whiteboards too !

My class has been watching one of the Shrek films for 10 minutes at the end of the day twice a week because we've been doing Traditional Tales in Literacy. We're playing a form of fairytale bingo!

Using TV & film is a valid teaching tool, as long as it actually used in teaching, not just "plonk the kids in front of the TV whilst I get on with the marking".
My Yr6 colleague has been showing Alice in Wonderland to her class. They have been reading the book, and use the film to compare with the text.

I also use iPlayer/DVD/Videos to show education programmes (normally between 5 - 15 minutes) for things like Science, Geography, History and Numeracy. Not everyday though, just when relevant to the topic.

MY ds's class seems to be watching toy story in installments.. 10 mins at a time about 3 times a week

it seems a lot to me and I dont think Toy story is educatonal. According to my son when its on the teachers are getting organised/ planning for the next activity

I will be asking about it at parents evening as quite often ds says they dont have time to finish stuff.. I often think why are they watching tv and not finishing work

But ds is 5 so will wait for parents night to get the facts

I watched TV in school back in the 70's. Think it was called something like Look and Learn?
Does anyone else remember also getting radio programmes in school? Mainly folk music songs if I remember right.
DD is in P1 and has not mentioned having any TV or DVD's. Not even before the Christmas break.

Aaaargh. Yes kattyo, it's an issue, and there doesn't seem to be much room for dialogue, or even for respecting the no-tv choice. I couldn't find a private nursery anywhere in my area which didn't use tv as a 'holding' activity for the beginning and end of the day, or 'occasionally' in place of reading a story. I did find one nursery that was at least apologetic about it, recognising that it wasn't ideal, but most were singing the 'visual electronic media is just fine for kids of all ages' tune.

Finding a school that has refused to jump on the electronic media bandwagon will be one of our main focuses in the next year.

Sue Palmer, who has written a lot about electronic media and child development, has suggested that the use of electronic equipment been encouraged in schools because the previous government's education leaders were male and captivated by the idea of a gadgetry quick-fix to school woes.

I do find a lack of understanding of child development in the state sector, and the focus seems to be more on crowd management, keeping them busy, attracting their attention, getting peace and quiet. You'll often hear military terminology used to describe the situation. (Electronic media is one more tool in the arsenal.) I share your concerns about state schooling being childcare.

That should read "has been encouraged." And I agree frasers, that Toy Story and Shrek are NOT educational, and once down that road you can make an excuse for showing anything. I believe there is a ongoing pedagogical debate about what educational means for the under 12s with regards to electronic visual media, with lots of conflicting studies.

I sometimes use iplayer to show the children stories if I need 5 mintues at the end of the day to pack book bags etc or simply they need some downtime

I also use videos if they tie in with the topic

but it would make up 5-10 minutes in a day and it is certainly not every day or even every week

but we do use them if it is wet play

Toy story and skerk may be educational - it is called visual literacy and is very appealing to boys. I used a disney video to get some writing out of my class - best writing some of the boys did. They were so motivated and went home and told their parents it was the best thing they had done

Hmmm, boys going home to tell their parents that watching disney in class was the best thing they've done is indicative of exactly what?

"I do find a lack of understanding of child development in the state sector, and the focus seems to be more on crowd management, keeping them busy, attracting their attention, getting peace and quiet. You'll often hear military terminology used to describe the situation. (Electronic media is one more tool in the arsenal.) I share your concerns about state schooling being childcare."

How does watching TV, computers etc affect a child's development?

BTW our school seems to show films etc at the end of term, apart from that, they watch educational items.

Zazizoma - you seem to have had trouble understanding cazzybabs there. She quite clearly said that her boys had gone home and told their parents that their writing was the best thing they'd done. It's indicative of those boys being highly motivated to write and producing their fantastic written work.

And in the private sector child development is better understood? They don't watch TV , use whiteboards, use computers in private sector?

The only educational system that I can think of that doesn't use technology like this is Steiner - which is all a bit woo as far as I know.

Norman, if you are serious about wanting to understand the debate, you could start with Palmer's site screen saturation and child development. She comes down on the side of less screen is better, but I find her to be evenhanded and if you follow her links you'll find both pro and con materials. She also was invited here for a chat, so you could review that thread. And Palmer is only one voice in the debate, which is extensive.

I did think that Norman, good luck to anyone thinking they can find a school that doesn't use technology. The "electronic media bandwagon" is what your child will need to get used to in order to live their every day life. Because believe me, technology isn't going anywhere. Even if you did find a school that used wooden desks and slates you'd be doing nothing but putting your children at a disadvantage all for a misguided principle.

I'm studying psychology and therefore interested in this debate. Yes, I think the jury is out as far as research is concerned. Will look at these links anyway.

Personally (and purely anecdotally) I feel it is fine in moderation and certainly don't mind TV being used as part of the curriculum. I think watching a film together can be a very enjoyable collective experience .

I think these generations will certainly be more 'visual,' than past generations and more expectant of interaction with technology - bug thus is reflected in 'the world they live in today. We are afterall very good at adapting to our environment.

Sorry by ' more visual' I think that children expect to see a 'picture' when told a story. What this might mean for processing information I don't know.

The children in my class get a lunchtime DVD if has been an inside lunchtime for four consecutive days. Otherwise my use of DVDs with a class of five, six and seven year olds is limited to 15 minute bursts where it directly links with our topic. For example we watched and rewatched a small section of Walking with Dinosaurs to inspire creative writing, brainstorming ideas and then rewatching the clip before reading back our work to each other. We also watched a snatch of the Secret Garden when I read the novel to my class over a term to see if the main characters looked like the pictures in our heads. Electronic media has its place where it is thoughtfully used.

I must admit that the posts above only reinforce my impression of a prevalent ignorance of child development.

Children expect to see images with a story?

To check and see if their images matched the movie? (as if the movie is correct or even relevant.)

My primary age dc needs early exposure to electronic media in order to successfully live life as an adult?

Visual literacy?

Taking steps to allow for my dc's healthy brain development is a misguided principle?

Restricting dc's early exposure to screen technology is putting him at a disadvantage?

Are you ladies serious?

I do believe that teachers are very well meaning, but woefully ignorant in the matter of the importance of direct experience, purposeful activity and imagination in healthy child development. And the NC is simply not developmentally appropriate, which is the root of the problem, and partly why screen media seems an appealing, though misguided and possibly reckless, solution.

Goodness, sorry for the rant. I really don't mean to sound so contentious, but I must question the above statements, which I find to be absurd.

OP you must make decisions for your DC - you know them best. However, if you are contemplating other than HE you may have to look long and hard to find a school - state or private - that does not include technology to some extent - be it screen based TV/DVD, interactive whiteboard, PCs, netbooks. Before jumping to a conclusion the school is just 'childcare' perhaps visit some schools to see the curriculum in action - you may be pleasantly surprised. Please try to be open minded about a balanced education for your DC as you are suggesting other posters on this thread should be.

Sorry - last sentence was in response to comments by zazizoma not OP.

We don't watch TV (haven't got a licence) and any DVDs used aren't shown in entirety just extracts to support subject knowledge.

I think zazizoma has expressed her point of view very well and shows full understanding of what others have said.

I went to listen to Sue Palmer last year (a small group session) and she - and others - are indeed very opposed to the over-use of technology in primary schools and nurseries in particular. It is not something just to be poo-pooed based on anecdotes.

I also believe that teachers are very often ignorant about child development and the field of education is unfortunately not one which places too much value on evidence-based research. In what other profession would an idea as contraversial as learning styles be given so much value?