Teacher grumbling about the New Curriculum/Government to Y4 class

[FindMeAPixie]

Just not sure what I think about it really. DD (Y4) has told me two of three things over the last week about her teacher saying that they are having to do things differently because "The man who runs the schools for the government has just decided to change it for no good reason".

DD's teacher is new to the school, although an experienced teacher who has been out of teaching for a couple of years. Teacher started full time this term when DD's last teacher left. So, as a new class teacher could have had many explanations as to why Connectives have become Conjunctions (or the other way round) rather than blaming the government.

I have huge sympathy and empathy for all teachers dealing with the ridiculous changes happening in a half-cocked way (School Governor so seeing some elements of the workload involved).

I like my DCs being aware of decision making processes and how government can affect people's lives.

So part of me thinks "OK, meh" if that is how DD's teacher wants to explain/enforce a change then whatever. But another part of me is a bit about it. Is is really appropriate? Is it professional? Does it instil a positive belief in the education system for the children - or make them think it is run by an bunch of idiots (we may think that, but do we really want our children to think it too iyswim)

What do you think? Am I over thinking it?

I agree with you that the teacher should not be putting it in those terms to a class in a primary school.

Pupils are usually very accepting of there being more than one term for something, and so I don't see why any further explanation was needed.

I agree it seems inappropriate. If nothing else it's now a woman who runs the schools for the government ;-)

So how would you explain to a class that 'units" are now "ones" when they are confused about there being a big 0 at the top of one of the columns?

I'm more than happy to explain why we now use CE instead of AD, and they have always been conjunctions.

I'd never accuse the government, but sometimes we need a reason to explain something totally random.

I understand you concern but I would not say anything. I'm just being pragmatic. I don't think commenting will improve the teaching.

I'm completely honest with my Y9s about how their education is being interfered with for purely political gain. The entire thing is a mess and I simply can't support it. Kids aren't daft either, and can see for themselves if something is stupid. It hadn't occurred to me that my role as a teacher was to be a mouthpiece for the government.

Y4 is a bit young to talk politics, but I think it's ok to say 'it has been decided that it's this not that from now on and so we're just going to have to go with it'.

British values -isnt it- understand the implications of living in an elected democracy.

Have connectives become conjunctions because "connectives" isn't an official name for a part of speech?

Tbh Wellin I may have got the terminology wrong/mis remembered what DD said (I am not a teacher). And it is not about what has changed - it could be changing from using "Literacy" to "English" for example - just how the teacher used the government/blamed the government.

I still remember a teacher grumbling about the National Curriculum when I was at primary school. It slightly thrilled me to be honest - the realisation that adults in authority were human and didn't always blindly accept stuff was very exciting! Students can see flaws in the education system for themselves and if they say to me that they think something is stupid, I will sometimes agree.

I always moan at all my classes about it. They moan back. We have some pretty interesting debates. I teach secondary though. But my dd is in Year 4', and if her teacher was moaning, I'd think nothing of it tbh. Except to think the same as her!