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Original poster

Indian Summer School.

150 replies

Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 08:59

I was watching this last night. I thought it was very good. The boys from The Doon School behaved very well, they were so polite and had a good work ethic, in relation to the boys from the UK, who seemed to think they can do what they want, and disrespect their elders. They will be in for a shock, when they go into the big wide world.

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Original poster
Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 09:00

Even the children in our Private schools in the Uk are not as polite and well mannered as these boys from Doon.

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Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 09:06

I think that in the Indian culture there is a good work ethic, to try hard at school, so that they can better themselves. Funny how on a thread in AIBU now, there is a debate about giving 11 a mobile phone, whilst people are pilling in stating that most 11 year olds have phones, he's going to be left out etc, Is it a good thing? The teacher at The Doon School said they were not, they were a distraction to learning. We never had phones, never needed them. There were payphones if we needed contact. We knew to be home by school by a certain time or we would get what for from our parents, and I am not that old at 40.

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maxthemartian · 30/03/2018 10:50

I watched this and enjoyed it. There really is a stark contrast in attitude isn't there!
I'm the same age as you and grew up in Africa and was shocked rigid by how disrespectful some children and teenagers in the UK are when I first moved here.

I think three of the boys will get sometging out of it but the lads from Wales and Brighton have terrible attitudes.

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Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 11:15

I know Max I loved watching it, it gave the boys what they lacked in the English education system. I would never dream of speaking to my teachers like that, or putting stuff like that in my exam paper.

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Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 11:37

If a teacher told me to cut my hair, I did it, no arguments or crying. what are they going to do, if an employer tells them to tie their hair back or have it short, stamp and cry.

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SoupDragon · 30/03/2018 11:40

If a parent posted on MN about how a teacher had told their child to cut their hair into a specific haircut, a large proportion of posters would be horrified and up in arms about it.

maxthemartian · 30/03/2018 11:48

True but in this instance these boys' parents have agreed for them to attend a strict private school and presumably abide by it's rules so it's not really comparable.
It's completely unfair on the rest of the boys to have the rules constantly bent for just these few.

stayathomegardener · 30/03/2018 11:51

"I've never had a smiley face on my work before " lovely and sad at the same time.

Really enjoyed it and hope they do well.

SoupDragon · 30/03/2018 11:56

so it's not really comparable.

It is insofar as the same posters would still be horrified and up in arms.

Obviously it’s all shown for dramatic effect and good TV though. It’s been edited to make it good viewing.

Sandsnake · 30/03/2018 12:15

I thought it was interesting. Really inspiring to see the three boys making a go of it. Jake and Ethan were infuriating though - found it hard to get behind them.

Made me pine for a school like Doon for my DS when he’s that age. The teachers seemed firm but also really kind and supportive.

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Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 12:38

I would not be so sure, soup, that school is in a different country, with a different culture and way of life than ours. It is based on an old fashioned English public school, where presumably boys in those days had to wear their hair short. Parents there, send their son to Doon because they want a strict and good education for them and to learn discipline. It is not like they are giving them a grade one prison haircut, the boys hair looks neat and tidy.

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MolliewithOllie · 30/03/2018 12:40

Having been at school in the 1950s - I know everyone would throw up their hands in horror at how we had to obey the school's rules (never question them) and respect the teachers including standing up when they entered the room.
I feel the 'liberal' 'children have a voice and must be listened to' attitude has tended to reinforce a sense of entitlement amongst teenagers which means they fail to learn respect for others.
Just IMO of course.

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Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 12:40

Yes it is edited, of course it is, but I don't think its dramatically edited. If it were, they would only show the bad footage, and teachers shouting at the boys or being very draconian, I did not get that impression. The teachers were firm, and kind and provided good role models.

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Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 12:46

Mollie I agree, it was like that when I was at senior school back in the 90's. I used to go to a private girls boarding school. We would stand when teacher entered the room, address them by their title and surname. If we were rude, we would get the full wrath of the teacher, and we listened. Uniform had to be neat and tidy, and hair tied neatly back, or a neat bob. It was not dissimilar to Doon, but I think at Doon the boys are much more well behaved.

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eddiemairswife · 30/03/2018 12:55

I didn't see the programme, but having taught in an inner city primary where over 90% of the pupils came from Indian/Pakistani heritage I can vouch for the work ethic instilled into them by their parents.

MaireadMacSweeney · 30/03/2018 13:00

I really enjoyed it and think most children would respond well to this traditional method of teaching and strong clear boundaries.

I thought the teachers were very caring and hope the boys do well.

SoupDragon · 30/03/2018 14:40

I don't think its dramatically edited. If it were, they would only show the bad footage, and teachers shouting at the boys or being very draconian

I disagree - I think they’ve edited it to show the boys as being total shits so we can be amazed at the turn around when they get their GCSEs at the end.

Not that it really matters - I enjoyed it. I also loved that boy’s incredulity that he’d got a smiley face on his work. Such a tiny tiny thing and it meant so much.

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Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 15:07

I used to be a TA in a very deprived comprehensive school, Soup, the boys behaviour on Indian Summer school, was not disimilar to the behaviour I witnessed in the class, actually worse in the comprehensive school. A total lack of respect for the teacher and the rudeness and swearing.

It is lovely, to see some of the boys gaining confidence as a result of the steady nurturing and boundaries put in place by the staff there. The boy who had put some silly stuff in his exam papers, was really chuffed when the teacher old him that he was impressed or something of the like, with what he had written, as he expected them to say it was rubbish. It seemed such a positive and nurturing environment, but is it because it is a very exclusive school, with the best staff.

I wonder what the result would be, if they were in a run of the mill Indian school, where the kids are from very poor families.

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lazymum99 · 30/03/2018 15:47

I'm afraid I had no sympathy for Ethan or Jake. Ethan's behaviour was pathetic. These boys were over 18, they were adults. Jake lost his father when very young but that has happened to many kids. The constant messing about and jokes on the test paper. The teachers and headmaster had the patience of saints.
However, I bet the boy who said that the Indian boys have got secret phones which they use at night is telling the truth. There will be bad behaviour in a school like that we are just not seeing it.

CuboidalSlipshoddy · 30/03/2018 15:56

The boys from The Doon School behaved very well, they were so polite and had a good work ethic,

Remarkable. Amazing what stable, affluent, engaged parents can do, really.

noblegiraffe · 30/03/2018 15:58

The dyslexic lad who got the smiley face seemed like he really wanted to make a go of it and get his exams. Who shaved his eyebrows off at the end? That seemed odd. Bullying??

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Aeroflotgirl · 30/03/2018 16:11

cuboid, it's not just in the rich Indian communities, but also poorer ones as well, it seems to be a strong work ethic throughout the classes. I don't think you will see any Zindian child swearing at teachers, and being rude to them.

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TeisanLap · 30/03/2018 16:22

There was a previous series where the kids were sent to Japan.

Im looking forward to the rest of this series but Ethan is very hard to take. He's and embarrassment to himself and others.

TeisanLap · 30/03/2018 16:23

I wonder what the result would be, if they were in a run of the mill Indian school, where the kids are from very poor families

Those children and their parents are as hungry for eduction as the children at Doon. I see it all the time where I live.

BBCK · 30/03/2018 16:39

I teach in a deprived inner city comp and can honestly say that about half our pupils have the politeness and behaviour if the Doon pupils (sadly not the wok ethic) They always stand to greet me and be dismissed, address me with respect and often thank me for the lesson. The other 50% are just like Ethan and Jake. For this reason we are in Special Measures!