What does Nicky Morgan not seem to understand?

[theluckiest]

Nicky Morgan urges teachers' unions to 'do their bit' www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-35899478

No Nicky, teaching is not wonderful at the moment. No, teachers are not just moaning yet again (because that's what we usually do, isn't it?). No, your constant interfering, moving of goalposts and unnecessary 'reforms' are not helping anyone. In fact, you are damaging education irreparably.

Here's an example: the 'more rigorous' testing that you insist all 11 year olds should be put through are actually damaging. They are demoralising teachers but much more importantly, they are seriously damaging children's mental health. Yes, really. The stress these children are being put under is unforgivable this year. As a school we are held to ransom because of these tests (let's be honest, tests that we teachers, parents and schools know are bullshit).

They feel like they have failed already because your 'rigour' is inappropriate, unnecessary and completely pointless. They despise learning this nonsense and I can't blame them. At a time of their lives when learning should be exciting, they are force-fed inaccurate, archaic grammar and given the message that their writing cannot be good enough if it doesn't have a semi-colon.

Sounds crazy doesn't it? Because it is. So forgive me if I don't "Use the tools available to them to build up teachers, promote the profession and tell the story of what a rewarding job teaching really is" at the moment. (how I laughed when I read that one!!)

And don't get me started on academisation....Nicky, take your fingers out of your ears and listen. Before it's too late.

The Trussell Trust food bank in my town received a grant from the council. Not a lot (£3,000 according to council minutes), but enough, I would have thought, for the council to stipulate that the needs of the clients should trump the desire of volunteers to offer prayers (which I believe should happen anyway).

This is exactly how previous threads about food banks have gone, btw. Set up your own, what's wrong with a little prayer, the volunteers want to do it, it's part of being a Christian.

Sorry for derailing, OP.

enough, I would have thought, for the council to stipulate that the needs of the clients should trump the desire of volunteers to offer prayers

If the LA didn't, or did but aren't monitoring it, then that's a reflection on the LA, isn't it?

Which brings us rather neatly back to MATs and the need for Regional Schools Commisioners to keep a handle on them.

What, you think only the Trussell Trust is concerned about families in crisis?

So it's the councils fault the volunteers are offering unwanted prayers to some clients?

I've heard everything now.

rhonda I know what would happen if the youth clubs round here had prayers said with their clients. What does your LA do to enforce the funding agreement it put in place with the Trussell Trust.

And yes, the Trussell Trust is the only national food bank charity, so the only one which has taken action.

I'd be very surprised if the funding agreement say say anything about offering to say prayers with clients. Why would it? It's not something they mention on their website. I only know albut it because families I have referred have told me they don't like it. I've spoken to the manager and suggested they say prayers for all the clients at the end of the day. She said she'll speak with her volunteers and see what they think of that idea.

You described the TT as "the only people concerned enough about those clients to help them". Not true. I also refer to the Salvation Army food bank. They are of course Christian, but they don't do prayers with clients unless asked. And they deliver

Sorry, you can tell I've started on the

PrettyBrightFireflies

"But I don't feel a visceral emotional response against it."

I hadn't realised that what I had written was a "visceral emotional response"

All I have posted is that there is no evidence to support forcing schools to become academies.

I've been off this thread most of the day doing family stuff and have returned to it confused.

I thought it was a thread about education in the staff room (you know, the place where teachers get to discuss stuff about education with other teachers)

I thought it was a thread about education in the staff room (you know, the place where teachers get to discuss stuff about education with other teachers)

Oh, sorry - Are only teachers allowed in the MN staff room?

I've worked in schools like that

Oh, and it wasn't me who brought up food banks btw.

Actually, it was put on the talk boards for that exact reason, yes. That's why it's called The Staffroom and not just Education.

Sorry, that was me who brought up food banks.

I've worked in schools for 12 years and spend quite a bit of time in the staffroom (home school link worker in case anyone missed it from up thread) but I didn't really notice which board this thread was on, so apologies for derailing. It seemed important at the time

Oh, and it wasn't me who brought up food banks btw.

You need to read back through the threads PrettyBright - yours is the first mention of the Trussell Trust food banks.

Sorry, yes, not PrettyBright who initially brought up food banks, which was brought up in the context of how we would know that these alternative providers don't have their own agenda, but the first to specifically mention the Trussell Trust.

If people really are flocking to volunteer, to fill gaps in Local Authority provision, then why aren't there, for example, non-Christian food banks?

To take the topic back to Education, do we really want to turn the clock back 150 odd years, where charities and Churches and carpet salesmen are the main providers of education for large swathes of children, because no one else bothered to make provision for them? Perhaps we are happy with this, but we need a proper debate about it - not just an education Secretary declaring that something will be a policy because she says so and yah boo sucks, there is no effective opposition, so she can do what she likes.

do we really want to turn the clock back 150 odd years, where charities and Churches and carpet salesmen are the main providers of education for large swathes of children,

That's not history from 150 years ago, that's happening now.

carpet salesman and retired business owners, charity trustees and ministers - elected as local Cllrs and making strategic funding decisions about schools, education and teachers alongside their decisions about infrastructure, planning, social care and the environment. They don't have to know, or understand, anything about education, and often self confess to feeling ill informed and unclear of the issues.

Given a choice between that and a Board who have had to prove capacity before being approved as an MAT, and whose sole responsibility (as a board) is education, who would you rather made decisions about your career, and the education of your DCs?

I think I have already stated my position a good few pages back. I would prefer education to be run by people who I elected. I would personally have no problem if we had democratically elected Education Boards (as in Northern Ireland?) who concentrated on solely that.

I just don't have your faith that all people running Academies have proved their worth. If that were the case, then Nicky Morgan would have been able to say so. Instead she fell back on a statement that schools had significantly improved, conveniently overlooking the fact that substantial numbers of these were local authority run.

and often self confess to feeling ill informed and unclear of the issues.

Is there a link to support this claim?

Is there a link to support this claim?
I very much doubt it! There's 24 pages of this sort of twaddle with no evidence all all.

But hey, who needs evidence when you've got an ideology and a small majority of people who probably wouldn't have voted for you if you'd been honest with them & your own party members about what your ideology actually was?

Given a choice between that and a Board who have had to prove capacity before being approved as an MAT, and whose sole responsibility (as a board) is education, who would you rather made decisions about your career, and the education of your DCs?

How exactly do they "prove capacity"?

boney

Not every carpet salesman can apply to be an academy trust:

www.gov.uk/guidance/sponsor-an-academy

jelly
I agree, 24 pages of twaddle. It's frightening to think that, for all their faults, LAs will have to cede 'control' of schools to academy 'sponsors' who recruit & exploit misguided people such as pretty who seem to unquestioningly believe the hype of those higher up in their own food chain. I wasted many hours with people like this during my six years as a staff governor of my LA secondary comp in a challenging area. It's incredible how some people are so easily duped & run like lemmings towards the 'idealogues' who reel them in every time.

who recruit & exploit misguided people such as pretty who seem to unquestioningly believe the hype of those higher up in their own food chain.

I do hope that academy sponsors will have the same confidence in me as the LAs I work for currently do - do you think the LAs will write me a reference before they turn off the lights and lock the door?

PrettyBrightFireflies

I didn't say that any carpet salesman could apply, although they can they just need a clear vision and a sponsor. (paraphrased from your link)

I asked how you prove capacity?

I asked how you prove capacity?

The section of the application form titled "capacity and capability" sets out what the DfE require.

I don't remember anyone asking my local council candidates for that detail when they ran for council...