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School curriculum
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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
Fantasy free school curriculum - what would you have on it?
I want all children to be made to teach for one hour each term. They have to prepare the lesson, deliver, set homework and mark it.
That should get them all to listen in class in future. |
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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
They should start at about 7 or 8 and continue throughout the rest of their school career.
It will teach them time management, planning, research, presentation skills, communication skills, analysis and making judgements, feedback and how annoying it is when you have a class that doesn't listen.
On top of that the subjects that they teach will get progressively more difficult and they will have to learn new things to pass on to others. |
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Although admirably intended those who would learn from the experience don not need it and those that do would not listen.
The current school system is very good at "stick" for kids, exams, grades, targets. But what "carrots" are they offered that they want? Teachers may well know what motivates kids but are systematically prohibited from offering those rewards to them.
In my experience there is too much top down management of teachers and not enough faith placed in the ability of individual teachers. |
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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago
Over the rainbow, under the bridge |
"Although admirably intended those who would learn from the experience don not need it and those that do would not listen.
The current school system is very good at "stick" for kids, exams, grades, targets. But what "carrots" are they offered that they want? Teachers may well know what motivates kids but are systematically prohibited from offering those rewards to them.
In my experience there is too much top down management of teachers and not enough faith placed in the ability of individual teachers."
 |
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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"Although admirably intended those who would learn from the experience don not need it and those that do would not listen.
The current school system is very good at "stick" for kids, exams, grades, targets. But what "carrots" are they offered that they want? Teachers may well know what motivates kids but are systematically prohibited from offering those rewards to them.
In my experience there is too much top down management of teachers and not enough faith placed in the ability of individual teachers."
I do agree with that and why I think the Free Schools movement has taken hold with some. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Although admirably intended those who would learn from the experience don not need it and those that do would not listen.
The current school system is very good at "stick" for kids, exams, grades, targets. But what "carrots" are they offered that they want? Teachers may well know what motivates kids but are systematically prohibited from offering those rewards to them.
In my experience there is too much top down management of teachers and not enough faith placed in the ability of individual teachers."
You coud argue that education can be its own reward - most around the world believe so, we've just reached a stage here at which we seek material gain or value for everything.
Peer education and peer supported learning are really valuable and something good teachers use already.
My changes to the curriculum would be to encourage a greater emphasis on project based approaches - and more stringent requirements for teacher training, but far greater freedom for them. Now would be a very good time to do this. |
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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"Although admirably intended those who would learn from the experience don not need it and those that do would not listen.
The current school system is very good at "stick" for kids, exams, grades, targets. But what "carrots" are they offered that they want? Teachers may well know what motivates kids but are systematically prohibited from offering those rewards to them.
In my experience there is too much top down management of teachers and not enough faith placed in the ability of individual teachers.
You coud argue that education can be its own reward - most around the world believe so, we've just reached a stage here at which we seek material gain or value for everything.
Peer education and peer supported learning are really valuable and something good teachers use already.
My changes to the curriculum would be to encourage a greater emphasis on project based approaches - and more stringent requirements for teacher training, but far greater freedom for them. Now would be a very good time to do this."
I like project based approaches as long as they don't get done by parents. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Although admirably intended those who would learn from the experience don not need it and those that do would not listen.
The current school system is very good at "stick" for kids, exams, grades, targets. But what "carrots" are they offered that they want? Teachers may well know what motivates kids but are systematically prohibited from offering those rewards to them.
In my experience there is too much top down management of teachers and not enough faith placed in the ability of individual teachers.
You coud argue that education can be its own reward - most around the world believe so, we've just reached a stage here at which we seek material gain or value for everything.
Peer education and peer supported learning are really valuable and something good teachers use already.
My changes to the curriculum would be to encourage a greater emphasis on project based approaches - and more stringent requirements for teacher training, but far greater freedom for them. Now would be a very good time to do this.
I like project based approaches as long as they don't get done by parents."
haha 
I'll avoid further comment on parents |
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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"
I like project based approaches as long as they don't get done by parents.
haha
I'll avoid further comment on parents "
My curriculum would require all parents to have some lessons too. Teaching some of them to say no would be high up on the outcome requirements. |
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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"Money Matters, the importance of saving, risks involved with credit... not anti credit but work credit to your advantage....
"
I agree. Handling real money from reception class onwards and then credit cards from about year 3. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"
I like project based approaches as long as they don't get done by parents.
haha
I'll avoid further comment on parents
My curriculum would require all parents to have some lessons too. Teaching some of them to say no would be high up on the outcome requirements."
Still resisting  |
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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago
Over the rainbow, under the bridge |
I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?"
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do. |
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By *phroditeWoman
over a year ago
(She/ her) in Sensualityland |
"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do."
And arguably these skills, to me are functional skills as well! |
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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago
Over the rainbow, under the bridge |
"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do."
I don't disagree. But is it the place of schools? |
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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do.
I don't disagree. But is it the place of schools? "
My fantasy school is different. We will cover English, maths, science, history, art, languages and technology. IT will include programming and not just using a computer as a word-processor. As one eminent business colleague said recently, we currently teach children to use 20 year old machines as typewriters and in the break they get their phones and tablets out and do much more than IT lessons cover. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do.
I don't disagree. But is it the place of schools? "
Some schools here taught childcare to teenage girls. Apparently it was an accepted career choice. 
I don't think schools should be having to teach life skills, but if no-one else is doing it..... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do.
I don't disagree. But is it the place of schools? "
Well I have a broader _iew of this which would make the answer yes..
I don't think education finishes at 16 anymore, so GCSE's are a nonsense in that kids do not need a certificate to find work etc.
Instead they need an assessment of their potential and therefore teachers role at secondary level would be to help children discover what that potential is and then guide them to realise it.
The assessment at 16 would not be on what a child is (or has been) but on what they could potentially become. And it is that which would be taken to the next (more focussed) stage of their education. |
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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago
Over the rainbow, under the bridge |
"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do.
I don't disagree. But is it the place of schools?
Some schools here taught childcare to teenage girls. Apparently it was an accepted career choice.
I don't think schools should be having to teach life skills, but if no-one else is doing it....."
But with the curriculum already full to bursting how could it be achieved without impacting the academic subjects? And who is to say a teacher with a degree in English or French is the best person to teach such things? |
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By *icketysplits OP Woman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do.
I don't disagree. But is it the place of schools?
Some schools here taught childcare to teenage girls. Apparently it was an accepted career choice.
I don't think schools should be having to teach life skills, but if no-one else is doing it.....
But with the curriculum already full to bursting how could it be achieved without impacting the academic subjects? And who is to say a teacher with a degree in English or French is the best person to teach such things?"
I don't think we teach holistically enough. Yes, there should be lessons that cover very specific academic things but if taught well English and Maths can be better embedded into other subjects.
Volunteer Reading Help (or whatever they are calling themselves now) have a project where Year 7 students go back and work with Years 5 and 6 students in their former primary schools. I'll be looking to see the results of that. Without knowing about that project one of ours started doing that anyway. Another was coaching lower belt levels at Kung Fu - he's 8. It makes such a difference to the way that they access their own learning. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I don't think we teach holistically enough. Yes, there should be lessons that cover very specific academic things but if taught well English and Maths can be better embedded into other subjects."
Exactly - there's an awful lot of the curriculum which is only really relevant to academia - it's a self serving beast. |
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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago
Over the rainbow, under the bridge |
"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do.
I don't disagree. But is it the place of schools?
Some schools here taught childcare to teenage girls. Apparently it was an accepted career choice.
I don't think schools should be having to teach life skills, but if no-one else is doing it.....
But with the curriculum already full to bursting how could it be achieved without impacting the academic subjects? And who is to say a teacher with a degree in English or French is the best person to teach such things?
I don't think we teach holistically enough. Yes, there should be lessons that cover very specific academic things but if taught well English and Maths can be better embedded into other subjects.
Volunteer Reading Help (or whatever they are calling themselves now) have a project where Year 7 students go back and work with Years 5 and 6 students in their former primary schools. I'll be looking to see the results of that. Without knowing about that project one of ours started doing that anyway. Another was coaching lower belt levels at Kung Fu - he's 8. It makes such a difference to the way that they access their own learning."
So once children can read, write and do sums they don't require any further English or Maths education? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Plenty of ideas here. I won't address them all, as I am distracted by cooking dinner. But to add a few comments.
1. Plenty of what has been initially proposed takes place in schools. Peer-assessment and collaborative learning are there in many, many schools. Google Kagan learning for some insight.
2. Teaching numeracy and literacy through other subjects? Most research indicates that doesn't lead to good outcomes. Furthermore, what do people thinks place in these lessons? Neither are as content-driven as they were even 10 years ago. Successive National Strategies mean that skills are at the core of most lessons. As they should be. Although Mr Gove would doubtless disagree.
3. Good teaching and good management of the whole school is vital.
4. At the end of the day, sadly, socioeconomic background is still the biggest factor affecting educational attainment.
As a post-script to the above, Mr Gove is an absolute idiot, whose internalised model of education is wholly narcissistic. It is based around his own experience with little thought to the backgrounds or aspirations of others. The sooner he moves on the better. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Fantasy free school curriculum - what would you have on it?
I want all children to be made to teach for one hour each term. They have to prepare the lesson, deliver, set homework and mark it.
That should get them all to listen in class in future."
i cant see how this would make them less distracted.. if they arent into the school work they arent going to be bothered or interested by setting up and teaching the work either..
my son has 3 special needs kids in his class, i dont think they would be able to undergo this excersise |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?
Some parents need lessons more than the kids do."
and if those parents need the lessons then its only the previous generations at blame..
but i have to say as each generation comes, more technology evolves and we loose more basic life skills..
yes our grandmothers cant use computer like we do.. but they will have more knowledge over health concerns, baking skills, crafting etc |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I know this is a light-hearted thread but if teachers continue to be asked to teach things like money matters, how to behave with social responsibility, etc, etc. Then when do they teach English, Maths, Science, ICT, Languages, History, Geography, DT, Media, etc?
Not that such things are not important but aren't we expecting teachers to try and spread themselves a little thinly? Perhaps parents could teach their children some important life lessons - as most good parents already do?"
This more or less rings true with what L and I feel re our daughter; namely the relationship between child, parent and teacher should be one of partnership. As parents, it's up to us to make sure she is a well-rounded person. We do not believe in devolving that responsibility to a teacher. They have a tough enough job already.
These are our own legacy afterall.
Back to the question though:
The arts, literature and music. Other wise without them, pretty soon, our kids won't have anything to read or write about!
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