Comments for ParentsOutloud http://www.parentsoutloud.com Helping provide a voice for Parents Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:05:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on School places shortage leave children facing being taught in ‘split shifts’ by jake http://www.parentsoutloud.com/school-places-shortage-leave-children-facing-being-taught-in-split-shifts/comment-page-1/#comment-2353 jake Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:05:28 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=2311#comment-2353 such a bad idea for the children to be taught in split shifts their education will truly suffer. such a bad idea for the children to be taught in split shifts their education will truly suffer.

]]> Comment on Do you think we should abolish SATs ? by Anonymous http://www.parentsoutloud.com/do-you-think-we-should-abolish-sats/comment-page-1/#comment-2352 Anonymous Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:52:21 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=431#comment-2352 What about the schools that choose to tutor clever children for sats and leave the lower ability ones behind. My son got a 1c in ks1 sats and is now a 2a/3c in year six no tutoring for him not worth bothering about, his school is a outstanding ofsted school in hertfordshire is it the sats or the school to blame What about the schools that choose to tutor clever children for sats and leave the lower ability ones behind. My son got a 1c in ks1 sats and is now a 2a/3c in year six no tutoring for him not worth bothering about, his school is a outstanding ofsted school in hertfordshire is it the sats or the school to blame

]]> Comment on Why are unqualified support staffs being allowed to teach? by Kath http://www.parentsoutloud.com/why-are-unqualified-support-staffs-being-allowed-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-2350 Kath Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:21:09 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=1729#comment-2350 Schools are abusing the support staff. I worked in this capacity previously and realised I was not receiving the pay or other benefits associated with being a qualified teacher. I think a lot of support staff are exceptionally capable, sometimes more so, but it is totally unfair on them, let alone the children. Schools are abusing the support staff. I worked in this capacity previously and realised I was not receiving the pay or other benefits associated with being a qualified teacher. I think a lot of support staff are exceptionally capable, sometimes more so, but it is totally unfair on them, let alone the children.

]]> Comment on Why are unqualified support staffs being allowed to teach? by ka123 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/why-are-unqualified-support-staffs-being-allowed-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-2338 ka123 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:25:04 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=1729#comment-2338 As a HlTA i feel that my experience and qualifications are ample to support the teachers i work with. I cover for teachers ppa time on a regular basis and the planning is always available. I am quite offended by some comments on this web site, as i am more than capable supervising a class... You do not need to have a degree to follow plans. I have met many many NQTs over the years and although they have been to university have no experience in the classroom and the children are aware of this and have played them up. So come on dont be harsh on HLTAs we are just doing our job to support what the teacher 'should' have planned, and from my experience the parents would rather have a known person with their children than a complete stanger each time they need cover. As a HlTA i feel that my experience and qualifications are ample to support the teachers i work with. I cover for teachers ppa time on a regular basis and the planning is always available. I am quite offended by some comments on this web site, as i am more than capable supervising a class… You do not need to have a degree to follow plans. I have met many many NQTs over the years and although they have been to university have no experience in the classroom and the children are aware of this and have played them up. So come on dont be harsh on HLTAs we are just doing our job to support what the teacher ‘should’ have planned, and from my experience the parents would rather have a known person with their children than a complete stanger each time they need cover.

]]> Comment on Named and shamed… the phonics refuseniks by Charlotte Davies http://www.parentsoutloud.com/named-ane-shamed-the-phonics-refuseniks/comment-page-1/#comment-2335 Charlotte Davies Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:19:15 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=2492#comment-2335 English is not a phonic language. Teaching reading without doing a lot of work on "reading for meaning", just shunts the problem of reading difficulties further up the line. Consequently, I have A level students who can read a case study and have absolutely no understanding of what they have just read. Struggling to read is a much more complex problem, all my students who come up decoding words but not understanding them have problems with their stereopsis of vision, and consequently the way they send messages from their eyes to their brain. Our children need to be physiologically read to learn, so that they can make pictures in their minds as they read. Phonics will help children decode to a certain extent, that is all. We have a serious problem in this Country of poor child development which has been made far worse by our children's sedentary and restricted lifestyles. The dumbing down of public exams has masked the scale of the problem. Unfortunately, there are few jobs for low skilled workers in the knowledge economy, we have got to get to grips with the real underlying problem. English is not a phonic language. Teaching reading without doing a lot of work on “reading for meaning”, just shunts the problem of reading difficulties further up the line. Consequently,
I have A level students who can read a case study and have absolutely no understanding of what they have just read.
Struggling to read is a much more complex problem, all my students who come up decoding words but not understanding them have problems with their stereopsis of vision, and consequently the way they send messages from their eyes to their brain. Our children need to be physiologically read to learn, so that they can make pictures in their minds as they read. Phonics will help children decode to a certain extent, that is all.
We have a serious problem in this Country of poor child development which has been made far worse by our children’s sedentary and restricted lifestyles. The dumbing down of public exams has masked the scale of the problem. Unfortunately, there are few jobs for low skilled workers in the knowledge economy, we have got to get to grips with the real underlying problem.

]]> Comment on Secondary school bans girls from wearing skirts by David Band http://www.parentsoutloud.com/secondary-school-bans-girls-from-wearing-skirts/comment-page-1/#comment-2334 David Band Sun, 22 Jan 2012 08:46:40 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=1520#comment-2334 This is an interesting discussion especially after the news story about a bright 14 y.o. schoolgirl being sent home after her skirt hem-line was deemed too short. I personally feel it's a matter of whether the girls look reasonably smart or not for school. I live in the south-east of London and on my journey using public transport to work, children of various schools, mostly state secondary travel at the same time as me. Most girls wear skirts and tights and only a handful actually wear trousers. However a few girls wear mid-thigh skirts and ankle length socks (similar or maybe slightly shorter length than the girl in the photo above). I feel that when those girls are wearing sensible calf length socks and the look generally smart than the length of the skirt isn't really a problem. But - what I think is a little inappropriate is when girls take to wearing roll-top stockings above the knee and a short skirt. I found it slightly disconcerting the other day when both me and I would say a 12 year old school-girl almost bumped into one another as I was boarding and she was departing from the tram. We both politely said our 'sorrys' but I didn't think it was right that this 12 year old girl was wearing these roll-top stockings against her short skirt because it made her clothes look provocative so from that point I can see why school take issue with this. However, I think it mainly comes down to common sense and I can see why shorter skirts are favoured particularly in the summer when the weather is hot as it can be uncomfortable wearing tights or even trousers. During my primary school years in the late 70's/early 80's I wore short grey shorts (1/3rd thigh length down) apart from in the few months of winter right up to the age of 11 so I can see how they can benefit during the warmer months. I think we just should take a sensible approach to this and individual schools should take concerns about skirt length at more than just face value. This is an interesting discussion especially after the news story about a bright 14 y.o. schoolgirl being sent home after her skirt hem-line was deemed too short. I personally feel it’s a matter of whether the girls look reasonably smart or not for school. I live in the south-east of London and on my journey using public transport to work, children of various schools, mostly state secondary travel at the same time as me. Most girls wear skirts and tights and only a handful actually wear trousers. However a few girls wear mid-thigh skirts and ankle length socks (similar or maybe slightly shorter length than the girl in the photo above). I feel that when those girls are wearing sensible calf length socks and the look generally smart than the length of the skirt isn’t really a problem. But – what I think is a little inappropriate is when girls take to wearing roll-top stockings above the knee and a short skirt. I found it slightly disconcerting the other day when both me and I would say a 12 year old school-girl almost bumped into one another as I was boarding and she was departing from the tram. We both politely said our ‘sorrys’ but I didn’t think it was right that this 12 year old girl was wearing these roll-top stockings against her short skirt because it made her clothes look provocative so from that point I can see why school take issue with this. However, I think it mainly comes down to common sense and I can see why shorter skirts are favoured particularly in the summer when the weather is hot as it can be uncomfortable wearing tights or even trousers. During my primary school years in the late 70′s/early 80′s I wore short grey shorts (1/3rd thigh length down) apart from in the few months of winter right up to the age of 11 so I can see how they can benefit during the warmer months. I think we just should take a sensible approach to this and individual schools should take concerns about skirt length at more than just face value.

]]> Comment on My teacher hates me!’ by Margaret http://www.parentsoutloud.com/my-teacher-hates-me%e2%80%99/comment-page-1/#comment-2327 Margaret Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:37:22 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=2388#comment-2327 David says why don't we have cctv in classrooms? it would provide evidence to protect teachers but also encourage them to do their jobs properly. I receive complaints from my child and her friends that teachers are failing but if the child complains at school they are ignored and as a parent you are fobbed off without any evidence_ David says

why don’t we have cctv in classrooms? it would provide evidence to protect teachers but also encourage them to do their jobs properly. I receive complaints from my child and her friends that teachers are failing but if the child complains at school they are ignored and as a parent you are fobbed off without any evidence_

]]> Comment on Why are unqualified support staffs being allowed to teach? by Suzanne Lazarus http://www.parentsoutloud.com/why-are-unqualified-support-staffs-being-allowed-to-teach/comment-page-1/#comment-2326 Suzanne Lazarus Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:43:44 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=1729#comment-2326 I am a SEN teacher with 25 years experience. I am amazed at the amount of 'teaching' LSA are required to do. Agreed, some are naturally talented and are a huge positive to the life of a school. But they are no doubt doing the job of a qualified teacher at a fraction of the cost. This makes for tension in the staff room. They should either be trained and paid appropriately - or schools should receive budget centrally to support small group teaching by fully trained teachers. I am a SEN teacher with 25 years experience. I am amazed at the amount of ‘teaching’ LSA are required to do. Agreed, some are naturally talented and are a huge positive to the life of a school. But they are no doubt doing the job of a qualified teacher at a fraction of the cost. This makes for tension in the staff room. They should either be trained and paid appropriately – or schools should receive budget centrally to support small group teaching by fully trained teachers.

]]> Comment on Secondary school bans girls from wearing skirts by girls skirts http://www.parentsoutloud.com/secondary-school-bans-girls-from-wearing-skirts/comment-page-1/#comment-2322 girls skirts Sun, 08 Jan 2012 06:36:51 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=1520#comment-2322 Wearing skirts for teenagers specially in school is not so good. It's just right to ban it because it will be abused by many vulgar boys. Girls should be responsible enough in their dress code inside the school to avoid bad things happen. Wearing skirts for teenagers specially in school is not so good. It’s just right to ban it because it will be abused by many vulgar boys. Girls should be responsible enough in their dress code inside the school to avoid bad things happen.

]]> Comment on MR GOVE HAS MISSED THE POINT OVER CRITICISMS OF ACADEMY SPONSORSHIP by Lee Ingram http://www.parentsoutloud.com/mr-gove-has-missed-the-point-over-criticisms-of-academy-sponsorship/comment-page-1/#comment-2321 Lee Ingram Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:33:02 +0000 http://www.parentsoutloud.com/?p=2469#comment-2321 If this is the British Governments state education systems propaganda style projects worthy of Russia, China and Nazi Germany turning our schools into indoctrination camps then maybe state schools are a bad idea anyway!? http://youtu.be/AKRi6VyEv-k If this is the British Governments state education systems propaganda style projects worthy of Russia, China and Nazi Germany turning our schools into indoctrination camps then maybe state schools are a bad idea anyway!? http://youtu.be/AKRi6VyEv-k

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