Teaching News

[Scheherazade]

Diligent students at Bournemouth University want to get their work done
University students are complaining they cannot get enough work done because fellow students are hogging computers to use Facebook and Twitter.

Bournemouth University Student Union has said some computers should be marked for academic use only.

Final year students who need to use university computers have said they cannot access them for important work.

But university officials say social networking sites are also sometimes used for legitimate academic reasons.

The Student Union says it will display polite notices on the computers, asking students not to spend time on social networking sites while others wish to work.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7976107.stm

[Scheherazade]

Schools are employing bouncers to "crowd control" classes in teachers' absence, a union conference has heard.

A London teacher told the National Union of Teachers annual conference he knew of a school that had gone to an agency to recruit two bouncers.

One left after a month after falling out with staff but the other was still employed, he said - the school wanting someone "stern and loud".

The government said cover staff should only be used as a short-term solution.

The union wants all lessons to be taken by qualified teachers but says there are likely to be more cover supervisors taking lessons in future.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7995869.stm

[Scheherazade]

Teacher training applicants in England are to face psychometric tests before being offered a place on a course, to ensure they are well suited to the job.

The Training and Development Agency for Schools is developing tests for skills such as communication and empathy.

The government asked for an assessment to be developed amid concern at a lack of "softer" skills among teachers.

But the Association of Teachers and Lecturers criticised the idea as an "expensive gimmick".

The Department for Children, Schools and Families requested a test which would "assess suitability to be a teacher", the TDA said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8120550.stm

[Scheherazade]

Teachers think they can tell which pupils are likely to play up by looking at their names, a survey suggests.

The poll of 3,000 teachers found more than one in three expected pupils with certain names to be more disruptive.

Pupils called Callum, Connor, Jack, Chelsea, Courtney and Chardonnay were among some of the ones to watch.

The online survey by parenting club Bounty.com found 49% of UK teachers made assumptions about a child when they first looked down the register.

But it is not all bad news, with 57% of the teachers surveyed saying the naughtier children tended to be more popular than their better behaved peers.

More than a third said the naughtiest pupils were often the brightest and the more sensitive.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8243684.stm

[Scheherazade]

Technology addiction among young people is having a disruptive effect on their learning, researchers have warned.

Their report concluded that modern gadgets worsened pupils' spelling and concentration, encouraged plagiarism and disrupted lessons.

The study of 267 pupils aged 11 to 18 found 63% felt addicted to the internet and 53% to their mobile phones.

The research said technology drove a social lifestyle that involved a strong desire to keep in touch with friends.

....

Three hours on the mobile

They found 62% first used or owned a computer before the age of eight, 80% first used the internet between the ages of five and 10, 58% first used a mobile phone between the ages of eight and 10 and 58% have had access to a social networking sites between the ages of eleven and 13.

Over half (53.2%) indicated they spent up to around 30 minutes a day on their mobile, while 17% said they spent at least three hours on their mobile. Just over one in five (20.2%) said they left the phone on in lessons - which is usually forbidden by schools.

Over 30% reported spending between one to two hours a day using the internet and 26% said they spent up to six or more hours a day.

On average, pupils said they spent between one and two hours on social networking sites each day.

Pupils said they sent more e-mails than they received and the majority said they sent and/or received up to 20 texts a day.

Over a third (39%) admitted that text shortcuts damaged the quality of their written English, particularly when it came to spelling.

And 84% openly admitted copying chunks of information from the internet into their homework or projects on a number of occasions.

Pupils said the internet was by far the largest source of information for such work, with over 90% saying they used it compared with 43% who said books.

Poor attention levels

Professor Andrew Kakabadse from Cranfield School of Management said: "Over 60% of the respondents admitted to being 'very' or 'quite' addicted to the internet, while over 50% are addicted to their mobile phones."

Dr Nada Kakabadse from Northampton Business School said modern technology, such as mobile phones and handheld computer games, was having an impact on pupils' attention levels.

"They are hiding these things under the desks so their concentration cannot be equally divided, they are not focusing on what's going on in class.

"They can't get motivated to read for a long period of time."

Dr Kakabadse said pupils were also getting into a bad habit of plagiarism.

"For their homework, instead of reading the book, they go on the internet and lift it, rather than reading it and understanding it and putting it in their own words."

She also raised concerns about the text-messaging abbreviations to which young people had grown accustomed.

"They have invented a new language. This kind of abbreviation they unconsciously bring into their assignments.

"So they will have difficulty communicating with others and making themselves understood. Of course, language should evolve but maybe not so quickly."

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8256490.stm

[Virgil]

Fascinating article Scher. As to this: "Their report concluded that modern gadgets worsened pupils' spelling and concentration," I can definitely personally attest to that. You don't have to be a young person to be affected by that.

[Scheherazade]

A university leader has caused controversy by saying curvy female students are a "perk of the job".

Terence Kealey, of the University of Buckingham, said lecturers were aware of females who "flaunted their curves".

In a tongue-in-cheek article for Times Higher Education Magazine on the seven deadly sins of academia, he advised academics to "look but not touch".

The National Union of Students condemned the comments as insulting and disrespectful to women.

Dr Kealey, a clinical bio-chemist and vice-chancellor of Buckingham University, likened the classroom to a lap dancing club and said admiring the curves of attractive students could help "spice up" marital sex.

In his article about the sin of lust, Dr Kealey wrote: "Most male lecturers know that, most years, there will be a girl in class who flashes her admiration and who asks for advice on her essays.

"What to do? Enjoy her! She's a perk."

Referring to characters from Middlemarch by George Eliot and The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury, he added: "She doesn't yet know that you are only Casaubon to her Dorothea, Howard Kirk to her Felicity Phee, and she will flaunt you her curves.

"Which you should admire daily to spice up your sex, nightly, with the wife."

Dr Kealey recalled the days when sex between student and tutor, in return for academic favours, could go by unchecked.

"Thanks to the accountability imposed by the Quality Assurance Agency [the university watchdog] and other intrusive bodies, the days are gone when a scholar could trade sex for upgrades."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8270475.stm

[isidro]

As a parent I advocate home teaching and/or charter schools. Yes, the public schools do not like that in view of losing money, but I am more interested in education. Parents and teachers ought to be encouraged to learn themselves and include their students and kids in what they learn themselves. And while we so often blame the schools and political systems, where are the parents? Why don't they take some of the brunt and blame? Who, after all, never taught their kids to read before they went to school? I understand when the parents are immigrants or single parents trying to do everything at once, but we have an epidemic of parents who are more interested in watching TV than taking their children to the library, who use the TV to entertain their children from their infancy instead of spending time with them and instilling a love of learning. Impossible? Nay. My three year old loves opera, speaks two languages and is starting to read. My two year old speaks two languages, knows basic astronomy, and can count to twenty.

Mothers argue that they were not cut out to be moms and therefore can't do this. I say that those are the mothers who best can. Those who didn't want to have kids due to careers and pursuit of further learning are the ones who can teach their kids the best. I didn't want kids initially either, but sometimes you have to just step up to the plate. So let's give the teachers a break for a minute and take a good look at the homes and importance of parental involvement.

I would hate to be viewed as a perk, I think.

[Virgil]

As a parent I advocate home teaching and/or charter schools. Yes, the public schools do not like that in view of losing money, but I am more interested in education. Parents and teachers ought to be encouraged to learn themselves and include their students and kids in what they learn themselves. And while we so often blame the schools and political systems, where are the parents? Why don't they take some of the brunt and blame? Who, after all, never taught their kids to read before they went to school? I understand when the parents are immigrants or single parents trying to do everything at once, but we have an epidemic of parents who are more interested in watching TV than taking their children to the library, who use the TV to entertain their children from their infancy instead of spending time with them and instilling a love of learning. Impossible? Nay. My three year old loves opera, speaks two languages and is starting to read. My two year old speaks two languages, knows basic astronomy, and can count to twenty.

Mothers argue that they were not cut out to be moms and therefore can't do this. I say that those are the mothers who best can. Those who didn't want to have kids due to careers and pursuit of further learning are the ones who can teach their kids the best. I didn't want kids initially either, but sometimes you have to just step up to the plate. So let's give the teachers a break for a minute and take a good look at the homes and importance of parental involvement.

I would hate to be viewed as a perk, I think.

Good post Isi. If the school system lets your kid down or you don't care for the values they project, parents should take matters into their own hands.

[motherhubbard]

And while we so often blame the schools and political systems, where are the parents?

Amen!

I support public and charter schools. I think that a child's education is the parent's responsibility, not the states, and that schools are the just tools. The school has a responsibility, but the buck stops with the parent. If you leave 100% of your child's education up to someone else you're making a mistake.

Mothers argue that they were not cut out to be moms and therefore can't do this. I say that those are the mothers who best can.

I can't say I completely agree with this. I always wanted to be a mother and my kids all read before going to school. I think any mother willing to do her best will do a good job.

So let's give the teachers a break for a minute and take a good look at the homes and importance of parental involvement.

Parental involvement is the single greatest factor in school success.

Thanks for posting!

[Gladys]

...schools are just the tools

Teachers can afford so little one-on-one time with students, with crowd control a major distraction. What a shame that schools and teachers so rarely see education as an equal partnership with parents.

Since one of my twin boys read fluently at two years and the other at three and a half, primary school offered little more than child-minding. Now in the final year of high school, I’m finding that direct parental input remains invaluable.

[samantha20]

Hi, I'm new to this thread and it was very interesting to read what all of you have been saying. I am kind of planning and hoping to become a teacher right now (although it might not happen due to circumstances). Where I live, for as long as I can remember, everyone is talking about how the education in this country is in serious trouble. There are so many controversial issues relating to education and I just can't figure out what must be done to improve the situation. It's so complicated it seems like there isn't any absolute solution to it and there's bound to be some side-effects to every 'solution' that's suggested..

This is my major problem! I just can't seem to have a strong point of view in things.. (not just education) And sometimes I get tired of my indecision!

But this I can say for sure. Education at school can't be brought up to its fullest without help from students' homes. Although if circumstances don't allow, the school has to do its best.

[Paulclem]

I used to teach Reception kids in Primary school in England - Reception is 4-5 year olds.

It was clear that when a kid came into school that the ones who had had some parental input started with an advantage that they never lost.

I think the problem with putting the onus upon mothers/fathers is that some are pretty young and inexperienced themselves. It is very easy for an educated and confident person to take up their Kid's education in tandem with the school. Parents may want the best for their kids, whatever social stratum they come from, but simply be unsure of how to go about this. I'm not saying there aren't negligent and disinterested parents about - of course there are - but it is too easy to lump them all together.

Saying my kids can do this and my kids can do that- why can't other people's kids? is a little unfair. Their skills come from you, and I'm very happy for them too, but you can't use this as an argument against other parents.

In England there has been a lot of investment in pre-school kids including schemes to include young mothers in their child's education. This has to be part of an improvement in education.

[Gladys]

I think the problem with putting the onus upon mothers/fathers is that some are pretty young and inexperienced themselves.

That's why educating parents and expecting their participation is so helpful.

Saying my kids can do this and my kids can do that- why can't other people's kids? is a little unfair. Their skills come from you...

While some skill comes by nature, some by nurture, all parents should be encouraged, if not coerced, to nurture their children. I'm inclined to believe that most children can succeed academically, until proven otherwise.

In England there has been a lot of investment in pre-school kids including schemes to include young mothers in their child's education.

Living in England when this investment was mooted, I am pleased to hear of its success.

[Paulclem]

[QUOTE=Gladys;797038]That's why educating parents and expecting their participation is so helpful.



While some skill comes by nature, some by nurture, all parents should be encouraged, if not coerced, to nurture their children. I'm inclined to believe that most children can succeed academically, until proven otherwise.

I too believe in the ability of children to be educated. I agree that parents should be encouraged - I'm not sure how you coerce parents to educate their children when some will not be up to the job. We get many parents coming to us for literacy classes so they can learn to read write etc better to be able to keep up with and contribute to their kids education. For all those that come, you can bet many more don't. By using the word coerce I think you are betraying a belief that parents could teach their kids if they really wanted to. The problem is much more complicated than you suggest and is closely linked to poverty.