Are schools really different now?

zanador · 17-10-2015 02:08PM

30 years ago those kids would have been beaten by either teachers or their peers and then dropped out of school to cause havoc in society. How is this way any worse than that?

DEFTLEFTHAND · 17-10-2015 02:23PM

zanador wrote: »

30 years ago those kids would have been beaten by either teachers or their peers and then dropped out of school to cause havoc in society. How is this way any worse than that?

They still drop out and cause havoc, they only problem these days is that they get away with everything and as a result have no respect for their teachers. I got a true glimpse of this when I dropped back to pass maths class in Junior Cert, I was thrown in with absolute scumbags who disrupted every class and made it very difficult for civilised students to learn, I would have been shagged without taking grinds.

After the JC they all dropped out to go on the dole and some drifted into crime.
I'm not saying fear of beatings is a way to control a classroom either, but there must be some respect for the teacher's authority.

zanador · 17-10-2015 02:27PM

So this system doesn't work. But saying going back to the old way is silly as well. We need a new way.

I know you said the same thing

Princess Consuela Bananahammock · 17-10-2015 02:49PM

Gebgbegb wrote: »

Ya and that Film ended just great didn't it.

Yep. Crush creativity and individuality and see what happens (assuming you're talkign about Dead Poets Society)

In any case he was referring to Wiliams the actor and not the character portrayed.

The issue I think is a move away from a curriculum based education to a 'child centered' one. The UK system does that in spades, each child is measured to the hilt on thier 'progress' targets and if they are not improving then the teacher simply doesn't get a pay rise. Great you say, but the course work has become so dumbed down for them in order to get the 'increasing grades', also if a child fails then it's simply put upon the teacher to 'set the test at a more appropriate level'.

Now...

In Ireland we can see that this is the way teaching is being pushed. The Junior cert subjects are being replaced by 'short courses' designed by the teachers in each school, the exam has been shortened and the practical component is being assessed by the teacher. Results of each school are set to be publicised ...so we know what way that test is going to be set! Also the NCCA who design curriculuae handed the plans for the syllabii to Ruairi Quinn for the new JC, he tore them up and said that teachers can create their own lessons.

So yes, if yer young and willing to prance around the room and do countless hours of measuring and paperwork for the sake of 'edutainment' then you would do well in the UK. Then again I can see why so many new recruits to teaching in the UK burn out after their first year.

Is Ireland like that, ,maybe in some extreme schools, but I'd guess it's going to be heading the same way the UK is trying to turn back from!

That's a philosphy that can work, but at the end of the day it won't in an heavily exam-based education system. Especally if the teachers are setting the exams.

newacc2015 · 17-10-2015 02:55PM

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

After the JC they all dropped out to go on the dole and some drifted into crime.
I'm not saying fear of beatings is a way to control a classroom either, but there must be some respect for the teacher's authority.

If you have to resort to violence for authority you are a weak person. Using violence doesnt make you an authoritarian figure. I had teachers who could make your life hell without even saying a word or lifting a figure. There is certain body cues than can make people come across as authoritarian.

Look at the Stanford Prison Experiment. You can condition people to see you are an authoritarian figure pretty easily without the use of violence.

This 2015. If you are using violence for power, you are just stupid. Wars are now fought in conference rooms, than on the battle field ie the EU destroyed the Russian Economy with sanctions. They have destroyed the lives of millions without even having to use any arms

Azalea · 17-10-2015 05:57PM

The approaches by the teachers seem very effective actually. It's not at all hippy bull crap in my opinion, it's properly engaging with the pupils and attempting to see things from their perspectives. It's focusing on the pupils' strong points rather than emphasising where they're going wrong.

It's being filmed though, so it's not day-to-day reality - I don't think schools in normal circumstances would have the resources to do the above at all times.

4ensic15 · 17-10-2015 08:35PM

I blame the parents.

Are schools really different now?

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