Secondary school "teaching"

Tosh · September 12, 2007

My MiL has just started teaching in a school in Suffolk. Not the best but by no means the worst. She teaches English. She's new to the system but already has some less than fun observations. I'm 40 and clearly things have changed a little since I did my Os and As...

"lower 6th" is "doing" Othello. They already know that in March they have to submit a 2000 word paper, they know the title and know they will get a list of the most appropriate "quotes" for the paper. So the only interest they have is in what directly relates to the title of the paper. Actually reading the play, or any background is rendered pointless...

The dept head has said "we like to give the initial grades in pencil and discuss with the pupils where they have made spelling mistakes and so on. After they have amended their (GCSE) papers, we give them the final grade"

MiL is of the view that the kids are bored and have no interest in learning. The system does not educate, but instead seems to "teach to a test" solely to a) meet the curriculum - which the kids know so branching out from that is nigh on impossible and b) get good results in the school league tables

If this is true, it clearly explains why the progeny of Snorky can do alright in school . Actually, it explains to me why a) there's "better" results year on year while b) employers and universities are saying the kids know less and less (including an inability to think) and c) while te truancy rates are so high: If you know exactly what the test is on, it doesn't take a genius to work out that any not directly relevant "lesson time" can be skipped . EG, why spend 2 terms studying Othello if you already know what the issues that will be raised by the test will be?

Needless to say, MiL is totally hacked off and is wondering if her experience is "the norm"

Anyone?

Edited September 12, 2007 by Tosh

Herbie von Smalls · September 12, 2007