tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post2009522583586413620..comments2023-06-16T15:53:30.833+01:00Comments on What's this all about Vicar?(Formerly, Why do we have to do this Sir?): School reports, bad tempers and farting."Sir"http://www.blogger.com/profile/03459619874470824848noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-41324581048218723652012-05-11T23:16:38.918+01:002012-05-11T23:16:38.918+01:00It's all very simple: school is a place for t...It's all very simple: school is a place for teaching and learning. Teachers teach, and students learn - but not by osmosis.<br /><br />Children who do not wish to learn should be set to work. Real work, not fiddling about on a computer.<br /><br />They won't like that any better than lessons, but why waste their time and the teachers' on these pointless classes which serve no useful purpose whatsoever?Russ Manleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05722260145543178087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-90688051520164284062012-05-09T19:47:41.056+01:002012-05-09T19:47:41.056+01:00Back in the early 50s my grandmother plucked up th...Back in the early 50s my grandmother plucked up the courage to ask why my father had simply had the word "weak" for his Physics report for three years in a row - and did the teacher have anything else to add? The teacher concerned looked mildly surprised, chewed meditatively on his pipe for a few moments and, in a cut-glass accent said,<br />"well, my dear lady, he's just awfully, awfully weak." And that was that! It was another world!Suemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128736092253293640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-70489337381235777762012-05-07T19:38:51.126+01:002012-05-07T19:38:51.126+01:00I think Caroline's got it about right and when...I think Caroline's got it about right and when looked at like that you've got to wonder why we put up with it. Remember also that Govie's Acadamies don't have to teach it at all. I wonder whether the only place left to teach a decent R.S. course properly will be the church schools - God forbid.Dave Seatonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-9869098444364552232012-05-07T12:33:54.271+01:002012-05-07T12:33:54.271+01:00No. Not that Hassan.No. Not that Hassan.Hassannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-39989873017336559002012-05-07T12:32:54.354+01:002012-05-07T12:32:54.354+01:00And the subtle threat that "if things don'...And the subtle threat that "if things don't improve...."Hassannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-9063703351925307702012-05-07T12:07:30.842+01:002012-05-07T12:07:30.842+01:00Are you:
Overwhelmed by a marking and report writ...Are you:<br /><br />Overwhelmed by a marking and report writing load that your other colleagues would only encounter in their worst nightmares?<br /><br />Starved of time (in comparison to other curricular areas) to teach your subject to a standard that satisfies you?<br /><br />Put under unreasonable pressure nevertheless to deliver grades?<br /><br />Given a hard time when your pupils don't/can't deliver?<br /><br />Having a strong sense that those above you have absolutely no idea the diffciculties you face in delivering your subject?<br /><br />Having a strong sense that even if they did, it would make no difference to how you are managed?<br /><br />Being fobbed off with the mantra "Other schools manage." even if that isn't necessarily true or a satisfactory justifaction for you having to manage in your unique situation?<br /><br />Being fobbed off with the lie that the exam boards' guided hours means just that and therefore you can cope with a dramatic undertimetabling for your subject?<br /><br />Being expected to teach GCSE below KS4 in the belief that this will solve the time problem even though kids in KS3 can not generally cope with the demands of GCSE and will under perform? That's why they are in KS3 and why exams come at the end of KS4.<br /><br />Under pressure to teach outside your contracted hours to make up teaching time?<br /><br />Experiencing a strong sense of creeping marginalisation?<br /><br />Welcome to the world of the R.E. teacher. Have you booked your nervous breakdown yet?Caroline Ashenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-2284125270165410612012-05-06T08:30:06.359+01:002012-05-06T08:30:06.359+01:00I suppose there will always be the risk of conflic...I suppose there will always be the risk of conflict with report writing. Teachers want to tell it as it is and management want to ensure a positive gloss. Teachers may be perceived to be rocking the management's carefully balanced boat.Leonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-84232306572624539682012-05-05T23:43:40.531+01:002012-05-05T23:43:40.531+01:00Report writing is one of the many things I don'...Report writing is one of the many things I don't miss. One particular year the RE department (ie me) had all of year 10 and 11 on a rota for 6 weeks at a time. This, in addition to my 'normal' timetable meant I had to write 719 reports that year. Yes, I still remember the number - it triggered me into re-training for Primary school! Good luck, you have my full support!singing9https://www.blogger.com/profile/06468114819096649530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-76303716900234195992012-05-05T20:34:51.965+01:002012-05-05T20:34:51.965+01:00Who knows the pupils best - managers or teachers?Who knows the pupils best - managers or teachers?Karen Armstrongnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-23633183981493440392012-05-05T19:30:34.104+01:002012-05-05T19:30:34.104+01:00I teach English to groups of French kids, some of ...I teach English to groups of French kids, some of whom actually want to be in the class. As a parent - volunteer my report writing is limited, but this is offset by the interest that other parents have in collaring me by the gate and asking for updates. A first I was politic and focused on the positive; now I just go for it and tell them the truth. It is quite liberating.Jonhttp://www.vendeeblog.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-46391135312985749172012-05-05T19:03:02.736+01:002012-05-05T19:03:02.736+01:00Just a thought - how about writing two versions of...Just a thought - how about writing two versions of the report ... one that is acceptable to the powers that think they're in charge, and the other that tells the unvarnished truth, so that if a parent rails at you for not having told them how pathetic their child was performing you could produce the second report and say, This is how it actually is, but I was not allowed to say so or tell you. Then with outraged parents confronting the mangagers, the message might finally start to get through that their pleasant approach doesn't serve anyone except their own self-interests. And isn't that a type of non-violent direct action?Rev. Richard Thornburghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01348972142475605435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2416690019192389583.post-3794712819670599862012-05-05T18:42:44.111+01:002012-05-05T18:42:44.111+01:00Funny and disturbing at the same time. If only par...Funny and disturbing at the same time. If only parents could see how little Jonny behaves eh?<br /><br />The report writing debate seems fraught. I sense an increasingly centralised approach to report writing and I think your colleagues are right: there is a fear of giving the impression that there may be problems. God, I look back at some of my reports and my teachers didn't pull any punches. I got it in the neck at home, had to work harder and probably got better results as a consequence. I can't think my father was ever concerned about a report being too negative. That was when we feared parents and respected teachers. Tell it like it is. I really think parents prefer that.<br /><br />What do I know? I'm only both a teacher and a parent.Robin Colemannoreply@blogger.com