A school has told its pupils to break with tradition and address their teachers by their first name.
Children have been told they should now informally address teachers as part of a term-long trial.
The pupils at Boughton-under-Blean and Dunkirk Primary school in Faversham, Kent have been ordered to abandon using teachers’ surnames with the title of either ‘Mr’, ‘Ms’ or ‘Mrs’ in front of it.
Oh that’s really going to re-inforce discipline in the classroom. And why are they using Mr, Ms, or Mrs. When I was at school (Alright, the memory is fading into the fog of old age), the correct form of address was “Sir” or “Miss”.
And the very next paragraph
Now school bosses say they hope the trial will “enhance the relationship” between the kids and their mentors.
Are they not proud of the word “Teacher” anymore? And why do you need to “enhance the relationship” anyway. FFS. You’re paid by the public to Bloody Teach.
In my opinion, there should always be a strict line between the teacher and the child. How else can discipline be maintained? But then this is the era of a failed education system where anything goes, except teaching and discipline.
And trying to keep his options open the Head teacher, Hugh Greenwood adds.
'Obviously we are just trying it out and if it doesn’t work we will refer back to the traditional custom.'
No Hugh. You opened a can of worms. You’ll have great difficulty cramming them back in. I learned as a parent that kids exploit weakness in a way that would make Attila the Hun look like a Monk.
I hope Hugh reads the comments following the article. If he does he might rethink his policy sharpish.
They dont need a bloody relationship. Kids are there to learn, teachers to teach.
ReplyDeleteThey need a professional distance.
Instead of all this pointless tinkering at the edges, why not just let the teachers teach and the pupils learn?
ReplyDeleteI see no problem in a teacher having the expectation of being called/addressed as Mr/Mrs/Miss 'familyname'.
Pointless twaddle that doesn't do anything to enhance the educational process as a whole.
I was brought up by my parents to believe teachers were like Gods and if I upset them I would be dealt with at home. Doesn't happen now. The parents complain and the teachers are cowed into submission.
ReplyDelete(And the fact that the head had a right to cane me, was a slight influence as well)
In the fifties it was 'Sir' and 'Miss' and I despised almost all. The few that held our respect did not resort to christian names, but simply treated us as individuals, with understanding and respect.
ReplyDeleteBack then our classroom was the centre of learning, and our general text books held in a desk. It was the teachers who walked between rooms to take their next class. Only for Lab work, woodwork and PT did we leave the form room, and only homework was taken home.
Today, pupils sit at tables. They, as a whole class, move around the school to their next lesson, taking with them their bags filled with 20lbs of books, which also get carried home every night - along with any sports kit.
Some are eagre to learn, and some eager to be 'the dude'. But the use of christian names for teachers is both demeaning to a teacher, and for some pupils - empowering. No good will come of it. But then what good comes out of our education system? They are pseudo military establishments designed to make one obey and jump. Real learning begins after 'school' has been left behind. "Get a job son, then you can fight back. But always respect others for what they are, and what they've been through."
But in the far off past when the FE was at school - probably round the same time I was - they were not teachers, they were school masters and school mistresses.
ReplyDeleteIndeed they were.
ReplyDeleteHad to pop this in, as it is quite wonderful. Not a fan of the Roayal family any longer, but I like this:
When the PM’s wife said, “Call me Cherie,” the Princess Royal replied: “Actually, let’s not go that way. Let’s stick to Mrs Blair, shall we?”
I also think that when someone is trying to sell me something they should have the decency to address me by my surname. Or am I old fashioned? Or just old and cantankerous?
ReplyDeleteWell I AM a Teacher and Pupils will call me SIR and they will like it! I expect Parents to refer to me as MR... I have neither the time nor the patience to act otherwise. In class my rule is "Do as I do". I wear a full suit, ironed shirt and tie, mirror polished shoes and expect the pupils to do the same. The only item of my personal behaviour that may conflict with School rules regards the wearing of a jacket or blazer. If I am not wearing mine, pupils may remove theirs without wasting my time asking permission. Although it is an uphill battle getting the pupils to actually tuck their shirts in and wear their ties around their neck rather than in orbit about it!
ReplyDeleteWell I AM a Teacher and Pupils will call me SIR and they will like it! I expect Parents to refer to me as MR... I have neither the time nor the patience to act otherwise. In class my rule is "Do as I do". I wear a full suit, ironed shirt and tie, mirror polished shoes and expect the pupils to do the same. The only item of my personal behaviour that may conflict with School rules regards the wearing of a jacket or blazer. If I am not wearing mine, pupils may remove theirs without wasting my time asking permission. Although it is an uphill battle getting the pupils to actually tuck their shirts in and wear their ties around their neck rather than in orbit about it!
ReplyDeleteSir, you posted that twice Sir!
ReplyDelete