#Michaela #Education

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If I was back to teaching I must admit..  the thought would dread across my mind as it does in my current job when I know what to expect day to day.

So is it time we’re hard on education, teachers and students? On what we expect from them all (including us support staff).  I work toward the common goal of improving education in my work place.  Although my primary focus will indeed be the IT system my main aim however is certainly making IT work.  Everyone should be able to walk in to any classroom and it just works regardless.  They are all mirrored which means the IT setup is the same in every room.  This creates a consistency of equipment that anyone can operate on site.  If you would like to know more details read through my other posts.

One thing I wanted to touch base on which I can’t lie I may try and even visit this School: #Michaela

A good link with a video is located here: http://www.teachwire.net/news/michaela-school-book-launch

I’ve seen several responses about the control being issued here but think about it.  What exactly are we trying to achieve in education?

·         Every student is pushed to the maximum of their potential preparing them for the future

·         The School conforms to Ofsted inspections and gets the results needed

So why are people so hesitant over this?  Is it because after all they are children and they must enjoy their youth?  That will not stop.

Once they are 18 they are going to be clubbing, partying and nothing really will change.

We’ve often compared to their lack of chances in life because of their upbringing or home life style but isn’t it time we expect them to be more?

I’ve often disagreed with hard line approaches in education but I can no longer pretend that I want the best for my children.    If Schools pushed along the same lines as #Michaela would we see better results? If we did would we question how they got results and claim exams are easier?  Would we then blame good results on other excuses?  Would we question #Michaela’s student intake?

The video in the link with the Head discussing what she expects from the students actually impressed me.  That is indeed a very rare feat after all I don’t impress easy.

Here is question – Will we see this Schools policies being introduced in others? 

We’ve already seen introduction of severe uniform policies or shall we say Schools enforcing them more.  The majority of Schools have similar uniform policies but we are starting to see more enforcement and we all know why.  It educates the children in to knowing what is expected of them especially when they are coming fully prepared for School life.  This has been proven to have a direct result on behaviour which translates to more learning and better results.

In my job instead of dealing with children who are not always forthcoming I end up dealing with adults who I must admit are in that same category.

A lot of people tend to question what exactly do we put up with?

·         It’s never their fault (even after you prove it they are in denial).

·         It’s not their responsibility (it’s their job to teach even about IT – mine is to setup everything so it works).

·         They will criticise the government for late minute curriculum/education changes (even though they give us last minute jobs endlessly).

·         They won’t care about what happens to the IT in a classroom (you know endless damages, things disappearing and kids playing with PCs).

·         Lack of money for education yet will be happy to spend £5000 on something which will be forgotten.

·         Hate to admit they’re wrong about something even if it’s technical.

·         Seem to think we have the time to solve their fridge failing problem or generally anything that uses electricity.

Now this doesn’t include everyone.

It shows that even adults can be complicated and difficult but we’ve allowed teachers to be like this towards support staff.  We’ve allowed this poor attitude where teachers do what they choose with little to no repercussions until lately where education is being scrutinised very hard and rightly so.  Educating our youth is pivotal to the future of this nation and the world.  The examples we set as adults forever ties to the kids.

So with the ever increase demand for education to work, the shadowing Trusts hovering over every Schools head and with only certain kids from certain areas getting jobs.  Is it time it was really all resolved regardless?

I think so.

Education: The No Excuse Policy #Michaela

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Quite an interesting one isn’t it, in society we’ve created this “No Excuse” policy where you commit a crime you’re guilty regardless of circumstances.

http://bennewmark.edublogs.org/2016/12/02/reasonable-exceptions-will-be-made/

Interesting blog post it really is and it’s spot on that we have to support this poor Sally in what she’s gone through.  It doesn’t take a scientist to guess this is one of three things.

Problem is though we have to educate Students in to knowing that how they react to nightmare situations is just as important as talking to someone about these problems.

This all stems from the School which has a “No Excuse” policy that no matter how bad things get you are still expected to behave.  Which I’m sorry to say is a spot on approach.  Students do need to realise that no matter how bad their life gets as an adult they are fully held accountable to their own actions.  Shall we do what the blog post writer has done and come up with the harsh examples?

A man loses his family due to a mass murderer – Society will lock that man up who had never hurt a fly until he killed that murderer who took away his family.  No matter what society will not allow a revenge killing.  I recently saw in the news where a father had killed her daughters rapist and in all honesty most parents would be willing to commit murder for their children.  Problem is though he will now spend a long time behind bars as a result of what he has done regardless if it was justice or revenge.  This means that even our reactions to some terrible life scenarios will not protect us from repercussions.  This means we must educate children that no matter what excuse they may feel they have lashing out at others is not a good way forward.

This young girl Sally has lashed out in her class.  Now I would question a few things on why that Student didn’t feel safe enough in her School to discuss the problems with staff.  If you nail hard on behaviour this makes Students feel safe and willing to discuss any problems at home.  There will be a few closed off who are not willing to talk but you would be surprised how rare this becomes when you make a School environment fully fitting.  Sorting out a child’s behaviour isn’t just about making the School better it also allows children to take more responsibility for their problems no matter how small or big they are.

The way Sally has reacted would suggest that not only does she not feel safe but she isn’t willing to talk to anyone until she lashed out.

Now I am going to do a few scenarios – What if she had lashed out to one particular Student?  What if she had lashed out in the harsh way possible by picking on some one?  What about assaulting another Student, causing serious harm or death because of the pain she was going through?  Are we going to say “it’s okay you have an excuse”.  No – Instead society will punish her harshly and the repercussions of her actions no matter how warranted they may be will hit her hard.  What if she had decided to put other girls that she didn’t like through the same kind of pain?  We’ve heard all kinds of stories over the years one in particular was about a young girl who had purposely setup two others to be raped.  It turns out that the sickening crime happened because she wanted others to feel what she had gone through.  Are we going to have a “It’s okay, you have an excuse” attitude?

Like it or not, you do the crime you do the time.  The only question is if you get caught.  Do we think all criminals come from stable backgrounds? Ever watched criminal science (shows or documentaries) and believe it or not the majority of serious criminal activities are committed by people who have not had stable backgrounds or have gone through harsh events.  Do we have a “it’s okay you have an excuse” society? No we do not and young people must understand that every action has a reaction.

For Sally and many other Students we would be sensitive with them.  Let them know we are here to help and support them but acting out like that isn’t the way forward instead you talk about the problems.  The world let’s Sally know that she is not alone and at School surrounded by adult staff she is safe.

This means I am in complete support of “No Excuses” School environment.