Education: Be consistent and concentrate on learning

It’s time education slowed down and became consistent once more.  The last time education had the least amount of problems, high staff happiness and generally things ‘prodding alone well’ was when we had consistency.

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General current issues:

• Fear of being critical of education from within
• Self-ambition and opportunism is more important
• Teachers only knowing education and nothing more
• Getting younger and younger – University fresh

The above could be good or bad but I am going to rate them as issues.

Fear Factor

This is an issue being raised by quite a few tweeters.  There is a general fear of criticising education in general or certain types of schools/people but why is there? Why should some be afraid to say something bad just to get their job hanging over their head – it’s disgusting.  It creates a deluded culture among staff in schools that we can’t make mistakes and everything is perfect.  The fact of the matter is behaviour, uniform and general problems exists in schools.  So why is there such a grey area where nothing can be said about schools?  We do it a lot to our own Government.  We criticise politicians all day and every day – even the Education Secretary who we all effectively work for.

Ambition

I’m often seeing people who want to move up the chain as quickly as possible.  This creates a culture of those who in all honesty – kiss ass.  They may not be good at the job, they talk the jibba jabba and may not even be qualified.  I once witnessed someone become a Head Teacher in a Trust that had no experience in being a Head Teacher but because she was in a circle – she got the job.  This job was not advertised externally or internally but because this person spoke the right way to the Head of that circle.. the job was given.

Teachers

I’ve known so many teachers over the years and many of them over a certain age of 40+ had previous experience of all kind of jobs.  You name it – I’ve probably known them.  They were: ex-military, police, doctors, fireman, miners, business owners, engineers and so forth.  Now the majority of them even those in their late 30s have all lived one life – University > teaching.  They’ve not gained experience in other jobs.

And to top it off the teachers are getting younger.  We’re now seeing them not much older than sixth formers which creates less respect for the position and also a more ‘friend’ culture among the kids.  Students are not your friends they are learners.

Now the IT

There’s no consistency between schools and nor is there in a trust let alone one year 7 leading to the Year 11s.  I’ve often spoken to students through the years and asked them if there’s a consistency – no it changes all the time.  An opinion that is echoed from the staff.  All those sales reps I talk about play a part in this – promising the world but never give you the whole story.

Education: Salespersons, Seminar providers and Trainers.  Check out the link if you want to know more.

https://itsupportns.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/education-salespersons-seminar.html

The kids need consistency and so do the adults.  A system that changes the least while still providing the usual updates is the system that works.  It becomes reliable, with the least amount of problems and it creates a consistent approach from staff which translates down to the children.  They may not love it, they may not like it but it means you can’t blame grades or performance levels on IT.

We seriously need to consider aiming for a consistency.  When you purchase a device stop looking for WHAT you can do with it but instead KNOW what you plan to do with it before you purchase it.  This is the common mistake.  You also need to think can it make your life easier, can it cut costs and provide a better school environment.

I’m a member of multiple forums and follow a lot of staff in education.  You kind of get a pattern that people don’t like IT.  Do you realise that the majority of decisions are not made by us?  They’re made by the Deputy Head and Head Teacher – often against the advice of IT.  I always say test, practise and trial with any purchase of software.  I often tell people to ask teachers what they think.  With upgrades to Windows 10 I know our choices are little – Apple, Linux (Free), Google (Free) or Windows.  I may not like moving to Windows 10 but I know we’ve got little choice.

So how can we keep it consistent? Stick to the basics which I’ve covered in other posts:

Post about Costs of ‘Free of IT’ – A useful post to see what you should have with IT

https://itsupportns.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/schools-costs-of-free-of-it.html

Bit more about that post:

https://itsupportns.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/education-free-of-it.html

Bit more about Education needing to open it’s eyes:

https://itsupportns.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/time-for-education-to-open-its-eyes.html

Some costs regarding IT

https://itsupportns.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/technology-in-schools-full-costs.html

The University Model

For anyone that’s been to Uni or spent time there it’s interesting to see how things have changed.  Universities stick to what works with lectures and assignments with one major difference.  A lot of these materials are accessible online through a simple portal.  This portal gives access to class assignments, materials and email.  Some portals even provide access to software.

None of this is innovation in 2017, none of it is creativity or about interaction with students.  It’s all about providing them with 24/7 access to everything they need to complete their work.  So why are schools not focusing on this? Instead they spend tens of thousands on ‘pretty’ ideas that offer no learning benefit.  What’s the learning benefit of having 24/7 communication with the tutor? Or the ability to email them throughout the day? What’s the benefit to learning when students can access their entire course and assignments online anywhere in the world?

It’s all simple and basic but all about one thing – Making things easier for learning.  Then again in schools you have more younger teachers who want to get that promotion or pay rise which goes back to my previous statements of ambition.

Universities have to cut costs and stick to what works.  Not go down the route of being fancy it’s also another reason why laptops/PCs are still being sold because students will tend to buy productivity for their work over an expensive Apple Mac or cheap tablet.

Stick to the basics.

Education: Snobbery of Teachers over Support Staff

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That tweet, that post on EduGeek, it’s important… actually very important to note that this is not every teacher.  It actually took me a while to think of a heading late on an evening.

It is however sad to say that many including myself have been on the receiving end of that type of a teacher.  Which goes to show one thing – it’s much more wide spread than people are willing to admit.

What was the post: 

Twitter link here: TWITTER LINK

In short “You’re support staff, I talk to you how I like”.  This is beyond disgusting attitude and this person is an educator of our children, our youth and our future.  We often question the attitude of young people and I have to ask not only are Parents who raise them and the home life responsible for what they become but so are teachers.  I speak from personal experience that some teachers have poor attitudes towards support staff.  That we are here to do their bidding (no we’re not) to do what they want regardless (no we’re not) and to work 24/7 (no we’re not).

The hardest thing is there are too many factors that prevent anything being done about this:

·         People not prepared to report it or make it an official complaint

·         Fear of losing a job

·         Fear of causing problems

·         Leadership who don’t care or worse also treat support staff poorly

This entire thing reminds me of the issues surrounding discrimination on pay based on gender/race.  It’s yet another society issue that doesn’t get resolved.

I’ve often been contacted over a weekend, out of hours and even had one member staff tell another that “should be here till late fixing that server” when in fact I was doing it remotely at home.  Not to mention that we was awaiting a specific part to be delivered that I physically couldn’t jump in a car and collect.  The sad truth is no one pulled that teacher aside to correct her.  In fact only in recent years have staff been pulled aside to be corrected minus one incident from a particular Assistant Head Teacher – who I had to report to a Deputy Head.

Fact is they are allowed to get away with it.  Just like how some Head Teachers will not blame Teachers for lack of grades or poor Ofsted inspections.  I’m a head of IT and I tell you now I am responsible if IT fails on a daily basis.  If it’s out of my power I am not afraid to say it nor am I afraid to say – “Sorry our mistake”.  Teachers seem to struggle a grasp of their own responsibility.

You look at Twitter, I had tweeted this heavily in 24 hours but I have to say.. not one single response.. not one.  It’s strange I can tweet about a piece of IT no matter how small I get a few responses, likes and retweets.  This time around I’ve published this incident several times and not one response.  Another issue – denial.  No one is willing to say anything and are sheer hush hush.

Luckily enough after a few days I got responses of support and I praise you.  I praise you for retweeting it and standing up for what's right.  YOU deserve a pat on the back for not only being a decent person but being a decent worker in education.

The sad truth is a lot of ex-students/young people join IT and are not brave enough to stand up for their rights.  They don’t join a union, don’t log and record everything.  It’s really sad that they have to be given this kind of advice by outside people.  Again the ‘teachers’ are quiet even on the EduGeek forum.  Some over the years have had to state they try hard to resolve these issues – but do you try hard enough? Frankly I don’t think so.  Some would claim there’s always something the IT person can do…..  There's also a lack of support at times and training for those young people.  Working in education can be a mouthful where you are expected to be a professional all day every day when you're a fresher.  You've only just finished education and here you are on the other side - a staff member.  If you are young working in English or Maths you instantly are surrounded by people who want to best in your department.  You have 10 people supporting you and those above understand exactly what you do.  Let's face it - no one outside of IT Support fully understand what we do.  So again IT end up with little pats on the back.

These teacher unions who claim to be fighting for the future of our country are very quick to protest against the government on how underappreciated they are.  How low their income is and the lack of respect from everyone outside of education.  Funny how that entire statement can be thrown back in those teacher faces with nothing done about it.  No repercussions.  Ask your self this question:  How many teachers have been disciplined as result of unprofessional conduct towards support staff?  Compared to the other way around.

I’ve stated this before that teachers need people like us on their side, we are parents, tax payers and voters.  We are every day people who need to give you teachers our backing.  You do have difficult jobs but again you’re digging your own holes without any care.

If you’re a teacher reading this; I do apologise on how harsh some of this comes over.  I’ve often fallen out with IT staff who are disrespectful towards teachers or think they are equal to Deputy Head’s– which I find utterly ridiculous.  Remember we are support staff; rightly so we’re not as important compared to teachers but we are professionals, we are here to serve a purpose and do a job.  If IT fails you will be the first and last ones to complain even when things are working you will question what we do daily until things go pear shaped.  You are under pressure like us to perform crucial daily routines.  Yours will be getting kids through an education and ours will be allowing you to perform that job without problems.  It absolutely sickens me that when I left School I had an impression of teachers that I didn’t think would ever change.  I highly respected them for being so patient for us children that no matter what; they would teach us, they would push us forward for our benefit.   

Sadly that impression fast vanished when I started working in education with teachers.  I even worked with a few some years later and their attitude was quite different – they had to work with me.  When my job changed to support staff that respect fast disappeared and the poor attitude came out.  I remember joining a job and sat down while a handful of staff tore in to IT Support.  Even though they spent all day every day fire fighting and doing tasks that they shouldn't have been doing (at the request of teachers and SLT) they were being criticised heavily.  The IT system it self was failing, old and slow.  There was no budget being provided (at a time when Schools had plenty to spend) so we had no time, no money and under staff yet it was their fault.

If you expect students to respect you, everyone should expect you to do the same to other adults.  Some of us choose to stay in education instead of going off to high salary jobs in business.  I’ve been offered a high salary but I enjoy my position and my happiness at times is more important than a salary.  The real sad part of this story is that I can completely relate to it.  I’ve often been sworn at (yes F words) because things didn’t work.  Was I responsible at the time for the budget? No, Was I responsible for the decisions to let qualified IT staff go? No.  Instead I was a technician with a job description of day to day simple tasks.  Similar to a teaching assistant who is not responsible for lesson planning or marking.

To be fair I don’t see anything changing.  Just like how the Government treats teachers and education.  That you can always do better, do more and do it with less money.

Treat others on how you expect to be treated.  The first time I heard that was from my grandfather not long before he passed away and the second person to tell it to me was a teacher.

Education > Behavior and Uniform

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It’s simpler and easier to respond to this site using my blog – it’s basic but works.

http://theqstn.com/questions/193673/do-strict-school-regimes-produce-a-conformist-mindset-in-their-students

I have to say I’ve witnessed quite a bit misconception in regards to Education.  And without sounding too offensive it seems from those who work at Universities or in the private education sector.  This is also a part of the reason why the Government insists every child can succeed regardless of personal, physical or mental issues.

Take the discussion regarding uniform which apparently has no impact on behaviour which in turn doesn’t help teaching and learning.  Considering private Schools and even Outstanding ones in the Country all heavily enforce both quite heavily – how can anyone come to this conclusion?

There’s a heavy comparison between the UK and Asia, great example for some of the best Schools in the world.  And strangely enough just like the above – they heavily enforce uniform and behaviour.  The only difference is how often they need to enforce them.  I’ve been lucky enough to visit one School in China and I was simply amazed at what I witnessed.  The teacher was given the utmost respect and there wasn’t even a cheeky smile or look from a Student.  There was the constant fear of the teacher and fear of missing one piece of teaching material.  This is because every child understood that if they failed in School they failed at life.  This fear is actually occurring in many Students who attend Universities and again in Outstanding Schools.  I’ve been to quite  few of them and have family members that do/have attended those Outstanding Schools.  There’s tougher pressure to do well in the entrance exams even after performing well in primary.  It’s the Schools people want their children to attend.

Spot the difference?  Mentality.

In the UK we’ve got a culture problem.  Parents immediately will jump to defend their child instead of believing the teacher.  The teacher will also spend time looking at “new” innovative ideas on teaching instead of focusing what those Asian Schools do – Teach.  They don’t worry about fancy devices or a #Bett2017 show to find new software.  They don’t try and aim for the promotion or pay rises that go along with teaching instead they - Teach.

I’ve seen more ambition come through the ranks of education in the last 5 years compared to the almost previous 15 years in Schools.  Everyone wants to be on the high salary as quickly as possible.  To show the SLT and Governors what they can do for teaching instead of doing what they are paid to do – Teach.

I’m not an evidence man, I never have been even though I’m forced in to it daily.  I prefer real experience.  You can gain evidence on life but there is no comparison to real experiences.  You only have to look at all the articles about education.  They show no real experience of dealing with behaviour in Schools or uniform.  Uniform alone shows a professional level that many of us spend time sorting out every day.  I turn up to work looking professional, not because I have to but simply due to the fact that it’s personal pride.  I want to look fit for work and fit for my duties.

Homework alone is another prime example, we’re trying to squeeze every ounce of education in to our kids heads even though they are still young.  They don’t truly grasp how serious their educational life is.  If they fail, they can resort to benefits which I’ve covered in other articles.  This is the sad truth about our youngsters.  They know there is a plan B option for them if they fail.

When you look at other Schools doing well they enforce the rules much more heavily than those struggling.  They enforce them through consistent messages from all staff not just a few in SLT.  The punishments are heavy and the parents are instantly involved.  Those Schools it becomes an expectancy so when you visit them you get to see behaved and well-dressed students that understand why they are in School.  It takes 10 seconds first thing in the class for a tutor to spot the uniform and instantly report it.