pacifiers and realists

Been having more thoughts about school/home education stuff (long ramble ahead!). Should point out in advance that most of what’s to come does not apply to the Waldorf school my kids attended. It had it’s faults but the teachers did tend to put the children first. Most of them thought very deeply (and sometimes rather unusually) about how their actions would affect the children. I regularly receive emails from caring parents whose children are being put through a variety of completely unacceptable experiences in schools. They tell me how they feel and I remember feeling that way: I couldn’t manage home ed., I’m not capable of that, and what about socialisation? For me working in schools put paid to most of my concerns. The education on offer was not of a high quality, not structured to the individual at all – how can it be? Score 1 HE. The peer segregated social world of school is not consistent with the real world at all – anyone who expresses unhappiness with bullying/aggression/rudeness/general abusive behaviour is told to get used to it/you attract this/that’s life. These are children, sometimes very small children. As adults do we think it’s right to accept abuse in our lives? My husband beats me – accept it, get used to it. My employer sexually harrasses me – that’s life/you attract it. Seems shocking doesn’t it? So why has it become the norm for kids in this country to be spoken down to like this? Is it any wonder the younger generation is so angry and disrespectful of authority? Oh yes, score 2 HE – a wide variety of social experiences with people of all ages and types – you don’t have to accept abuse.

On a side note I have a little theory about state school teachers: they can be classified into one of two categories. The Realist (very rare) and the Pacifier (commonly spotted in the staffroom eating cake while deliberately turning their back on the window through which you can see one child repeatedly punching another – I’ve actually witnessed this). To survive within the system most will eventually become the latter. These are the teachers who tell you that everything is wonderful, no of course little Johnny has no problems and is making great progress, when the facts are that little J. is severely dyslexic and can’t read due to no appropriate support being available, is being emotionally tormented every lunchtime and has started to become aggressive himself to survive (every state school has lots of Little Js). The realists are never popular with parents or fellow teachers. They tell you your child has bullied other children and seems insecure, they complain to higher office to get the kids needs met, they suffer from stress and anxiety and often leave the profession or go over to the private sector. Realists are generally straight speaking people who won’t bitch about you behind your back. Pacifiers on the other hand finish telling Little Js parents how great he is then enter the staffroom to bemoan the misfortune of having him in their class.

being put in my place - Scotland st. School Museum, Glasgow

Another note on how unimportant the children are in state school (yeah I’m on a roll of indignation). I’ve recently read through two inspection reports of schools in our LEA. One my children attended, had a glowing report. I have to admit it is true – relatively speaking of course. That particular school has less bullying than most and is better academically too – it was one of the factors in us choosing to move to this village. People take their children out of surrounding schools and put them to this one. The other I read was not such a glowing report, lots of problems picked up. Interestingly the LEA have written up a lovely little report of congratulation on their website to the first and not mentioned the second. However both have one thing in common. Teachers, parents and pupils were given out questionnaires by the inspectors in which they could write any concerns they had. In both schools the teachers had no concerns, parents only seemed to have trivial ones about fences and such, but the children had serious concerns. They wanted to see more done about the bullying and the bad behaviour of other children. This was given no credence by the inspectors in their recommendations. So what can we conclude? Teachers don’t care (or don’t dare say), parents don’t know (or don’t want to) and children are ignored.

I’ll finish with this little quote from Albus Dumbledore (yes DVD arrived this morning – we watched it, kids are now playing with the extra feature games – very educational, learning about being brave and doing what’s right):

“Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.”

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