The demand for results determines teachers ability to progress and get pay awards. I had a Deputy Head produce statistics that appeared to ‘prove’ that attainment at 16/18 correlated with achievement in SATs at 14, numbskull! Ice cream sales correlate with skin cancer! The physiology and phsychology (spelling?) of children in their teens is not constant or reliable. This is ever more apparamt as social media impinges on their lives to the detriment of human contact.
Love takes time – teachers no longer have time. Each is driven by their own results and league tables. 30-60 minute lessons with a detailed structure and demands for plenaries, starters, an whatever the latest trends are. I have 2 instances of which I am proud, and not embarrassed. Firstly on a Friday afternoon at the end of the summer term a Year 9 class would not settle, as they would not listen I went and laid down by the classroom door – when the kids asked what I was doing, they were astonished when I told them that as I was being treated like a doormat, I might as well look like one! They apologised and the lesson was ok! Second, in a similar situation I decided to get under the desk and sort of hide! Well the kids just came and sat down with me and we chatted – no idea what about! But the kids saw me as a human being and not as an enforcer or solely provider of knowledge. My results as per the league tables were OK – not stunning, nor a reason for concern. What my actions showed was that I cared about them as individuals, how many teachers today can say the same? I also remember another Period 5 year 9 lesson when I handed out a few of the red scissors and told them to cut my hair! It was long and I have never given a fuck for the smooth smart image! It was about trust and again they did not scalp me – I am not sure I would have met lesson objectives analysis!
I am 100% certain that my way was not a role model – but I have heard too many teachers express a dislike for many children – it is like they are an obstacle on the way for the teachers wage slip! Being wishy-washy is not an answer either – I like to think that I generally got it right! Not always, I was no good at learning names, and several/many children sat in my lessons and probably learned fuck all! I apologise to them.
For sure I had difficult classes, especially as I got neared retirement and 15 year olds saw me as prey! But their behaviour was calculated with an arrogance, not desperation. Their behaviour was rude rather than disruptive or in-your-face challenging. Certainly not expulsion worthy. In fact I never initiated an expulsion – But then Churchill was comfortably middle class rural. Portslade where I started teaching was different. A happy valley type of new estates with aspiring middle classes of tradespeople. It had its moments with a fight one night after school with 2 other local scools on a golf course where staves and crow bars were confiscated. But my memories are of children who just needed nurturing!
So back to the start – education needs to get the love back – but I fear that Labour will kowtow to the league tables and the reduction of education to measurable indices.