ICR

Whilst I agree there needs to be some reorganisation of the school year - I think the 6 week summer break should be kept. **bearing in mind I teach younger children. Chilren do take a small backward step over the summer break but this is usually recovered within a couple of weeks and I personally dont feel it has any lasting affect. Children need time to be children!!! hammering teaching and lessons into them for longer without breaks will not improve progress. However Easter does cause disruption to the school year, when like this year, it falls very early. Some standard in the length of terms is needed - but a longer summer break should be kept - let kids get out in fresh air in summer - climb some trees - build some dens ....... or am I dreaming again???

Of course you are entitled to your opinion. And as everyone has been to school everyone seems to have strong opinions about schools and teachers. But if teaching is so cushy, if it is over paid for 6 hours a say, 38 weeks a year? Why do we have a desperate shortage of teachers??? Why aren't you a teacher? At the risk of repeating myself .... I agree I am well paid but I earn every penny! but, to be perfectly honest, with my qualifications I could get a much better paid job. Next week is half term, of the 4 days 'holiday' (1 is a bank holiday) I shall be in school for 2 days. I also have a box of paperwork and 'stuff' to do at home that will fill another day. I have so far this week, in 4 days, been IN school for 43 hours .... add another 9 for today. but I chose to work hard. I will agree that, unfortunately, there are some teachers out there who are doing it for the 'holidays'. There are some teachers out there that are not doing the children in their care justice. But this happens in all professions, there are some nurses out their not puling their weight, their are skiving doctors etc - human nature.

well I would have thought a "faith" school was one based on a religious faith?? like the many Church of England schools, catholic schools, Jewish schools and increasing number of Muslim schools If they are within the state sector then they are legally required to cover the national curriculum. If they are fee paying, private schools then they are not. Perhaps the school featured was private? If not then a quick call to OFSTED would sort the issue. IMO my school does not teach bollocks - and in the opinion of the parents that choose to send their children to us. Freedom of choice to have opinions and to believe in whatever we chose ....... take all the faith schools away and you take away the choice of those parents. Did we??? Labelled at 11 by an arbitary 11+ exam (which was skewed to allow only the number of passes that had grammar school places) Written off at 11 if you failed - allowed to complete secondary education and not be expected to take any exams - not expected to achieve anything?? Our education system may be far from perfect but IMO is hugely improved from the 60s / 70s.

oops not falling for the mediyah are we?? I mean nice rounded schools wouldn't make a 'good' documentary now do they?? I teach in a 'faith' school and am quite frankly insulted that anyone would think we don't offer children a rounded education. We have children from a number of different faiths and all are studied and respected. The 'Faith' aspect of schools covers mainly the ethos of a school rather than the whole curriculum. Faith schools have the same legal requirements to teach the whole curriculum (unlike private schools) Faith school still need to have qualified teachers (unlike private schools) and to be honest, if the government had to fund all these schools fully, buy the land from the church, pay for all the things the church does then we would be in a bit of a mess!

you are all just jealous of his hair <_<

1 hour 10 mins - hopeless!!! can only get better :cheer:

Is there a thread on this board where Margaret Thatcher doesn't get the blame for something???? :rofl: only 31,000 - herded into small start zones and and forced to do aerobics next to Sponge Bob square pants!!!

I saw me on telly ........ not a pretty sight!!!! Am hoping to improve time next Sunday - this time running 10km round Manchester City's stadium :rofl:

100,000+ people in centre of Manchester today - and non of them felt the need to smash the place up, or kick $h!t out of each other or the police. BBC2 later this afternoon if you want to witness how civilised people treat a city!!! Manchester Council etc have come in for a lot of criticism this week - but today - only 4 days on - Manchester seemed to cope ok. funny that. Booze and brainless football fans = trouble

finished :yahoo: oh I was doing Great MAnchester Run ...... no official time yet - but was VERY hot.

hello all xxxxx

BOO!!!! :cheer: -_- :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

ahem ...... as someone who has sat through a Daniel 'gig' I feel your tone lacks the respect this lovely man deserves :nono:

what on earth are you talking about??? I AM TALKING ABOUT WEDNESDAY NOT THE f***ING 80'S!!!!!! Are you suggesting these drunken thugs were imposing some deep and meaningful statement of past police brutality??? NO - they were kicking the $h!t out of a man who was trying to protect his city and do his job. And are you suggesting police 'crimes' during the miner's strike have ANYTHING to do with wednesday night?? Are you suggesting that the police should have stood back and allowed the destruction of the city centre??? Let them take their anger out on a city only just rebuilt, then got back on their coaches and left us to clean up??? oh and if you actually popped off your high horse for long enough you would have realised by the use of the words "human being" that I probably don't argee brutality, from whichever "institution"

A someone who was indavertantly trapped in the middle of this - I would personally like to thank the police who got me and my mother out of there, albeit at 1am!! The 15,000 ballet fans in the MEN managed to behave - shame about the football fans. How DARE anyone suggest that it is ok for a bunch of animals to surround ANY human being and kick them like a ball!!!!! How DARE anyone defend any of the ANIMALS that turned this city into a public toilet and caused untold damage!!!

Good luck with that - my PGCE year was the hardest of my life - not an easy way to qualify as a teacher but worth it in the end. Last comment on this - to the person who commented on the average teacher's wage - that sum will not be for a recently qualified teacher - but for one who has reached the top of the pay scale and then taken on extra responsibilities and as ongoing evidence of working at a higher level. (or working in London where the streets are paved with gold) BUT I have a degree. I have a Post Graduate Certificate in Education I have an advanced diploma in Maths Education. I have a Masters Degree in Education I am currently studying and researching with UCLAN into Child Internet Safety (god wouldn't JBT have loved that :rofl:) I work on an average week 7.30am to 5.30pm - although Govenor meeting / management meeting often extend this. I have many years teaching experience, you name it I have dealt with it. oh and I happen to be bloody good at my job Why the hell should I not earn a decent wage??? "A teacher takes the child by the hand - and the parent by the heart"

Well said! After an hours meeting last night I mentioned to my head teacher how nice it would be if I was actually allowed to close my classroom door and actually teach the children Teaching has changed radically in the last 10 years, I became a teacher because I want to teach children, I am rarely afforded that luxury. I tick boxes, jump through hoops and provide paperwork that would make your eyes water - paperwork that does not add anything to a child's education.

Yes teachers arrive at schol at 9am, where the magic faireis have planned lessons, found resources, and laid the classroom out. They then drink coffe and go home at 3.30 while those magic fairies mark work, attend meetings, look after the children who feckless parent scan't be bothered get to shcool on time to collect!!! Excuse my sarcasm :rolleyes: If teachers have such an easy life, if it is all sooooooo easy why is there a desperate shortage of teachers??? As I have stated before I consider myself well paid and yes I do have good holidays. I also work BLOODY hard. this week I have arrived home at 8pm on Monday dues to meetings and 2 nights this week have been sat completing paperwork until gone 10pm! but the strike.... All workers have the right to strike. All workers have the right to express an opinion. This strike was not about "4%" It was the imposed nature of the pay settlement - no negotiation - and set for 3 years. Yes 4% may only be slightly below inflation, this year may not be a huge issues - but in 3 years?? Who knows what inflation will be then? Gordon Brown stated that this pay rise was the result of an independent review ...... well the MPs had one of them too but they chose to ignore it! For the record I did not strike.

tummy bug :drama: I almost threw up on a small child - would have been revenge for the 700 times small children have thrown up on me :rofl: but the good new is I should have lost some weight :yahoo:

Hi stranger - I am not well :drama: HAve been off work sick - not eaten for 2 days :( How are you ;)

hi Big :cheer: and Sparkle :cheer:

close but would have to be Escapology :yahoo:

Did someone say bum? :unsure:

Good morning - I am going back to bed :drama:

aww bless you innocent, Angelic little heart :wub: the quiz isn't the internet - it is my drug of choice :w00t: How are you all? Have had SS on in the car this week - there have been some rousing renditions of Laura on the way to work :kink: