Comments on: Are half of us rubbish? http://www.mrstucke.com/2008/09/20/are-half-of-us-rubbish/ Musings on Maths, education, teaching and technology. Thu, 26 Aug 2010 01:18:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Rob Butler http://www.mrstucke.com/2008/09/20/are-half-of-us-rubbish/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Rob Butler Sun, 21 Sep 2008 07:25:28 +0000 http://themasterplan.edublogs.org/?p=42#comment-39 I think we all agree that there has been too much political interference in the education sector - just look at the number of new initiatives and strategies since the national curriculum came in 20 years ago. With the introduction of league tables and CVA scores, schools are 'named and shamed' if their pupils don't do well, so who is to blame them from teaching to the test. What we need is a change in emphasis from the top. I'm in a fortunate position and have a view point that many teachers do not. I spend a day a week working in other schools around the authority, and it gives me a snap shot of local schools and teachers. I tend to get sent to weaker schools, but not always. Within my own subject I see teachers that struggle with lesson delivery for a variety of reasons. I've seen lessons from established teachers that I would grade unsatisfactory (I've even delivered some of them myself!). I wouldn't agree with a report that suggests 50% of teaching in any subject is unsatisfactory but I'd suggest the figure is higher than most people realise! (or maybe I just have high standards) I think we all agree that there has been too much political interference in the education sector – just look at the number of new initiatives and strategies since the national curriculum came in 20 years ago. With the introduction of league tables and CVA scores, schools are ‘named and shamed’ if their pupils don’t do well, so who is to blame them from teaching to the test. What we need is a change in emphasis from the top.

I’m in a fortunate position and have a view point that many teachers do not. I spend a day a week working in other schools around the authority, and it gives me a snap shot of local schools and teachers. I tend to get sent to weaker schools, but not always. Within my own subject I see teachers that struggle with lesson delivery for a variety of reasons. I’ve seen lessons from established teachers that I would grade unsatisfactory (I’ve even delivered some of them myself!).

I wouldn’t agree with a report that suggests 50% of teaching in any subject is unsatisfactory but I’d suggest the figure is higher than most people realise! (or maybe I just have high standards)

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://www.mrstucke.com/2008/09/20/are-half-of-us-rubbish/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Doug Belshaw Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:42:39 +0000 http://themasterplan.edublogs.org/?p=42#comment-38 Well exactly. At one point they were championing the number of lessons that were satisfactory, now they're saying that 40% are 'merely' satisfactory. It's all politics. Which is why I don't think politicians should be in charge of education. Well exactly. At one point they were championing the number of lessons that were satisfactory, now they’re saying that 40% are ‘merely’ satisfactory.

It’s all politics. Which is why I don’t think politicians should be in charge of education.

]]> By: mrstucke http://www.mrstucke.com/2008/09/20/are-half-of-us-rubbish/comment-page-1/#comment-37 mrstucke Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:20:04 +0000 http://themasterplan.edublogs.org/?p=42#comment-37 Thanks Doug, in reply: 1. It's a fair point ;) Ourselves and English are, for the time being at least, flavour of the month. We all know the reason for this at present. I think it's a shame so much emphasis (and lets be honest, funding) is placed on us at present to the detriment of other subjects. 2. Let's hope so! I think it's interesting also that the 40% of lessons deemed 'satisfactory' are in fact being classified as not good enough. Another way to look at the statistics would be to say that despite the chronic shortages in many areas only 5% of teaching has been deemed 'unsatisfactory'. Perhaps Ofsted need a new word to describe that calibre of lessons?! Lies, damned lies and statistics :) Thanks Doug, in reply:

1. It’s a fair point ;) Ourselves and English are, for the time being at least, flavour of the month. We all know the reason for this at present. I think it’s a shame so much emphasis (and lets be honest, funding) is placed on us at present to the detriment of other subjects.

2. Let’s hope so!

I think it’s interesting also that the 40% of lessons deemed ‘satisfactory’ are in fact being classified as not good enough. Another way to look at the statistics would be to say that despite the chronic shortages in many areas only 5% of teaching has been deemed ‘unsatisfactory’. Perhaps Ofsted need a new word to describe that calibre of lessons?! Lies, damned lies and statistics :)

]]> By: Doug Belshaw http://www.mrstucke.com/2008/09/20/are-half-of-us-rubbish/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Doug Belshaw Sat, 20 Sep 2008 11:04:12 +0000 http://themasterplan.edublogs.org/?p=42#comment-36 Dan, no subject specialist wants to hear that someone or some regulatory body deems unsatisfactory half of the teaching that goes on within that subject. But, two thoughts: 1. Maths is a shortage subject. In my experience, those teachers in shortage, core subjects have very different attitudes than others. You can get away with a lot more if you're vital to an organisation. ;-) 2, If this 'shot across the bows' leads to less emphasis on high-stakes testing and teaching towards those tests, so much the better! Just my $0.02... :-D Dan, no subject specialist wants to hear that someone or some regulatory body deems unsatisfactory half of the teaching that goes on within that subject.

But, two thoughts:
1. Maths is a shortage subject. In my experience, those teachers in shortage, core subjects have very different attitudes than others. You can get away with a lot more if you’re vital to an organisation. ;-)

2, If this ‘shot across the bows’ leads to less emphasis on high-stakes testing and teaching towards those tests, so much the better!

Just my $0.02… :-D

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