Pupils given detention because parents can't afford.....
Discussion
bhstewie said:
I think that's a wind-upI'm surprised, this sounds exactly the sort of school the stereotypical PH'er would send their kids to.
I read an article earlier that said the ethos of the school is basically "These are our rules, don't send your children here if you won't support us" which reminded me of that cartoon that sometimes gets posted here when referring to 'promising young footballers' where in the past the parents would be shouting at their kid for misbehaving or performing poorly but in the present they'd be shouting at the teacher instead.
I read an article earlier that said the ethos of the school is basically "These are our rules, don't send your children here if you won't support us" which reminded me of that cartoon that sometimes gets posted here when referring to 'promising young footballers' where in the past the parents would be shouting at their kid for misbehaving or performing poorly but in the present they'd be shouting at the teacher instead.
raftom said:
bhstewie said:
Good grief!educational sociopath said:
As a teacher you have to care enough to be tough with kids. You have to care enough not to indulge their bad habits. You have to care enough not to collude with society’s permissive values, the broader excuse culture which, my take, blights lives. Zero tolerance discipline is caring enough not to collude with or give way to parents whose values aren’t in line with the school’s.
You send your child to Michaela and he’s going to receive a superb education, in silent classrooms, where kids sit up straight, arms folded, no pen fiddling, no doodling, no gazing out the window or whispering to your mates on the sly.
You send your kid to Michaela and he’s going to be safe in the yard, the corridors, toilets, on the stairs, in the changing rooms, at the bus stop.
You send your kid to Michaela and he can be clever, hard-working, keen, put his hand up every lesson all lesson, use long words, express his ideas articulately and at length, talk about which university he’d like to go to – all of that – without any fear of being mocked or called gay.
You send your daughter to Michaela she won’t be sexually harassed by male pupils. Corridors and lesson change overs are silent. Pupils walk in single file. Your daughter will be completely jewellery and make-up free.
You send your son or daughter to Michaela and you don’t have to worry that they’ll dread lunchtime because they’re friendless. Every child sits according to the seating plan teachers have designed.
Every lesson, every child has a full pencil case. No excuses.
Every lesson, books are distributed in silence, in seconds.
Every break, 240 kids fall instantly silent when any adult raises their hand.
Every lunch, 240 kids serve one another, clear up after one another, say please and thank you to one another.
There’s no pushing, shoving, name calling, swearing, graffiti, litter, sexual harassment, pressure to be ‘street’, pressure to underperform.
At the end of the school day, there are lots of detentions. At lunch, there are lots of detentions.
You haven’t done your homework, you ‘forgot’ your homework, you ‘forgot’ your pen, you ‘slept in’, you rushed your homework – detention.
You send your kids to Michaela, they’ll learn loads, they’ll feel massively accomplished, they’ll feel safe, they’ll have great relationships with their teachers, they’ll learn to be polite, shake hands firmly, make eye contact, greet new people with pride, have self respect, respect others – they’ll laugh a lot, they’ll have the confidence to be themselves, they won’t need to feign a tough, street, anti academic, aggressive persona – just to survive.
Kids at Michaela work hard and are kind to one another – in every lesson, all day long, every day.
None of that happens by accident. It happens because of our version of zero tolerance.
We give them love. We give them tough love.
You send your child to Michaela and he’s going to receive a superb education, in silent classrooms, where kids sit up straight, arms folded, no pen fiddling, no doodling, no gazing out the window or whispering to your mates on the sly.
You send your kid to Michaela and he’s going to be safe in the yard, the corridors, toilets, on the stairs, in the changing rooms, at the bus stop.
You send your kid to Michaela and he can be clever, hard-working, keen, put his hand up every lesson all lesson, use long words, express his ideas articulately and at length, talk about which university he’d like to go to – all of that – without any fear of being mocked or called gay.
You send your daughter to Michaela she won’t be sexually harassed by male pupils. Corridors and lesson change overs are silent. Pupils walk in single file. Your daughter will be completely jewellery and make-up free.
You send your son or daughter to Michaela and you don’t have to worry that they’ll dread lunchtime because they’re friendless. Every child sits according to the seating plan teachers have designed.
Every lesson, every child has a full pencil case. No excuses.
Every lesson, books are distributed in silence, in seconds.
Every break, 240 kids fall instantly silent when any adult raises their hand.
Every lunch, 240 kids serve one another, clear up after one another, say please and thank you to one another.
There’s no pushing, shoving, name calling, swearing, graffiti, litter, sexual harassment, pressure to be ‘street’, pressure to underperform.
At the end of the school day, there are lots of detentions. At lunch, there are lots of detentions.
You haven’t done your homework, you ‘forgot’ your homework, you ‘forgot’ your pen, you ‘slept in’, you rushed your homework – detention.
You send your kids to Michaela, they’ll learn loads, they’ll feel massively accomplished, they’ll feel safe, they’ll have great relationships with their teachers, they’ll learn to be polite, shake hands firmly, make eye contact, greet new people with pride, have self respect, respect others – they’ll laugh a lot, they’ll have the confidence to be themselves, they won’t need to feign a tough, street, anti academic, aggressive persona – just to survive.
Kids at Michaela work hard and are kind to one another – in every lesson, all day long, every day.
None of that happens by accident. It happens because of our version of zero tolerance.
We give them love. We give them tough love.
"You send your kids to Michaela, they’ll learn loads, they’ll feel massively accomplished, they’ll feel safe, they’ll have great relationships with their teachers, they’ll learn to be polite, shake hands firmly, make eye contact, greet new people with pride, have self respect, respect others – they’ll laugh a lot, they’ll have the confidence to be themselves, they won’t need to feign a tough, street, anti academic, aggressive persona – just to survive."
Both my kids have achieved this without going to "Michaela". They go to one of the most liberal schools in the area, only just adopted uniform after great protest from some parents
Daughter has an unconditional offer for a degree in Architecture, son is on track for A-level maths with engineering and physics. Both at Straight a, a* students. Not bad for a hippy arts school
Education is so much more than academic achievement, its about developing children into young adults. Giving the skills and sense of value to move into adult life.
I suspect "Michaela" students are and aspiration of their parents.
Both my kids have achieved this without going to "Michaela". They go to one of the most liberal schools in the area, only just adopted uniform after great protest from some parents
Daughter has an unconditional offer for a degree in Architecture, son is on track for A-level maths with engineering and physics. Both at Straight a, a* students. Not bad for a hippy arts school
Education is so much more than academic achievement, its about developing children into young adults. Giving the skills and sense of value to move into adult life.
I suspect "Michaela" students are and aspiration of their parents.
raftom said:
educational sociopath said:
....
At the end of the school day, there are lots of detentions. At lunch, there are lots of detentions.
You haven’t done your homework, you ‘forgot’ your homework, you ‘forgot’ your pen, you ‘slept in’, you rushed your homework – detention.
.....
At the end of the school day, there are lots of detentions. At lunch, there are lots of detentions.
You haven’t done your homework, you ‘forgot’ your homework, you ‘forgot’ your pen, you ‘slept in’, you rushed your homework – detention.
.....
Ms Birbalsingh has many admirers, people such as Toby Young and Michael Gove
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/03/i-have-seen-cla...
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/03/i-have-seen-cla...
ian in lancs said:
In my experience, teachers, including lecturers, fall into three categories; the inspired educators with a calling that still I respect and admire and had a life changing influence, the low achievers that wouldn't amount to much in the real word and a host of mediocre academics that drift into education as an easy option. Unfortunately the latter two dominate the education system in the UK and result in bks like this letter. My wife and I have dealings with a couple of prestige universities and a three local colleges - I never cease to be amazed with the petty politics and administrative incompetence that would never be tolerated in business.
I have to say your experience of teachers is different to mine. I've worked as an FD in setting up 2 Academies. The one thing that struck me was how dedicated the teachers were. It's not a role that you go into for money, there were at least 3 people I knew who had given up high-paid jobs in banking and IT to retrain as Teachers. The reason they did it was because they got far more job satisfaction in teaching. they cared about the kids, they wanted to help them get better qualifications and hopefully have more fulfilling lives. Both schools were inner city "failing" schools, kids from single parent families, who were lucky if their parents woke them up, got them changed into school uniform and fed them a decent breakfast before they sent them to school. It's quite a challenging and often scary environment to have to teach in. People (IME) don't "drift" into it because they're low achievers or whatever.Edited by ian in lancs on Saturday 30th July 08:27
stitched said:
I don't have a problem with the ethos of the school. it seemed by its advertisement to be a school I would be sending my children to.
However yoou look at it though punishing a child because another person has infringed the rules is wrong on so many levels.
I think it sounds a ghastly place that is emotionally abusing children.However yoou look at it though punishing a child because another person has infringed the rules is wrong on so many levels.
Not allowing children to talk to their friends and punishing them if they do, dictating who children can sit with at lunchtimes...it is emotional abuse. It will lead to children who grow up unable to relate to other people and handle normal social interactions. It is absolutely criminal to treat defenceless children in this way.
BlackLabel said:
But school meals are free for kids whose parents are on benefits and/or are low paid. Nevertheless this sounds like some kind of bizarre and ott debt collection scheme - humiliating a child because of the actions of their parents is a bit fked up.
How on earth can someone who is clearly incapable of writing a very simple letter in a coherent fashion become a deputy head teacher?Serious question.
AJL308 said:
How on earth can someone who is clearly incapable of writing a very simple letter in a coherent fashion become a deputy head teacher?
Serious question.
Serious answer - they apply, go through the selection process, receive an offer, and accept it! Best of the bunch, probably. Just be grateful you haven't seen a letter written by the unsuccessful applicants Serious question.
desolate said:
1) you still have to pay until the application is approved
2) Fair enough, but reading the website they don't seem the most flexible.
3) not allowed.
"We are a vegetarian school. All pupils attend family lunch daily. There are no exceptions. There are no packed lunches at Michaela. No food or drink is to be brought on to the school site. This includes all sweets, snacks, drinks and chewing gum. The school provides morning and afternoon snacks for all pupils as well as a two course lunch."
Ah. So how on earth can they be £75 in arrears for greens?? 2) Fair enough, but reading the website they don't seem the most flexible.
3) not allowed.
"We are a vegetarian school. All pupils attend family lunch daily. There are no exceptions. There are no packed lunches at Michaela. No food or drink is to be brought on to the school site. This includes all sweets, snacks, drinks and chewing gum. The school provides morning and afternoon snacks for all pupils as well as a two course lunch."
Edited by desolate on Saturday 30th July 01:06
Einion Yrth said:
educational sociopath said:
At the end of the school day, there are lots of detentions. At lunch, there are lots of detentions.
[...]
You send your kids to Michaela, they’ll laugh a lot
When?[...]
You send your kids to Michaela, they’ll laugh a lot
zarjaz1991 said:
It will lead to children who grow up unable to relate to other people and handle normal social interactions.
It's doubtful, especially if their parents spend some time with their own kids. Parents have a far bigger influence on how well or badly their kids turn out. Kids can go to the most expensive private school in the country and turn out to be maladjusted ignoramuses, or the roughest comprehensive and come out with A/A* grades.School isn't the only (or even main) place where you learn how to behave. Although some parents seem to think it is.
bhstewie said:
Well at least the next generation of PH'ers is assured, every cloud and all that.
raftom said:
educational sociopath said:
As a teacher you have to care enough to be tough with kids. You have to care enough not to indulge their bad habits. You have to care enough not to collude with society’s permissive values, the broader excuse culture which, my take, blights lives. Zero tolerance discipline is caring enough not to collude with or give way to parents whose values aren’t in line with the school’s.
You send your child to Michaela and he’s going to receive a superb education, in silent classrooms, where kids sit up straight, arms folded, no pen fiddling, no doodling, no gazing out the window or whispering to your mates on the sly.
You send your kid to Michaela and he’s going to be safe in the yard, the corridors, toilets, on the stairs, in the changing rooms, at the bus stop.
You send your kid to Michaela and he can be clever, hard-working, keen, put his hand up every lesson all lesson, use long words, express his ideas articulately and at length, talk about which university he’d like to go to – all of that – without any fear of being mocked or called gay.
You send your daughter to Michaela she won’t be sexually harassed by male pupils. Corridors and lesson change overs are silent. Pupils walk in single file. Your daughter will be completely jewellery and make-up free.
You send your son or daughter to Michaela and you don’t have to worry that they’ll dread lunchtime because they’re friendless. Every child sits according to the seating plan teachers have designed.
Every lesson, every child has a full pencil case. No excuses.
Every lesson, books are distributed in silence, in seconds.
Every break, 240 kids fall instantly silent when any adult raises their hand.
Every lunch, 240 kids serve one another, clear up after one another, say please and thank you to one another.
There’s no pushing, shoving, name calling, swearing, graffiti, litter, sexual harassment, pressure to be ‘street’, pressure to underperform.
At the end of the school day, there are lots of detentions. At lunch, there are lots of detentions.
You haven’t done your homework, you ‘forgot’ your homework, you ‘forgot’ your pen, you ‘slept in’, you rushed your homework – detention.
You send your kids to Michaela, they’ll learn loads, they’ll feel massively accomplished, they’ll feel safe, they’ll have great relationships with their teachers, they’ll learn to be polite, shake hands firmly, make eye contact, greet new people with pride, have self respect, respect others – they’ll laugh a lot, they’ll have the confidence to be themselves, they won’t need to feign a tough, street, anti academic, aggressive persona – just to survive.
Kids at Michaela work hard and are kind to one another – in every lesson, all day long, every day.
None of that happens by accident. It happens because of our version of zero tolerance.
We give them love. We give them tough love.
You send your child to Michaela and he’s going to receive a superb education, in silent classrooms, where kids sit up straight, arms folded, no pen fiddling, no doodling, no gazing out the window or whispering to your mates on the sly.
You send your kid to Michaela and he’s going to be safe in the yard, the corridors, toilets, on the stairs, in the changing rooms, at the bus stop.
You send your kid to Michaela and he can be clever, hard-working, keen, put his hand up every lesson all lesson, use long words, express his ideas articulately and at length, talk about which university he’d like to go to – all of that – without any fear of being mocked or called gay.
You send your daughter to Michaela she won’t be sexually harassed by male pupils. Corridors and lesson change overs are silent. Pupils walk in single file. Your daughter will be completely jewellery and make-up free.
You send your son or daughter to Michaela and you don’t have to worry that they’ll dread lunchtime because they’re friendless. Every child sits according to the seating plan teachers have designed.
Every lesson, every child has a full pencil case. No excuses.
Every lesson, books are distributed in silence, in seconds.
Every break, 240 kids fall instantly silent when any adult raises their hand.
Every lunch, 240 kids serve one another, clear up after one another, say please and thank you to one another.
There’s no pushing, shoving, name calling, swearing, graffiti, litter, sexual harassment, pressure to be ‘street’, pressure to underperform.
At the end of the school day, there are lots of detentions. At lunch, there are lots of detentions.
You haven’t done your homework, you ‘forgot’ your homework, you ‘forgot’ your pen, you ‘slept in’, you rushed your homework – detention.
You send your kids to Michaela, they’ll learn loads, they’ll feel massively accomplished, they’ll feel safe, they’ll have great relationships with their teachers, they’ll learn to be polite, shake hands firmly, make eye contact, greet new people with pride, have self respect, respect others – they’ll laugh a lot, they’ll have the confidence to be themselves, they won’t need to feign a tough, street, anti academic, aggressive persona – just to survive.
Kids at Michaela work hard and are kind to one another – in every lesson, all day long, every day.
None of that happens by accident. It happens because of our version of zero tolerance.
We give them love. We give them tough love.
So, the focus on study, lack of low level disruption etc. is good. But is their strict discipline the only way to achieve that?
Dunno. Assuming they're not cherry picking pupils, it reads as if they've got more than their fair share of trouble makers. There system obviously works, as the school is being endorsed by parents choosing it (though of course we don't know what alternative capacity is around locally for that age range).
Whilst it might sound pee-boiling read in this context, I wouldn't be happy if a teenage kid of mine was getting held back by the various issues set out in that text.
I don't like the idea of enforcing vegetarianism on kids...but then again, my kids school is enforcing food "standards" on pupils (aka healthy eating), so am I being hypocritical when I support the principle but just not the choice?
Who knows.
My wife tells me the letter is doing the rounds on facebook, so they'll be plenty more gurning to come yet.
Ian
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