Underneath are two separate examples. One is about work experience and the other is about the poor hygiene standards in a large percentage of our schools. Ofsted only inspects the learning aspects and not the whole school. I believe buildings and hygiene should be part of there inspection in order to ensure high standards and well maintained buildings.
I respect the teaching profession immensely and agree it can be a difficult career. However, I feel education has lost its way, driven by targets and money. Please read with an open mind and start to question what your schools provide for your child. Education should be the whole package, learning, respect, dignity, a caring environment and not forgetting one of the most important things building confidence.
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Work Experience is supposed to promote self confidence! Not so in this case.
Below is a response back to the work experience co-ordinator from the parents of a year 10(15 year old) student who had their first work experience in July this year. It was undertaken at a Primary School and highlights what surely is poor practice. Any thoughts and opinions welcomed.
StudentX completed his work experience at SchoolX on the 1st July and was quite upset with the comments made by the class teacher on his report. In it is she states that StudentX was uncomfortable around children and that his conduct was poor.
Please click on image/Doc above to enlarge
When StudentX arrived home on the Monday he was extremely upset with an incident that had taken place in the class that day. He reported that during the day the children had a P.E class and that they had been getting changed in the classroom. One of the children called his name and when he turned around one of the female children was completely naked. This behaviour shocked StudentX and he thought that the Teacher would intervene in the situation. He reports that nothing was said to the child at the time and the incident passed without comment to either the child in question or StudentX. It has to be remembered that although on work placement the safety of both children here is paramount and it is the responsibility of the staff present. StudentX reports that a staff member did speak to him some time after the incident about the importance of both his and the child’s safety and not to let the children hug him or be tactile. StudentX mentioned about the little girl getting naked and the member of staff who never introduced herself to StudentX said, “Children do that this day and age!” and laughed it off. This incident impacted on StudentX’s confidence and would have benefited from more discussion and support from members of staff. We discussed the incident with StudentX at home and tried to boost his confidence by telling him to talk to the staff if he felt uncomfortable. He then reported that he saw some members of staff and work experience students hugging the children and was totally confused at this stage.
The rest of the week passed without further incident we thought as StudentX did not say what was happening however, StudentX reports now that staff did not involve him in their conversations and never asked him how he felt the week was going or if he had any concerns. On the last day he was not asked to be involved in the carnival that they had been working on all week and was told to sit with the parents. The rest of the students doing work experience was asked to join in with the class and actively participated in the show. This again impacted on StudentX confidence and he felt shut out and very isolated.
StudentX was not involved in any discussion with the teacher when they completed the employers report and was very upset with the comments made. Work experience is designed to involve the student and boost their confidence. In this instance it did neither. I can understand how StudentX can sometimes seem uncomfortable however, at fifteen a lot of adolescents can be self conscious. I do not feel the comments made in the report reflect StudentX’s character. I am at a loss to understand how they can report his conduct was poor as I am sure anyone who knows StudentX will know they are always polite and good mannered. I also do not understand how the class teacher can write the employers report without doing it jointly with the student in order to evaluate how the student has found the placement.
On reading the report the comments made are not written as constructive criticism and do nothing to find anything positive about the placement. It has to be remembered that this is written by a professional and therefore they should have the necessary skills to do this properly.
I wanted to bring this to you attention as work experience is all about building confidence in our children who are soon to be entering the world of work. I feel if StudentX had been spoken to by members of staff or at least involved in evaluating the week through discussion when completing the employers report then he would have had some benefit.
StudentX successfully completed another work experience within another Primary School where he was encouraged to develop his confidence within a supported environment . However, the first work experience was never addressed with the school in question and the complaint was not upheld by the work experience co-ordinator due to what may have been 'educational or school solidarity'?
StudentX completed his work experience at SchoolX on the 1st July and was quite upset with the comments made by the class teacher on his report. In it is she states that StudentX was uncomfortable around children and that his conduct was poor.
Please click on image/Doc above to enlarge
When StudentX arrived home on the Monday he was extremely upset with an incident that had taken place in the class that day. He reported that during the day the children had a P.E class and that they had been getting changed in the classroom. One of the children called his name and when he turned around one of the female children was completely naked. This behaviour shocked StudentX and he thought that the Teacher would intervene in the situation. He reports that nothing was said to the child at the time and the incident passed without comment to either the child in question or StudentX. It has to be remembered that although on work placement the safety of both children here is paramount and it is the responsibility of the staff present. StudentX reports that a staff member did speak to him some time after the incident about the importance of both his and the child’s safety and not to let the children hug him or be tactile. StudentX mentioned about the little girl getting naked and the member of staff who never introduced herself to StudentX said, “Children do that this day and age!” and laughed it off. This incident impacted on StudentX’s confidence and would have benefited from more discussion and support from members of staff. We discussed the incident with StudentX at home and tried to boost his confidence by telling him to talk to the staff if he felt uncomfortable. He then reported that he saw some members of staff and work experience students hugging the children and was totally confused at this stage.
The rest of the week passed without further incident we thought as StudentX did not say what was happening however, StudentX reports now that staff did not involve him in their conversations and never asked him how he felt the week was going or if he had any concerns. On the last day he was not asked to be involved in the carnival that they had been working on all week and was told to sit with the parents. The rest of the students doing work experience was asked to join in with the class and actively participated in the show. This again impacted on StudentX confidence and he felt shut out and very isolated.
StudentX was not involved in any discussion with the teacher when they completed the employers report and was very upset with the comments made. Work experience is designed to involve the student and boost their confidence. In this instance it did neither. I can understand how StudentX can sometimes seem uncomfortable however, at fifteen a lot of adolescents can be self conscious. I do not feel the comments made in the report reflect StudentX’s character. I am at a loss to understand how they can report his conduct was poor as I am sure anyone who knows StudentX will know they are always polite and good mannered. I also do not understand how the class teacher can write the employers report without doing it jointly with the student in order to evaluate how the student has found the placement.
On reading the report the comments made are not written as constructive criticism and do nothing to find anything positive about the placement. It has to be remembered that this is written by a professional and therefore they should have the necessary skills to do this properly.
I wanted to bring this to you attention as work experience is all about building confidence in our children who are soon to be entering the world of work. I feel if StudentX had been spoken to by members of staff or at least involved in evaluating the week through discussion when completing the employers report then he would have had some benefit.
StudentX successfully completed another work experience within another Primary School where he was encouraged to develop his confidence within a supported environment . However, the first work experience was never addressed with the school in question and the complaint was not upheld by the work experience co-ordinator due to what may have been 'educational or school solidarity'?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)