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Barry Smith
88.2K posts
Barry Smith
@BarryNSmith79
100% this. We’re not helping teens by catastrophising/panicking/giving kids a sense of being ‘special’ by medicalising normal emotions.- I'm sorry, but ADHD has become a scam that is wildly overdiagnosed and an excuse for poor behaviour | The Standard
- How about more parents: take internet away; have evening & morning routines that support 8 hrs sleep/completion of hw/reading/breakfast/punctuality/correct & clean uniform/courtesy & obedience. All of these would help schools to help children.Parents want more qualified teachers in classrooms Parents want to know what their child is being taught Parents want free breakfast clubs Parents want cheaper uniforms Parents want stronger safeguards Labour is on the side of parents. The Tories & Reform aren't.
00:00 - Just visited Michaela.1st time since July 2017. I kept crying! It’s just beautiful. Beautiful! I work with so many schools. I see low standards, I hear excuses. Complicated systems. Staff frazzled. Kids rude. Michaela? Simplicity, clarity of vision, certainty, calm. Beautiful.
- A lot is said about schools adapting to suit individual children. What about individual children adapting to suit schools? Isn’t that what we all do in society? We adapt. Life teaches us the need/utility of adapting. Sometimes adapting takes a lot of practice over time.
- Schools give huge amounts of time to these pupils & parents very little positive impact. Same kids arrive late every day, wander corridors all day, habitually aggressive, refuse to cooperate. Same parents make unreasonable demands & undermine school. Heads allow this for years.It's accepted that the worst-behaved children and the most selfish and incapable parents soak up a huge proportion of schools' time and resources. However, nobody ever really analyses how much worse this makes school for the average child.
- Schools too often pander to parents. Give parents far too much time. Simply isn’t feasible. Families claim their children are ‘special’ and blameless over & over. Schools don’t tell parents directly that their parenting is part of the issue. Appeasement.
- What makes a great teacher? Remember it’s a job. Part of your life. Just part. Your subject is just one subject amongst many. Your pupils’ gcse results probably mean more to you than the kids & their parents. Don’t build your sense of sense worth upon the approval of others.
- I can’t wrap my head around attacks on Michaela’s ethnic mix. It’s a school in Wembley. That’s what Wembley looks like. The school, in every other aspect, is utterly exceptional. People may have thoughts on immigration but attacking a school? And a phenomenally successful?Because what I argue for re kids is considered controversial. And I run an excellent school. I would invite you but I suspect all the brown and black skin will horrify you.
- He’s right. And if you’re thinking ‘But Ofsted…’ Forget them! Focus on impact in school. U can’t 2nd guess inspectors. Don’t even try! Circle of influence & ONLY Circle of influence.
- Huge issue. Often danger that ‘pastoral’ team believe they have a ‘special bond’ with the most difficult pupils. ‘Pastoral’ tend to advocate for pupils against staff. Don’t ask enough of pupils. Lots of pandering. Undermines adult authority.
