Teachers using pupils for "political" ends?

[WasGeri]

The head teacher has said that local people will still use the site EXCEPT for those riding motorbikes & scooters on the field and those letting their dogs shit all over it... is this a problem, or is this just the usual bristol indymedia bullshit transported to Urban 75 ?

This issue has nothing to do with Bristol Indymedia, apart from being mentioned on there.

 

[Batboy]

Sorry, just so I've got this right, people are complaining that they aren't going to be allowed to continue letting their dogs crap on playing fields where children play, given that there is a disease that causes blindness that can be passed on through dog poo, and you think this is a problem... erm, why?

That's a bit of a lightwieght argument...Dogs can also pooh in the streets in their back gardens anywhere else that children have access to. There are laws concerning dog pooh and most dog owners seem to be in the habit these days of picking up the dog shit and disposing of it responsibly.

 

[fat hamster]

The head teacher has said that local people will still use the site EXCEPT for those riding motorbikes & scooters on the field and those letting their dogs shit all over it...

Do you have a source for that, please?

 

[Isambard]

What guidelines are there for teachers to follow, regarding getting pupils to support particular causes / campaigns / viewpoints??

What getting them to say prayers and sing "God Save the Queen" and the like?


@ Jographer, just in case you didn't know it, any transfer of some of the BIM rows onto Urban75 will result in mods dishing out "bans like Smarties".

 

[chilango]

What do you teach?

art.

...and the students at IB level need to have "social" contexts to their work. so its kinda inevitable that politics comes up.

 

[bristol_citizen]

<Looks around... Seems to be all clear???>

Kev, I don't think there' s any specific rules governing this kind of behaviour from teachers in the sense of there being a rule book they should follow.
The thing is they're supposed to be professionals and they're supposed to behave with integrity and have ethics. That's part of being a professional. That's why they're well-paid. That's why they should've been well-educated.
The reality is you can complain to the headteacher, the governors and the LEA. But since they are behind this conduct you're not gonna get far, particularly if you're not a parent of one of the kids involved.
If you know of any parents who are pissed off about this then it might be worth getting them to complain. I would suggest, in the first place, they make an appointment with teach, seek an explanation and go from there.

 

[Batboy]

art.

...and the students at IB level need to have "social" contexts to their work. so its kinda inevitable that politics comes up.

That explains it and your get out!

What I would be concerned with is a Teacher forcing their political views on a class. Talking about politics is fine as long as it is balanced and all different political view points are discussed without derision by the teacher.

Do you discuss political propaganda as an art form?

I remember one of my teachers harping on about communism and Russia he held Russia as a state as a shining example of how a society should be run...bored the fuck out of me... I remember scratching onto the desk I wish I had an ice pick...

 

[chilango]

That explains it and your get out!

What I would be concerned with is a Teacher forcing their political views on a class. Talking about politics is fine as long as it is balanced and all different political view points are discussed without derision by the teacher.

Do you discuss political propaganda as an art form?

I remember one of my teachers harping on about communism and Russia he held Russia as a state as a shining example of how a society should be run...bored the fuck out of me... I remember scratching onto the desk I wish I had an ice pick...

Yeah, we discuss and analyse propaganda (and advertising)

 

[treefrog]

Teachers in all subjects and at all levels are required by the National Curriculum to...

promote learning in a number of areas such as spiritual, moral, social and cultural development...

I can see nothing wrong with promoting healthy debate and discussion on politics and current affairs in classes, but it isn't right to push any one agenda on students. A letter to the PTA voicing your concerns may be the best way to go here.

 

[Kevicious]

Well, if the head-teacher said it, it must be true, eh? I doubt he would have any interest in getting that field at all costs, especially with £2 million quid of funding resting on it. You are extremely naive.

 

[Kevicious]

A letter to the PTA voicing your concerns may be the best way to go here.

thanks for the advice Treefrog.