May 20, 2005
DISCIPLINING ROBOTS
Kelly unveils taskforce to tackle pupil behaviour (Polly Curtis, The Guardian, May 20th, 2005)
The government today announced the creation of a taskforce of teachers to come up with a national strategy to tackle poor behaviour in schools.Expert heads and teachers have been selected from schools with good behaviour policies to advise the government on how to tackle low-level persistent bullying and aggravating behaviour that disrupts teaching in schools.
The education secretary, Ruth Kelly, said the group will be asked to consider a national code of behaviour, setting out minimum standards expected by schools, parents and pupils, and to recommend "four or five" ways to tackle poor behaviour, which all schools could adopt.
Which brings to mind Kingsley Amis’ quip that everything that is wrong with the modern world can be summed up in one word: “workshop”.
More Ritalin please.
Posted by: erp at May 20, 2005 9:10 AMGet a couple of tough teaching nuns and an Irish Christian Brother who taught in High school and they'll have their answers.
Posted by: Genecis at May 20, 2005 9:14 AMWell, this is what you get when the State takes responsibility. Tony can't blame the parents on 1 hand and grab more power on the other.
Posted by: Sandy P. at May 20, 2005 10:31 AMSandy - Why not? Isn't blaming the parents a pretext for grabbing more power? It's certainly the reason the public school teachers I know give for opposing a voucher system.
Posted by: pj at May 20, 2005 12:59 PM"...how to tackle low-level persistent bullying and aggravating behaviour..."
Step 1: Assuming a three-point stance...
Posted by: Just John at May 20, 2005 1:48 PMAgree with Genecis, but add couple of the Benedictine monks that taught at my old high school.
Posted by: jdkelly at May 20, 2005 2:00 PM