The Way, and the Only Way, to Fix Primary Schools

STEP 1 Arrange the students’ desks in rows, facing the teacher and the blackboard at the front.

STEP 2 The teacher now has the students’ attention. That is what is needed. The rest is easy.

 

7 Replies to “The Way, and the Only Way, to Fix Primary Schools”

  1. Careful now! That sounds a bit too much like common sense.

    Where is the innovation? Where is the worship at the altar of the almighty technology?

    1. Indeed, AMDC. I can’t see too many Principal’s showing parents around their school and proudly saying:

      “We arrange the students’ desks in rows, facing the teacher and the blackboard at the front.”

      And I can’t see it ticking too many boxes with the DET.

      Shiny new gimmicks that can be marketed and sold to a gullible public – that’s what ticks boxes, gets attention and wins praise.

      1. Which is why we’re all doomed. Everyone with power is either too dumbed to recognise the obvious, or too gutless to act upon it.

        1. And people wonder why Aussies don’t have the mental capacity/endurance of people hailing from other education-respected places?
          Doesn’t take m(b)illions of dollars thrown at a random inquiry/report to know that simple education as you’ve described so succinctly in your two steps is all that’s needed.

          And some fucking respect for teachers. And a genuine desire to learn from students.

          I read a comment recently (don’t mind the source) that so succinctly said:

          Really, if central services, politicians, and the education department could just fuck right off, teaching would be the best. edit: and registration bodies. They could fuck right off too.

          —furiouscowbell, reddit

          1. No argument from me, OaN. Particularly the registration bodies (these nugatory Vampires are the biggest scam ever) and politicians (who only care about climbing the greasy pole). Indeed, they can both fuck right off.

            Some form of an Education Department is needed – but give the ‘shareholders’ the power to hold it accountable. Put classroom teachers back in control of teaching.

            Without classroom teachers all these bullshit artists have nothing. If only the AEU had a spine.

  2. I have often wondered about whether or not the teacher should allocate seating to the students.

    Educational research suggests yes, but the idea is rarely used in practice.

    What do you more experienced teachers think?

    PS I overheard the manager in a restaurant the other day asking a customer:

    “Do you have a seating preference?” The customer does not really understand the question. The manager then asks “Where would you like to sit?”. Next customer went through the same sequence. The next time I was in there, customers were asked “Where would you like to sit?” Much simpler.

    1. Fifth order issue. You’re asking whether the customer/student should get a choice of table. What matters, all that matters, is the arrangement of the tables.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 128 MB. You can upload: image, audio, video, document, spreadsheet, interactive, text, archive, code, other. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop file here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.