TOPIC: “The Universal Panacea? The number one shift in UK education I wish to see in my lifetime.”
My panacea is a very simple idea to cure all teachers from that number one problem that stops them from doing their jobs better... What I'd like to give back to you and all teachers and schools across the land, is 'time'!
Now, easier said that done and by far, I profess, it's no new idea here. This
TOPIC: “The Universal Panacea? The number one shift in UK education I wish to see in my lifetime.”
My panacea is a very simple idea to cure all teachers from that number one problem that stops them from doing their jobs better... What I'd like to give back to you and all teachers and schools across the land, is 'time'!
Now, easier said that done and by far, I profess, it's no new idea here. This
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My school does this, every Friday we finish at 1.35pm and there are extra curricular clubs for students. The only rules are that you only run a club if you want to but it must be extra curricular it cannot be a catch up club. This was already in place when I started at the school 3 years ago but my understanding is that the school day was restructured during the rest of the week to allow for this time on a Friday. As well as running a club with a fellow media studies teacher I have been able to use the time in lots of ways that don’t involve marking & the most effective one for me is simply giving me time to keep up to date with changes not only to my subject but also to wider teaching issues & events. Not exactly what I used my Wednesdays for during those halcyon uni years but formative non the less!!! We’ve seen a better up take with the activities with students also as they have now come to see the extra curricular activities almost as an extension of their school day rather than something which keeps them behind after school, although it is still option for them. The other thing it’s really helped me with is getting to know some of the younger students, since I teach Media and have a Year 13 form group I rarely come into contact with students from Years7-9, running a club means I get to build relationships with the students that have nothing to do with teaching them but everything to do with a shared passion in films which I have found has helped my relationships with some of the most challenging students in our school. All in all I think it’s brilliant for me!!!
An excellent post, and an idea that carries a good deal of weight with me. I think it’s fair to say that Baker days haven’t had anything like the impact they might have done. Perhaps if schools had collaborated more initially they might have done, but wouldn’t this provide a fantastic springboard for all schools and teachers to engage?!
It might have helped had the NUT not called everyone out on strike to protest against Baker days and to say what they thought of the idea!
As for the proposal itself, couldn’t it be made cost-free (in the terms of the calculation in the article) by moving to a 4 term year and reducing school holidays by a fornight? Having a shorter summer break and more term time weeks during the warmer, drier and longer daylight part of the year would also make outdoor activities for pupils on those Wednesday afternoons more pleasant and practicable.
(I love the idea! – TT)
Does anyone remember the great days of Teacher Centers? Professional development was based on expressed teacher needs. Teach centers were federally funded. The movement, begun in the mid-70’s, lasted for about ten years. Reagen administration dropped the ball, as did, sadly, the teacher unions.