Hang on a minute- she got into trouble for writing a book which 'was riddled with expletives, under age drinking, pupils skipping school and hinted at drug abuse...'
Now who would be stupid enough to do something like that?
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9 comments:
Only HINTED at drug abuse? Clearly inaccurate and unrealistic. Might as well have given them Mary Poppins. ;o)
Sounds like the autobiography some of my class-mates would write (if they could remember how!).
More relevant surely, is what resemblance did the book bear to the truth? The tribunal hearing could be quite interesting; if the book is fiction, surely anyone is allowed to write fiction, its hardly a sackable offence. If its fact, I suppose she could be accused of bringing the school into disrepute or breaching the data protection act (a coverall for almost anything that is said these days). Or is it simply using a non-approved text for reading? I think a good lawyer could have some fun here!
Missing the point, I'm afraid. The children featured were not all in her class - she featured my son who was never taught by her. All the children were named, clearly identifiable and this was done so without permission or any kind of approval. The idea that the kids featured were 'unteachable' is yet more fantasy from this woman. I see she has now described then as "overtly racist" and "violent" as well as being criminals before her involvement. Having already published their names, she now goes on to besmirch them further in pursuit of her own interests.
You might also be intested in this case in sheffield
http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/Sacked-teacher-falsely-accused-of.6691570.jp
Fruitcakes abound in education, I'm afraid. Whether they're teachers or managers, a lot of them lost their marbles a long tme back, and a school is the only place left that will give them a job.
I have to say I have quite mixed feelings about that case. I understand her willingness to target a particular problem among the youngsters (me being a former trainee teacher) but hadn't she had been suspended and expelled from the school, the pupils would loose respect towards her in the end, I presume. So maybe she should have rather published that book under a nickname? And come out of the he shadow after her pupils graduate? After all, it is always a good to raise awareness about drugs, immature sex or violence in school. Also, there is not a better pep talk when one (young people especially) can identify themselves with a particular feature of a person, from a book or from a movie...
Otherwise, from the way she defends herself, I begin to suspect that she already had some affairs with some of the boys or fantasized about it herself!
So what? Schools are too damn stuffy and teachers are either scared to be teachers or soon disillusioned, and I've had my share of being completely put off subjects I was talented in by mediocre to offensively-poor teachers. I had access to an officially-informed opinion on their raw performance figures and they weren't impressive. There were very few inspiring teachers in school and if this woman had fantasies about those kids, so what? It's natural if they are sexual beings and they are. If there's no evidence that she did anything along the lines of leading them on, actually engaging them in direct sexual activity and - this is the crucial bit for those who don't know the psychology of abuse - anything that actually disturbed them emotionally, then she hasn't abused them, and we should get our heads out of our collective rear ends (sensible people respecting healthy sexuality, you know you're excepted). Look around, the worst thing you can do to kids is pretend to teach them the facts and then censor the facts. I'd like to believe this woman had enough of actual education in mind to justify her actions, even if there are pointers to extra-curricular thoughts and innuendo. There's many ways we can raise our kids, this is one. If those were really reticent kids not into learning, ANYTHING is worth a try that isn't abuse. Worry about those who have stopped trying but are still taking the taxpayer's £tens of K per year when with less hassle, there'd be more competent trainee teachers stepping up to the whiteboard. Incidentally I smoked spliff in school time and noticed the teachers in the corner of the pub when we were smoking and drinking in there ourselves in free time during the day.
Oh and fruitcakes? No one is completely sane - it's pretty rare - go and get scientifically tested yourselves via psychometric methods if you don't believe me. Although the likelihood of developing insanity is lessened by guess what? Good teaching in childhood! Keep the ignorant prejudice up your rear end where it came from.
Excuse me, rant-ette is directed at Poodle Pelham, whether the meaning of the words you use is true or not (and I'm open-minded after what I have seen) I recommend you stand in front of the psyche ward at the busiest hospital you find and repeat you favourite vocabulary. See how long it takes you to get invited in.
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