Michael Gove

I wouldn't correct you. The only times I correct anyone one here are 1) if it's Newsbot as I think the official site should be correct and 2) if it's a joke like with SuperTyke when it's relevant to whatever has just been posted before. I don't otherwise correct people as this isn't anyone's job to write on here and it's an informal setting; I only brought it up in reply to you to explain why I couldn't give a proper answer to your question as I didn't understand all of it.

 

I'm very intrigued as to what the government would say as they gave it as the reason why they chose year 6s to go back.

 

Thanks Jamdrop. Appreciate the response. Re the punctuations. One of my many faults. I do re read and edit a lot, as I know comments can be misconstrued. I do think I can read between the lines when things are written. But my punctuations are abysmal at times.

Had a go for you as I'm bored but no doubt there will still be errors as I'm doing it on my phone. I love your attitude to learning though, I agree that you learn something new every day.

 

Not to be insensitive, but people will die the longer lockdown continues. People will suffer from not being educated and the long lasting impact it has on their prospects. People will also die if you release lockdown restrictions, whenever that is. That’s the sad position we’re in - it’s impossible to keep everyone 100% safe whatever you do.

At some point we have to accept there is a risk but do it anyway because of the benefits our actions will bring. Making that call is a horrendous decision to have to make, but if the best scientists we have think that 1 June will be the right time to start a phased reopening of schools, I’m not going to contradict them. Nor would I tell any teacher or child they have to go.

 

I understand that mate. But it would help if you could please copy the bits (or lots lol) that I’ve caused the confusion with. I’m not sure which questions you were referring to.
What I’ll also say is I sometimes go off on a tangent. Going back to something I’ve written earlier in the story. Afore I forget.( Believe me I can forget within seconds what’s on my mind. ) then sometimes re write what I’ve already written when going to complete. I do, like I say, edit a lot prior and after posting.

 

Mainly your ideas in these two posts.

 

im quite sure my 5 year old will manage by doing her colouring in at home until September.

I do partially agree with you that it is impossible to keep everyone safe, i can see no rational logical reason for opening schools to the age groups they have unless its a purely economical decision.

 

COVID has highlighted a number of issues about education and working that were going to change within the next generation, brought them forward and compressed implementation into a few weeks.

The way we work has changed - probably forever. Many jobs are now not only perfectly feasible from home, but have been encouraged over the last two months. Why do we need to go into an office 5 days per week? Why not 1 day? Why at all, except for the occasional visit? - I've been to my office 3 times - interview, induction and for another interview - and don't expect to go back this year in normal times (possibly not until I leave!). People who live outside London and pay thousands for season tickets could have effectively a massive payrise by their employer giving them the trust, tools and ability to work from home much more often. It would also save the employer office costs, so a win all around.

Education is the same, the Internet has brought in the possibility of new ways of working and new opportunities for education, but these will take some times to see to fruition. Online learning and resources should be accessible for all - not just within the UK, but exploring the possibilities of learning with pupils around the world. Imagine history lessons with children from the UK, France and Germany (and other countries) looking at the causes of WW1 and WW2 from all 3 perspectives (just one example). Language lessons too could be fantastic with interaction with native speakers. Music, drama and literature lessons from masters of their craft available for all schools to use (Patrick Stewart reading Shakespeare's sonnets is just one example).

Don't get me wrong, we aren't there *yet* - the infrastructure isn't in place for every kid - but it will be soon. Yes, school is for more than just learning and interaction with friends is very important - especially at the early stages, but we should be looking to empower children more to expand their learning and the opportunities they now have - not just expect them to go to school and learn in a stuffy classroom like we did in the past.

 

Seriously thanks. I’ve gone back and edited both and added, to try and make myself clearer. (didn’t make a lot of sense to me and I wrote the buggers. Lol)

What we sometimes write doesn’t come over as intended. ( certainly in my case) that’s why I think I’ve developed a, read between the lines attitude and not knee jerk respond.

 

Do you not think it’s bizarre and a little worrying that people whose profession and supposed vocation is teaching constantly now seeking to play down the importance of education and attendance in school?

‘Ah, don’t bother with year 6, we’re just trying to keep them out of trouble’. Dear me.

 

I think it's bizarre that that is the year chosen as the end of year 6 is a bit like keeping year 11s in school after GCSEs have finished. No-one is saying that year 11 isn't important, and no-one is saying that year 6 isn't important but unfortunately, because of the mess that is SATs, what I described is pretty much what happens with year 6 at the end of the school year. I don't know a single teacher who wouldn't rather it be different but SATs is king. I also don't know why 'transition' was given as the reason when I'm 100% sure the person who said it has no idea of what it involves.

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/breaking-coronavirus-englands-primary-schools-22055402

Schools probably will struggle to open for June the 1st. But many of the parents whinging about kids going back will carry on with their other half taking the kids on trips to far more populated places such as parks and supermarkets.

 

Fact. Friends kids in private school. No refund.

 

fact. my daughter in private school. getting a refund.

 

I have a daughter in y6. Her mental well being is not good, due to not being able to say goodbye to her class and friends properly and for them to prepare for moving to the “big” school together. I think that is the reason rather than the actual learning. Sort of a closure of primary school.

 

Education is more than cramming facts into your brain. It's about growing up with skills. An end of year play for eg. will encourage team work, the ability to learn lines within a required time frame, to speak in front of a large audience, to encourage others eto etc.

 

I wasn’t being arsey, you asked the question.

Ok, so they’re not all the same?

 

I hated speaking to a large audience. I had this speech to do about Public Transport vandalism during my English GCSE. I'd drafted it out but was terrified of standing in front of the class. I muttered a few sentences and cut my speech short early. It was obvious to me that I'd get a detention for "seemingly" not doing my homework. However, I'd rather do the speech in detention in front of the teacher and a few others than do it in class.

Some people aren't destined for greatness and want to fall into the background and education has to accept this.

 

I think what this has done more than anything is show that a computer screen can’t take the place of a school and a classroom. The social interaction and boundaries are the biggest lessons that kids learn in a school. To think that can be taken by a zoom lesson with kids in America is naive at best.

This way of distance learning may help the more affluent kids, as they generally come from households who value education and will push their own children to succeed. But they’ll still miss learning social skills.

There have been improvements in the online availability, but a lot was already there. Kids are generally reluctant to access it unless forced or pressured to. And for some they never will.