Skool Rools

My bones are so sore today I actually took the day off! Definitely over did it on the weekend and glucosomine is required to soothe the joints so here's one I prepared earlier:

I mentioned last week about the tantrum one of my colleagues kid indulged in when asked to take out his earring. This incident then prompted a discussion about what kids can and can't do at school. I'm sitting in my little corner listening to two young mother's getting very hot under the collar about schools demanding children wear uniforms, not allowing piercings and tattoos (their children are 8 and 12). "Why does my little precious have to wear a tie and a regulation sun hat?" (mandatory in all playgrounds). "Why can't he wear his blue and white Nike running shoes?" . . "Why can't he use his mobile phone at recess?" "Why doesn't the canteen sell soft drink, chips and lollies?" Both of their sons are 'behaviour' problems because basically, they're over-indulged, precocious (and not in a Mary Poppins way) In short, they're spoiled brats just waiting to fledge into proper little teenage bastards. Relationship break-ups with both mothers have led to overcompensation and bribery when it comes to their progeny. These little darlings have every mod con from XBoxes to mobile phones . . .yep an 8 year old with a mobile phone. They are dressed in Nike and Billabong, spoiled with XBoxes and PS3, whilst their mothers complain about the price of regulation black leather school shoes. Their weekends are filled with every activity from sport to moviegoing and of course the mandatory indulgence of their disenfranchised fathers. They're fed junk at home because that's what the little darlings want to eat. And in the next breath, they're complaining about children who won't touch a vegetable or a piece of fruit! But all of a sudden, bringing up baby has become the responsibility of the education system not the family.

I feel for teachers. They are expected to teach non-academic subjects such as sex education, health, social justice, aboriginal culture and a language in primary school. While at school, primary age children learn about bicycle and train safety, nutrition, drugs, sex education, stranger danger, aboriginal heritage, how to care for animals. They are expected to instill good manners and good moral values as well as teach music, sport and arts. The current syllabus includes the following units of work:

English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, Human Society and its Environment, Creative Arts, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education.

I've often told the Merry Widow and Struth Ruth that they have the best part-time jobs in the world but in reality, the pay is ordinary unless you take on a swag of extra-curricular stuff. Parents can be abusive. Children know exactly how to manipulate the system and particularly in primary school, the day does not end at 3:30pm!

When it comes to classroom discipline, teachers are not allowed to 'touch' a child . . even in a consoling way after a playground spat or a spate of tears. School children who accuse their teacher of verbally or psychologically abusing them have been given the right to complain to child protection investigators. Teachers who are abused both physically and verbally are regarded as guilty until proven innocent and lugged before a tribunal to defend their position. Teachers also are prevented from "socially isolating" children who are disruptive or naughty in the classroom. So much for 'time out'.

Maybe this would work:


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