howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
there is a lot of debate over the value of teaching assistants in schools, clair was out in support of them with a petition in deal earlier, 2 school governors signing here.
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
#2
I believe Teachers rely too much on them. Also Teachers have certain time out of the classroom. This shouldnt be the case. They have inset days and half term, why would they need to be out of the class?
Schooling system in uk is very complex and not straight forward.
This is my view only.
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#3
you would be more up to speed on the issue heike, i hadn't realised that assistants had been around that but the lady signing the petition here has been one for 19 years.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#4
My youngest daughter has been a teachers assistant for 10 years or it could be even longer.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
#5
well I know England is the only country having teacher Assistant as such( talking about state schools) . Its great, dont give me wrong. BUT I still believe Teachers rely on them far too much than it should be the case.
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
what do teacher's assistants actually do that is not teaching?
Guest 1172- Registered: 28 Jan 2014
- Posts: 179
#7
TA's take instruction from teachers. They do not plan lessons nor do they teach them, they are not responsible for student progress, do not take piles of work home with them, do not have to fulfill extra curriculum activities, do not have to write school reports, do not have to hold detention sessions or do playground duty, do not have to be observed and marked on performance like teachers. They basically support a teacher on any of the given jobs the teacher has to do. Mostly the TA's work one on one with 'special needs children' ' or with children that are falling behind for other reasons, but always as instructed by the teacher.
Bob Whysman
- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#8
I would agree with Heike, teachers are trained to teach the Children and the TA's are there to help not to take over. Their role is to help with the equipment distribution, craft work with the Children and to help with the reading amongst many other things.
I have noticed that they are all too often used as a means of having time out of the classroom by some teachers who leave the Teaching Assistant to carry on whilst they are away.
This in turn leads to the structured teaching curriculum becoming 'watered down' as the Assistants do not always command the same knowledge, or respect, from the pupils as the regular teacher.
The Teaching Assistants have to attend courses to ensure that they are conversant with their duties and are usually a dedicated bunch, but they are not teachers!
Do nothing and nothing happens.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#9
thanks for the clarification chrissi and young bob, i thought that was the case.
whether we like it or not it does take a bit of pressure off teachers and hopefully leaves them with more energy to teach the serious stuff.
Guest 1172- Registered: 28 Jan 2014
- Posts: 179
#10
Are they doing away with them then?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#11
there has been talk of it but the main petitioner sir frank macklin from the gmb union was in deal this morning.
all photos on this thread courtesy of clair hawkins.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
#12
All I can add is in the 1950s we never had them but still had alot in a class.
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
#13
now the question is remaining why ofsted rating the schools down? Is it because of the Teachers way of teaching the pupils or is it the Pupils? I know it is slightly off topic, but with Teacher Assistants, they suppose to do a excellent Job? Am I wrong??
I might be....
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Guest 1172- Registered: 28 Jan 2014
- Posts: 179
#14
The teachers have to teach how they are told to teach. I think that TA's definitely play a good role in classrooms but don't feel they deserve the title 'Professionals' as stated by the GMB.
Ofsted have spent the past few years demonising teachers when in reality, the job is more pen pushing, crowd control and jumping hoops than ever before.
Teachers v Pupils? Anyone guess I think.
Guest 1103- Registered: 3 Nov 2013
- Posts: 759
#15
Its a difficult one Chrissie, I had my fair share with Primary school in Dover. But wont go into it too much.
I do know the system is not good for Teachers and Pupils. Disciplin is a very weak point in general.
Detention the way is been dealt with is useless for Pupil and downgrading the Teachers reputation enormously. This again is my impression.
I like to see a annually real academic structure, this is not really the case.
Schooling models in scandinavia been proven brilliant and it seem to work in the long run too.
Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. Maya Angelou ☺🌈🌄🌌🌏🌍🌎
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
#16
Labour make this stuff up as they go along (no surprise there as we all know of course).
Quote:
"Pupils who receive intensive help from teaching assistants make less progress than their classmates, damning research into a key Labour education policy has concluded."
But, of course this is par for the course for old, new and old/new labour. They just don't know their ankle from their elbow and use propaganda like this, their latest campaign, to stoke up the class war, or at least what they consider to be another battlefield in the class war.
If you find yourself walking down the high street and are approached by one of these clowns getting you to sign a petition or pose for a twitter pic do the right thing.
Walk away very fast.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#17
speaking of which here we have frank macklin, regional organiser of the gmb union.
Guest 1172- Registered: 28 Jan 2014
- Posts: 179
#18
Heike List wrote:
Schooling models in scandinavia been proven brilliant and it seem to work in the long run too.
The Scandinavians have excelled in many areas including education, health system, housing etc. We should be taking lessons from them. Or that used to be the case a decade ago. I haven't really kept that much of an eye.
Bob Whysman- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,948
#19
I wonder if all the electronic gadgets and computers for leisure has contributed to the drop in educational standards in this country too, as some children do not have many books indoors and so have got out of the habit of reading at home.
I and also some other adults spend time every week at our local Primary school, as volunteers, to help those with special needs to improve their reading skills. In the majority of cases they tell me that their parents are 'too busy' to hear them read and some say that they don't like reading.
It is a pleasure though after a lot of one to one coaching and encouragement to find that they end up enjoying their reading and catch up with their peers in this subject.
Parents need to get involved too and encourage their Children to read books at home.
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
#20
I see you have another letter publish in the Dover rag Mr. Frost
