ChatterBank1 min ago
Not Only Are Primary Schools Teaching The Three Rs ....
... they're dealing with basic communication skills and toilet training. In one school at the start of Reception, eight of 27 four-year-olds came to school in nappies, and in one instance a six year old came to school in nappies.
https:/
I can't see any excuse for this. What on earth is going with parents? An epidemic of lazyitis?
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I read that article this morning, naomi.
One passage caught my eye:
"Educational experts and teaching unions say the forced closure of schools during the pandemic meant some families lost sight of the value of education. In some cases, they were too busy working to home school their children, or didn’t have the space. When schools reopened, they placed less importance on ensuring their children attended."
I agree that the measures taken by the government to "fight" or "control" the pandemic had a profound effect on some people. However, much of the report centres around four to six year old children. The pandemic measures largely ended three years ago and parents have had plenty of time to catch up with raising their offspring.
Most of the report seems to be a catalogue of excuses why parents are sending their children to school lacking these basic skills.
A Reception class teacher I knew (she was also Head-teacher of her school) was complaining to me that this was starting to happen around 2010. Non-verbal children, nappied ones, ones who could not use cutlery of any form and ones that could not perform basic actions like dressing themselves (shoelaces and tiny buttons apart) were starting to appear more and more.
Apart from a stint in a Prep. school, my experience was with 10+ children in Middle and Comprehensive schools. The schools I worked in gave parents a list when they registered their children. This presented basic expectations, keeping to school dress rules, turning up on time and arriving with a bag containing equipment such as pen and pencils for example. Infant schools should do the same regarding toileting etc..
If people have had their children in a nursery, the nursery should also ensure these basics are instilled.
Saw that earlier. Seems beyond belief doesn't it. But in these days of not knowing how to parent and conviction that their kid is just going what kids do, and know themselves best, it is regrettably less surprising than it should be. Such probably need to be charged with abuse for failing to train their kids to a compulsory pre-school level. (Kids with obvious mental/physical issues excepted.)
"...this was starting to happen around 2010."
Indeed jourdain. This phenomenon long pre-dates he pandemic. Although Covid may not have helped, it was no the initial cause.
I have a theory that for many parents the attraction of their phones (and whatever it is they do with them) plays a large part. Time and again when out and about I see people completely immersed in their phones whilst thechildren are clearly seeking attention.
I think I may have related this tale before but probably about ten years ago now I arrived at the bus stop and waiting there was a mother with a young child (perhaps four or five). The child was a bit grizzly and I gathered (from a conversation his mother was having on the phone) that he was being taken to the dentist.
He was becoming increasingly distraught and his mother finally broke off her call to speak to him:
"What is the matter with you?"
The boy by then was quite tearful and unable to speak so I couldn't help but butt in:
"I think he's worried or frightened about going to the dentist."
""Oh are you luvvie? Never mind. Let's see if we can find him on Facebook, babe."
I got on the bus and went upstairs.
More recently I was in a shop queue behind a mother who was tapping away on her phone and laughing, whilst her daughter (aged perhaps three or four) was tugging at her coat for attention, without success.
"Never mind, love" I said, "When you're a little bit older Mummy might buy you a phone and you will be able to send her a text when you want something."
I was met with a scowl, which I returned with a glare. The woman behind me said "Too bloody right!"
I don't know whether either of those children were potty trained.
And living quality expectations have risen, with folk unwilling to cut their coat according to their cloth. If a couple can't afford a child they should think twice about taking on a responsibility their are unable to fulfil. There is already child benefit so that ought not be an issue, anyway. Besides if more than one income seems useful one could take an evening job to supplement the day job the other has. I know such arrangements worked for my parents
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