Want a good education?

12/14/2014

en.wikipedia.org

It could be a lack of discipline holding young offenders back from learning how to fit into society. Several official watchdogs have noted that teenagers behind bars are getting a better education than thousands of pupils in ordinary schools.

Inspectors at a young offender's institution in the UK found that English and maths scores were above the national average, with very good behavior observed in classrooms.

The subjects they chose would further them in careers like bricklaying, building and car mechanics. They knew what they needed to escape the confines of their incarceration. In that, they were ahead of the game.

This highlights the recent lack of discipline in English state schools. Could pupil's attention span be suffering if the teacher doesn't restore order?

pixabay.com

I'm sure every pupil is affected by disruptive behavior. How could they concentrate on the subject before them with classmates shouting and throwing things around the room? Some youngsters don't want to learn. They want to get on with their lives. But what has caused this lack of interest?

Back in the 1950s, I wasn't interested in any of the subjects on offer, but classroom discipline couldn't be blamed. I loved my teachers and got on well with my peers. With me, I guess arrogance caused me to gaze out the window and dream. Back then, I would never have pinpointed my desire to write fiction.

Perhaps the most important thing for a youngster to know is their goal. And that might come late in life as it did for me.

What was your experiences like at school?

6 Comments

lucie link

12/13/2014 07:17:57 pm

I was always one of those loud chatty ones. My teacher would flail around in class and punish me which I think only made me do it more.

Sophie Bowns link

12/13/2014 08:04:19 pm

I was lucky, although I just went to a standard school, it was an excellent one and on the whole, my teachers were great.
I recall having a dreadful Maths teacher when I was about 12-13 (year 8) though, who completely failed to discipline the few terribly behaved students in my class. This meant that lessons were disrupted and the people who wanted to learn missed out on almost a years worth of Maths!

Alana Mautone link

12/13/2014 10:39:15 pm

By the time I was in high school I was unengaged. I would sit in the back of some of my classes and read. I graduated towards the bottom of my class because I was turned off by so much I saw. In the United States, in modern times there is such an emphasis on academics that the hands on learners with short attention spans are marginalized. Interestingly, the "alternate schools" that people who can't "make it" are sent to have a lot more emphasis on hands on learning (even for the academic classes they must offer) and trades. I feel this option should be given in "regular" school, too.

Donna Ward link

12/14/2014 12:26:31 am

Interesting about the school for young offenders and it really is a great thing for them, then.

I was and still am a Social Butterfly and a leader - plus I learned how to stand up for myself - all put together helped me enjoy the many different schools I went to - thank you for asking :)

Penny link

12/14/2014 12:29:02 am

I loved learning in high school. Getting a good education was always preached in our home when I was growing up. I may not have liked all of the subjects I had to take, but I did my best because I wanted to make something of myself and I wanted to be well-rounded. I could never understand why some of my peers didn't care about their education. I LOVED my teachers and looked up to them. I often helped them grade papers after school and learned a lot from them about life. I never felt that I fit in with my peers, and I was fine with that. I gravitated toward adults because I had a thirst for wisdom and knowledge. I didn't fit in with the norm. Thank God!

the house that never rests link

12/14/2014 12:33:16 am

When i was in school i found that the children that was not disciplined caused the rest of us to be distracted during class. From what i remember there was two brilliant teachers who would not stand for any bad behaviour in class and would remove any children who would cause distraction to others.

Francene Stanley:
Author
I use news items in my fantasy novels.

Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books on the sidebar below?
I blogged 260 days last year. Link.