More Public Education Lunacy: London School Bans Raising Hands

And then they grow up and are run over by the steam roller called the real world.

I don’t know what’s worse, the pathetic children who are sheltered from reality, or the adults in the academic elite who believe that it’s a good idea to do so.

The world needs ditch diggers. Looks like we’ll be importing them from the UK

This isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. While banning may be extreme, all it’s doing is allowing the teacher to pick a student without all the “ooh, ohh, pick me, pick me” nonsense. My understanding is that the “Phone a Friend” is similar to the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” thing, wherein a student who was called upon who didn’t know the answer can pick another student to help. What’s so sinister about that?

I wouldn’t call it sinister, but it’s certainly a misguided practice in schools these days that are wasting more and more time coddling the precious sensitivities of children at the expense of education. Life isn’t fair (as the saying goes) and it certainly doesn’t care if their feelings get hurt along the way — there’s no reason to shelter them to the point were they don’t learn to deal with it.

This is just like the drive to do away with using red ink to grade papers because it supposedly hurts the poor kids’ self-esteem.

Most of these overly idealistic college kids are in for a rude awakening once they leave the protective bubbles of acedemia too.

Elementary school is mostly crap anyway.

1)Outside of reading, writing, and arithmetic, how many readers remember anything they learned in grade school?

2)How many use anything they learned in High School?

3)How many had to forget everything they ever learned in school as soon as they entered the workforce? (excepting the reading, writing, and arithmetic)

This is actually a Steve Newlin post. As for Don’s remarks did you ever consider that this passive student approach is very fascist? Students must sit quietly and not exhibit any sort of personality.

This is indeed sick.

As a former educator and someone who is still very involved in the education of young children, I find this ban absolutely absurd. The “ooh, pick me” nonsense and flailing hands may be disruptive and annoying, but banning children from raising their hands is not the answer. Children need to be taught how to appropriately participate in a discussion, and raising one’s hand and waiting to be called on is an important step in the learning process. Children also need to learn the value of letting everyone participate, because you never know who might contribute a brilliant idea.

The “phone a friend” system is actually a good idea hidden behind a silly gimmick. Why not teach children what they’re actually doing—using a resource to help them figure out something they don’t know. This is an important strategy that adults use all the time. When was the last time you Googled something, used an online encyclopedia, or called up your buddy to help you figure out a problem? I bet it wasn’t long ago.

Dave! Where the hell did you go to school? North Korea?

I went to public school when teachers could still keep control of their students (sometimes by dragging you across the room by your ear). This was before ADD was invented.

I can read, balance my checkbook and accept disapointment and criticism without wetting my pants. I understand that my comfort and happiness is not the top priority of every person I encounter.

Sarah

Sorry, but your “phone a friend” doesn’t wash. When my boss asks me something, I don’t have the option of asking someone else. I am expected to know or have a darn good explanation why I don’t. My workplace is not that unusual either. It is not being resourceful any more then the old “the dog ate my homework” line I used to use.