Forums
/ Lifestyle / Opinion

First day of term and feel under pressure already!

Last post 02/09/10 at 18:56 by catmother, 10 replies
Post started by nickedybo on 01/09/10 at 21:27

Rate this topic

All Topics
Select colour:
  • nickedybo avatar
    Offline
    1
    Posted by: nickedybo 01/09/2010 at 21:27
    Reply
    Joined on 03/02/2009
    Posts 19
    I am a teacher in a special school which has a large number of level 1 and 2 teaching assistants plus 1 teacher and 1 level 3 ta per class. Today we had an inset -teachers and level 3's were having first aid training while level 1 and 2ta's had a meeting with the head. I have heard from more than two of the level 2's that the head has asked them to go to her if their teacher does not do all three stages of every lesson (intro, main and plenary), and who does not display the learning objectives clearly. The head has not told the teachers that she is 'checking up' on us in this way. I have no worries that my ta's will have any reason to go to her about me as I plan and teach in the correct way and show my objectives clearly. However I personally do not understand why she is encouraging the teaching assistants to evaluate their teachers performance and report back to her if they think it is wrong - surely that is unprofessional? Personally I feel that it is undermining to me as a teacher and undervaluing my professional qualification. I also don't think it is professional behaviour from a head teacher - she should be building a good team who work together in a happy non-judgemental environment. Am I right? Opinions please!!!!!!
  • rohirrim avatar
    Offline
    2
    Posted by: rohirrim 01/09/2010 at 21:37
    Reply
    Joined on 29/04/2006
    Posts 621

     Ah, a HT feeling the pressure and deciding that 'divide and rule' bullying is the best option. After advice from Inspectors/Advisors, those well-known success stories of school education. This is the default management method in Education.

    It is well-known that teachers have to be driven to 'improve' because they are incapable of doing so otherwise. They do not recognise what 'improvement' looks like. Only Inspectors/Advisors -and those thinking it up (who include Teacher 'Trainers') do and they tell HT what it is and how to do it. Research proves this. 

    Non-judgemental scenarios only apply to pupils/students.

  • Lilyofthefield avatar
    Offline
    3
    Posted by: Lilyofthefield 01/09/2010 at 21:46
    Reply
    Joined on 19/09/2001
    Posts 20,990

    Not quite the same thing but teaching staff were told today that they would be given training in how to performance-manage their support staff and support staff would be trained in how to evaluate the use made of them by teachers.  It created a lot of twitching, head-turning, whispered mutterings, paranoia and distrust.

    I wish Big Brother would take a hike.
  • deleted866 avatar
    Offline
    4
    Posted by: deleted866 01/09/2010 at 22:09
    Reply
    Joined on 12/10/2009
    Posts 239

     Crikey as a TA I have quite enough to do each day without the worry of assessing the standard of the teaching of teachers that I work with!

    Funnily enough I am not trained to evaluate teachers with any level of expertise! Never mind it won't be the first or last time that Heads decide to extend the role of TA!

     
  • suz3 avatar
    Offline
    5
    Posted by: suz3 01/09/2010 at 22:13
    Reply
    Joined on 04/06/2006
    Posts 3,267

     Resources4drama posted what I thought was the script of a ficticious INSET day which included exactly this proposition - it's on one of the INSET threads on opinion.

    Seems s/he was spot on.

  • nickedybo avatar
    Offline
    6
    Posted by: nickedybo 01/09/2010 at 22:22
    Reply
    Joined on 03/02/2009
    Posts 19
    Just found it! Oh dear, that's not a good sign for my school!
  • Lilyofthefield avatar
    Offline
    7
    Posted by: Lilyofthefield 01/09/2010 at 22:23
    Reply
    Joined on 19/09/2001
    Posts 20,990

    The TAs aren't to assess the teaching, Dragonflyali.  They're to assess whether the teacher has fulfilled the point of their being there - did they direct and deploy them effectively to meet their clients' needs etc.

    I suspect that lots of teachers will be handing out their own worksheets. 

  • deleted866 avatar
    Offline
    8
    Posted by: deleted866 02/09/2010 at 17:10
    Reply
    Joined on 12/10/2009
    Posts 239

     I have heard from more than two of the level 2's that the head has asked them to go to her if their teacher does not do all three stages of every lesson (intro, main and plenary), and who does not display the learning objectives clearly.

    I agree TA's are able to offer opinion on whether they are being deployed effectively but if TA's are being asked to comment on the content and structure of lessons it would make many of us feel a little uncomfortable.

  • airy avatar
    Online
    9
    Posted by: airy 02/09/2010 at 17:23
    Reply
    Joined on 18/11/2009
    Posts 41,881
    My "starter" tends to involve asking kids to take their coats off and get their jotters and pens out. Despite that, they seem to learn stuff.
  • bobbycatrules avatar
    Offline
    10
    Posted by: bobbycatrules 02/09/2010 at 18:37
    Reply
    Joined on 27/12/2008
    Posts 220

    Hahahaha.
Back to top

Sign up – it’s free!

  • Don’t miss out on the latest jobs
  • Connect and share with friends
  • Download thousands of resources
  • Chat in the forums