The latest from dougbelshaw.com/blog
- Technology in History teaching: disseminating good practice in Turkey
- #uppingyourgame v0.4 now available!
- Things I Learned This Week – #11
- A brief history of infographics.
- You’re doing it wrong.
- Seven types of ambiguity and new literacies
- Wednesday Wisdom #10: Application and ability
- HOWTO: Create iTunes audiobooks from MP3s
- #uppingyourgame: an audio preview
- Things I Learned This Week – #10
-
Poor need more than just good schools
4 CommentsBBC News reports on a recent publication by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation demonstrates that, on average, only a quarter of ‘poor’ children gain five or more A*-C’s at GCSE. This compares to around half from other backgrounds. Wider issues such as self-confidence and space at home to work are blamed for this. In my experience, however, it’s the characteristics, dispositions and attitudes children inherit from their parents that is the key. These, in turn, are often a product of the environment they have found themselves, making it a vicious or virtuous circle, depending on one’s circumstances…
Published on September 7, 2007 · Filed under: Uncategorized;
4 Responses to “Poor need more than just good schools”
-
I wonder if ‘inherit’ is the right word to use, Doug, given your final sentence? I don’t think you mean that the ‘charateristics, dispositions and attitudes’ are genetically defined in some way, but it could read that way.
-
I have heard teachers say on more than one occasion that what they really need in order to be able to help a particular kid is to give them new parents.
Several years ago a teacher friend of mine introduced me to his family – mostly drug addicts and thieves. I asked how he had managed to turn out so differently from his parents and siblings. His answer was that his school had recommended him for a scholarship to a boarding school. It wasn’t the fact that he went to a ‘good’ school as much as the fact that it got him away from his family and neighbourhood that made the difference. He did not escape his genes though – he was (and may very well still be as far as I know, having not seen him in years,) an alcoholic.
Over the years I have met many others who have had their lives changed for the better by receiving scholarships to boarding schools. It still takes determination to do well though. I saw one girl fail miserably to take advantage of her scholarship. She was one of the most talented language learners I have ever met. She did not finish high school :-(
Money does not always improve the quality of parenting. I have seen some rich parents who had the good sense to realize that they were doing a @%#$ job as parents and send their kids away to boarding school. And then there were others who sent their kids away because they wanted them to attend a prestigious school, little realizing the huge favour they were doing their children in getting them away from their parents!
-
@John: Ah yes, I see what you mean. What I meant to say was that they learn through imitation these characteristics, dispositions and attitudes by long-term exposure to them. Perhaps ‘inherit’ was the wrong word to use… :p
@Almost American: You’re absolutely right that having money does not mean one is a good parent and poverty mean the reverse. It depends on the reason for the relative poverty: lack of education, involvement in substance abuse, self-esteem issues, etc. There’s so many variables we have an almost impossible job to perform! :s
-
daniYL qfaxbygjmwys, [url=http://lzzpcflypwsn.com/]lzzpcflypwsn[/url], [link=http://ezecjnjcvube.com/]ezecjnjcvube[/link], http://idbsfvywzmra.com/
Leave a Reply
