|
News
News update: December 2008 / January 2009
I hope that
you have managed to have a good Christmas break and I would
like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy 2009. I
have been busy preparing material for the National
Association of School Teaching Assistants magazine which is
produced by Tribal Education Ltd. I have just taken over as
Editor of this publication and as Chair of the Association.
The Spring edition sees articles on Dyslexia, Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder, ADHD in Girls, Bullying, A Day in the
Life of a Cover Supervisor, Rapport Building and an article
on Managing Common Forms of Challenging Behaviour that
Support Staff face.
Zero
Tolerance
Caroline
Haynes, Head teacher of Tendring Technology College in
Clacton-on-Sea has introduced a zero tolerance approach to
bad behaviour. In the past year 478 exclusions have been
issued (5% of all those issued in England). She suggests
that if she were to reduce exclusion rates it would have a
detrimental effect on the quality of teaching and unruly
behaviour. Under the zero tolerance programme there is an
escalating scale of sanctions. One day exclusions are given
for failing to attend 2 after school detentions. Bullying,
abuse of staff, stealing, racism, disruption and vandalism
receive longer exclusions. During these exclusions students
have to complete work and cannot return to school until the
work is finished. Students have to learn to deal with the
consequences of their actions.
Sending
Students to Sleep
Many
students are feeling drowsy in the stuffy atmosphere of new
build classrooms according to reports by the University of
London and Reading University. New energy efficient
classrooms are lacking in ventilation and fresh air. This
leads to higher CO2 levels which can displace
oxygen making students feel sleepy and less able to take in
information. Schools are trying to get their energy
consumption down – but it should not be at any expense.
Left and
Right
Researchers
from Bristol University, Imperial College London and
University College Dublin found that left handed people
enjoy greater financial success, earning up to 5% extra.
However, because of the lack of appropriate nurture many
students are arriving at school not knowing if they are left
or right handed. Dr Madeleine Portwood, in her recent
research, stated that up to 30% of children are now unable
to choose which is their dominant hand when arriving at
school. Cot death fears has resulted in parents not allowing
babies onto their fronts for crawling, even when awake.
Hence many babies are not crawling (where children move left
hand and right leg, then right hand and left leg). During
such movement children learn about co-ordination.
Rise of
Gang Culture Leads to a Gang Summit
A US
inspired scheme to curb violence has led to 100 Glasgow gang
members meeting on neutral ground. The Violence Reduction
Unit runs the scheme and is based on the ‘Boston Miracle’
which reduced violent crime in the city by 50% during 2
years. Gang members in the there met with police and church
leaders. Those that agreed to change were offered jobs,
counselling and other forms of support. Those who refused
were offered longer sentences. The scheme invited 5 people
from each of the 55 gangs in Glasgow. These gangs have 780
members in total.
In England
the number of under 18s getting into trouble with the police
has risen by 20% in 5 years as young people are lured into
the gang culture. 93 000 youngsters aged 10-17 had received
their first caution or conviction last year (up 78 000 from
total in 2002). Local variation in figures show that the
poorest areas are being worst affected by children
committing crime. Youth offending rates are up by 65% in
Bristol, 68% in Blackpool and there has been a doubling of
the rate in Brighton and Hove. Police recently indicated
that they have had to deal with 10 000 violent incidents in
schools a year. Police were called to deal with attacks on
staff and pupils with some weapon use being evident.
Click here for previous news updates
|
