Is it ever possible to make a curriculum that is neutral and unbiased?

David49

Feel free to beat me with whatever stick you wish, the education system is a mess, OK it's not all the teachers fault, trying to support the current regime that is failing so many is only going to make it worse.

Such a mess that in the PISA international tests it comes in the top ten of 91 countries.
You really should look at the data.

My experience is very similar to yours M0nica in that the education my DCs received in secondary school was markedly less formal and less effective and there appeared to be little constraint on bad behaviour.

In contrast the GCs' schools seem to be more focused on learning and behaviour management.

My big concern though is that all the schools seem over obsessed with attendance. One of my GCs, who was absent for two days with a heavy cold, was given a detention for not finishing in one piece of homework on time.

My DD is sent dire warnings about the penalties for persistent absence every time one of the children is off, even it is only one day, despite the fact that their overall attendance is very good.

Apparently children often turn up to class with streaming colds and bad coughs even though this is not medically advisable. The schools seem to have a problem with the fact that children get ill.

My children went to secondary school in the 1980s, my grandchildren are just moving out of it.

My (second-hand experience is that the education and behaviour in schools today is infinitely better than it was in the 1980s.

There are studies to support the claim that those in the teaching professions lean more left than the average, I am sure there are professions that lean more right.

I wonder how sungi got on in the Oxford style debate yesterday. I wonder if they carried the motion.

David, I am not beating you with a stick, but challenging your sweeping statement and asked what your experience was.

I agree the system is a mess, but it is not only some teachers to blame.

I worked for twenty five years in an area of high deprivation with extremely challenging children and parents.
We tried our best, but the funding and resources were pitiful.

Feel free to beat me with whatever stick you wish, the education system is a mess, OK it's not all the teachers fault, trying to support the current regime that is failing so many is only going to make it worse.

I totally agree that it is unprofessional to allow personal political leanings to become evident to students but listening to staffroom conversations allows views to become much clearer.

Personally I wouldn't beat David with the stick that says children's behaviour hasn't got worse. Of course many do not misbehave but there is no doubt that a lot of behaviour has become challenging. In local schools, it is particularly noticeable and some of them have had to be evacuated because of weapon carrying and threats. There is documented evidence of the number of teachers who have been attacked, spiralling numbers of children who lack basic skills, have neurodiversity, etc. Surely the statement David needs to support is that these things are caused by the teachers being left leaning.

David, I know teachers and pupils in primary and high schools. Where is the evidence to support your sweeping statements about teachers politics or children’s behaviour.

It may be that many public servants are ‘left leaning’ in your eyes. Could that possibly because their work exposes them to the disastrous results of ‘right leaning’ policies

David49: I would be interested to see the evidence you have for deteriorating behaviour and achievement in schools. Have you worked or volunteered in a school recently or do you base your opinion on what the media feeds us?

The very nature of a profession in which one is concerned for the welfare and progress of young people is likely to lead to teachers aligning themselves to a more Socialist outlook but that doesn't necessarily mean that they influence their pupils to share their political leanings.

David49

Mojack26

Totally disagree with David 49. I am a retired teacher and defo was not 'left leaning' That was his experience.... He's also making assumptions about the teaching profession as a whole being a pretty left leaning lot.... A good teacher provides balance and in my opinion,as a teacher, majority of teachers do this and do not push their own political agenda!

I didn't expect retired teachers to agree with me but with the deteriorating behavior and achievement of children what am I supposed to think. Schools are far too liberal, that is why so many teachers throw the towel in or dont remain in teaching for long.

Teachers have their hands tied with what they are allowed to do regarding behaviour and are set levels of achievement they are expected to attain with their charges. Teachers throw in the towel because the stresses are too much and there is no way to combat them. It has little to do with their political views.

My grandson is autistic and has 1:1 care in school. His parents support the school in all their efforts to deal with his problems as they do not wish to see autism used as an excuse for bad behaviour. However, they see other children who are obviously struggling in the classroom but their parents blame the school or won't let their children be assessed. In a classroom where there are at least 5 children (all boys) who need a great deal more supervision than most, the poor teachers are stretched thin. How they remain dedicated, hard workers, I just don't know. In all my years of teaching and helping out in schools, I have never heard a teacher imposing their politics on their charges.

I remember one of my teachers, at a boys' public school in the early 1960s, saying he thought Labour's heart was in the right place, but he taught in the private sector for the whole of his working life.

David49 what a ridiculous statement about the teaching profession. At no time are we allowed to express political views. Doing so is a sackable offence

Same in my LA, Susieq62. It constitutes professional misconduct.

Under education law and Department for Education (DfE) guidance, schools and teachers must maintain political impartiality and must not promote partisan political views.

David 49, where is your evidence or is it just your opinion?

Susieq62

David49 what a ridiculous statement about the teaching profession. At no time are we allowed to express political views. Doing so is a sackable offence

W e l l.... I'm not so sure about thatbSusieq62 !
My music teacher (school) encouraged myself and one other girl to join the Young Conservatives .
We did attend one meeting, but left it at that.

Mojack26

Totally disagree with David 49. I am a retired teacher and defo was not 'left leaning' That was his experience.... He's also making assumptions about the teaching profession as a whole being a pretty left leaning lot.... A good teacher provides balance and in my opinion,as a teacher, majority of teachers do this and do not push their own political agenda!

I didn't expect retired teachers to agree with me but with the deteriorating behavior and achievement of children what am I supposed to think. Schools are far too liberal, that is why so many teachers throw the towel in or dont remain in teaching for long.

Of course 😁

JenniRen

The same question is on Reddit.

You've left it a bit late haven't you?
Definitely. Preparation is the key.

And we’re still treating this as a serious thread? 😂😂😂

It is reflected in the data from surveys though. Not that they push their views, (although some of my sons teachers consistently did) but that as a profession they skew left more than the general public.

Totally disagree with David 49. I am a retired teacher and defo was not 'left leaning' That was his experience.... He's also making assumptions about the teaching profession as a whole being a pretty left leaning lot.... A good teacher provides balance and in my opinion,as a teacher, majority of teachers do this and do not push their own political agenda!

David49 what a ridiculous statement about the teaching profession. At no time are we allowed to express political views. Doing so is a sackable offence

The same question is on Reddit.

You've left it a bit late haven't you?
Definitely. Preparation is the key.

Give that the same opening post, but apparently by a different OP appeared this morning, I am sceptical to say the least.

I doubt it is completely unbiased because I don't think humans can be completely neutral. For a start, as teachers, there is a vast amount of lee way as to what you teach and since that every subject has far more detail than you could possibly teach, there is a certain amount of preference of how you cover it.

As a teacher and headteacher I always tried to steer well away from politics in the classroom. One should act without bias and be inclusive, supportive and empathetic alongside firm but fair.