Gifted, possibly not, but why can´t public school meet her needs?

UK parents claim that their child is gifted, that the public system cannot meet her needs and that their only option is to go to the private sector. This raises so many questions.

Failing up

Apparently my earlier posts on mediocre hires in education and the re-appearing of poor teachers may have hit a nerve. Today, I was sent a somewhat academic discussion of the phenomenon in the real world.

Teachers are people too

From the "do teachers have free speech?" and "does teacher appearance matter?" files : do teachers have private lives? Well, once again, it depends.

Teacher fired for being "old"

A UK teacher was recently awarded compensation for age-related discrimination in her dismissal. This seems like the right outcome, but as always, things are more complicated.

Why I left one of the top schools in the country

When I was new-ish to the profession, I lucked into a position at one of the top schools in the country. I did not know that at the time, in fact I really only realized this after I left. I needed a job, it was an experimental school with a great program and they wanted me. So why did I leave?

Recycling Poor Performance

After my post on mediocre hires, I received the following comment. Mediocre, poorly-performing and bad teachers keep re-appearing and that is not good for schools, our children or our future

What do mediocre hires say about an organisation?

I was just sent a "did you hear about x?" email about two people I know who have just been hired by the same large for-profit charter school group. What was interesting is that each now has the title "National Director : abc". What was more interesting is that each is on the incompetent side of the performance spectrum. Hiring one says something about the organisation. Hiring both speaks volumes.

Sent home to change into a shorter skirt

A UK academy (equivalent to a US charter school) sent home a student for non-compliance with its uniform rule. The school says she must wear the official skirt or trousers or stay home. She says this is a matter of religious freedom.

Students "free speech" outside school

The Supreme Court is soon to hear a case concerning a student using profanity about her school and one of its programs for which she was suspended from the program for twelve months. The issue is that this occurred on social media, outside the school's campus and outside the school day. This two-pronged problem, whether her speech is protected or not and whether the school can act or not, puts any school in an impossible position.

Professional Development, free or not free

I had an interesting conversation with a young teacher a few days ago. She felt quite strongly that professional development for teachers ("PD") should be free, and as a result she refused to and would refuse to pay which she claimed is a common position amongst her peers. This of course raises several interesting questions.