Joanne - 01/02/16
"I am a primary school teacher with 17 years experience. I also have a daughter who is due to start school in September 2016. Becoming a parent has completely shifted my perspective on what school should be for children; a place to feel safe and happy, to explore new experiences, make friends and learn about others and, most importantly, to find out about yourself and your interests. It should not be a place for tests and dull lessons just ploughing through meaningless objectives.
Before I became a parent I worked with Year 6 children. I was extremely good at moving children through levels to get them where they should be. I was excellent at making sure they were as prepared as possible for their SATs. But looking back now I realise that I was toeing the party line and not following my heart. I want my daughter to love school and enjoy her time there, not become a faceless statistic on a spreadsheet.
My niece, who started Reception last September, only 3 days after her fourth birthday, is already getting phonics homework on four letter words and spelling tests. It's ridiculous and I'm sure will be detrimental for her in the future. No doubt I'll be called upon to tutor her later on when she's switched off from learning.
It is my intention to leave the teaching profession at the end of this academic year since I can no longer be a part of a profession that treats children like manufacturing products on a production line. I am going to concentrate on putting all my energy into protecting my daughter's childhood from the onslaught of assessments and campaigning for her school to reject baseline and other assessments; in the hope that her experience of school will be a happy and carefree one."
"I am a primary school teacher with 17 years experience. I also have a daughter who is due to start school in September 2016. Becoming a parent has completely shifted my perspective on what school should be for children; a place to feel safe and happy, to explore new experiences, make friends and learn about others and, most importantly, to find out about yourself and your interests. It should not be a place for tests and dull lessons just ploughing through meaningless objectives.
Before I became a parent I worked with Year 6 children. I was extremely good at moving children through levels to get them where they should be. I was excellent at making sure they were as prepared as possible for their SATs. But looking back now I realise that I was toeing the party line and not following my heart. I want my daughter to love school and enjoy her time there, not become a faceless statistic on a spreadsheet.
My niece, who started Reception last September, only 3 days after her fourth birthday, is already getting phonics homework on four letter words and spelling tests. It's ridiculous and I'm sure will be detrimental for her in the future. No doubt I'll be called upon to tutor her later on when she's switched off from learning.
It is my intention to leave the teaching profession at the end of this academic year since I can no longer be a part of a profession that treats children like manufacturing products on a production line. I am going to concentrate on putting all my energy into protecting my daughter's childhood from the onslaught of assessments and campaigning for her school to reject baseline and other assessments; in the hope that her experience of school will be a happy and carefree one."