We need good work ethic

10:00am Friday 27th April 2012 in Letters

EMPLOYMENT Minister Chris Grayling’s ‘Hire a hoodie’ speech stating “very often the surly young man in a hoodie who turns up unwilling to work can turn into an excited and motivated employee” is a prime example of our sub-standard society.

When children leave school and apply for jobs, they should be well educated, well mannered and well behaved – not slovenly, surly and stupid. The work ethic should be instilled with training in logical discussion techniques, being able to understand all sides of an argument.

Teachers should have practical working backgrounds prior to teacher training; otherwise they are of no practical use to pupils. Teacher age should be 30 years minimum and smart dress mandatory. Older, more practically minded teachers command more respect from children.

School uniform should be obligatory and will help eliminate bullying based on ‘fashion clothing’, and instil a teamwork mind-set.

Competition in all subjects must be obligatory, toughening up pupils and eradicating the current cotton wool-wrapped mentality. There should be reliance on full parent/teacher co-operation, supporting full attendance and homework completion, and teaching on how to deal with failure and move on. Pupils’ out-of-school behaviour should be part of the school report, for example if they bring the school into disrepute.

Pupils must understand that their behaviour during their school years shapes their future and it is their responsibility to get it right. This can only be achieved when pupils, parents and teachers all take this on board.

Anything less is abject failure, but will Chris Grayling recognise this?

MICK HEAVEY Oxford Road Old Marston

Comments (2)

3:04pm Tue 1 May 12

morgeo says...

Hello Mick you said that teachers should have practical working backgrounds prior to teacher training; otherwise they are of no practical use to pupils.
I must dispute that statement as you have nothing to back it up. I have two daughters who both became teachers from school, through college and very good teachers they are too and one teachers locally. They are both highly regarded in their work and are producing good pupils.
Having said that I totally agree with your other points, particularly the dress for both teacher and pupil.
I had cause to argue with a headmaster once who thought that competition in the classroom was bad because it made the child who was failing feel bad. It should make them puul their socks up and get help if they wish to get on. My argument was that following his policy would disadvantage a child once they entered the workforce because then they were in real competition and were unprepared for it as a result. We agreed to disagree.
Hello Mick you said that teachers should have practical working backgrounds prior to teacher training; otherwise they are of no practical use to pupils. I must dispute that statement as you have nothing to back it up. I have two daughters who both became teachers from school, through college and very good teachers they are too and one teachers locally. They are both highly regarded in their work and are producing good pupils. Having said that I totally agree with your other points, particularly the dress for both teacher and pupil. I had cause to argue with a headmaster once who thought that competition in the classroom was bad because it made the child who was failing feel bad. It should make them puul their socks up and get help if they wish to get on. My argument was that following his policy would disadvantage a child once they entered the workforce because then they were in real competition and were unprepared for it as a result. We agreed to disagree. morgeo

12:29am Wed 9 May 12

Mick Heavey says...

Hi ‘morgeo’, I can appreciate you supporting your daughters teaching skills but, within the Oxford Mail 250 word letter limit & my limited but improving self-taught précis skills, I perhaps didn't make myself clear. I fully accept that some 'straight from college into school' Teachers may be very good but, generally, the Teaching quality for preparing pupils for a subsequent working environment would be much improved if the Teachers themselves had several years’ experience of a working business environment. Otherwise you risk 'the blind leading the blind'. I've seen poor Teaching theory & practice in action both at school in the 60's, when the ‘Left Wing’ rot set in, & declining in subsequent years which led to me having many arguments with young Teachers about their 'methods'. I've seen children arriving for interviews at my previous Company with many O level, CSE, GCSE & A levels - & even University graduates with supposedly good grades, turning out to be only 'fair' to downright inept when it comes to basic English Language & Mathematics skills, as well as an inadequate amount of common sense. Link this to a rising inability to converse properly without using repetitive slang & little or no debating skills & you have individuals who are basically of little use to an employer. Today, more than ever, 'time = money' & if businesses have to start teaching 'the basics', they will soon collapse under the weight of overseas competition - very often from the Far East but increasingly from the Indian sub-continent & South America. Having worked in a business environment since the mid 60's, I've seen first-hand the results of a continual general decline in teaching methods based on any practical working knowledge. Therefore, I still believe my 30 year minimum age limit for Teachers into schools is valid, before employers see any practical job applicant improvement in the UK. If it doesn't happen, expect more businesses to either close or move abroad.
Hi ‘morgeo’, I can appreciate you supporting your daughters teaching skills but, within the Oxford Mail 250 word letter limit & my limited but improving self-taught précis skills, I perhaps didn't make myself clear. I fully accept that some 'straight from college into school' Teachers may be very good but, generally, the Teaching quality for preparing pupils for a subsequent working environment would be much improved if the Teachers themselves had several years’ experience of a working business environment. Otherwise you risk 'the blind leading the blind'. I've seen poor Teaching theory & practice in action both at school in the 60's, when the ‘Left Wing’ rot set in, & declining in subsequent years which led to me having many arguments with young Teachers about their 'methods'. I've seen children arriving for interviews at my previous Company with many O level, CSE, GCSE & A levels - & even University graduates with supposedly good grades, turning out to be only 'fair' to downright inept when it comes to basic English Language & Mathematics skills, as well as an inadequate amount of common sense. Link this to a rising inability to converse properly without using repetitive slang & little or no debating skills & you have individuals who are basically of little use to an employer. Today, more than ever, 'time = money' & if businesses have to start teaching 'the basics', they will soon collapse under the weight of overseas competition - very often from the Far East but increasingly from the Indian sub-continent & South America. Having worked in a business environment since the mid 60's, I've seen first-hand the results of a continual general decline in teaching methods based on any practical working knowledge. Therefore, I still believe my 30 year minimum age limit for Teachers into schools is valid, before employers see any practical job applicant improvement in the UK. If it doesn't happen, expect more businesses to either close or move abroad. Mick Heavey

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