Teachers Supplying Pens To School Kids.

[mikey4444]

Last might I met a married couple, who were both Teachers. They both worked in reasonably well-off areas. But I was a bit surprised that they both had to buy pens, pencils and art equipment for their Primary School pupils, out of their own money. Between them, they spent about £400 each term.

It seems that the Local Authorities are relying on the good will of Teachers, in order for the kids not to lose out. Amazing !

[sunny-dave]

There are four groups responsible for providing appropriate materials for schoolwork (whether it be ballpoints or art&crafts or domestic science) - in order they are :

1. The Government (delegated to the School Budget)
2. The Parents
3. The Children
4. The Teachers

Only if all of the first three have abdicated/abandoned/neglected their responsibilities should it fall on the teachers - the fact that it does so in anything but occasional extremis is entirly wrong and they are entitled to their moans if it is a regular experience.

[mikey4444]

Spicey...you comments at 10:34 are offensive.

This wasn't an anti-Tory thread. This situation exists here in Wales and Education is under the control of Cardiff, not Number Ten.

I posted this to show how education budgets are failing to provide for the needs of our kids, and that Teachers are coming to the rescue of the situation, and paying money out of their own pockets.

Enough people on here have agreed with the two Teachers that I saw this week, to show its not "made-up".

Next time, try to play the ball and not the man.

[mikey4444]

Sunny...common sense. But can I point out that the Teachers were not complaining as such.....just making the point that without their efforts, the kids wouldn't be served so well.

Teachers have always given much of their free time to help kids...its part and parcel of being a Teacher, and thank goodness they do.

[-Talbot-]

What a load of nonsense.

Kids forget pens ... it happens.
When I was at school you could always depend on borrowing a pen off one of the girls who had a suitcase full.

I've just asked my kids what happens when a pupil forgets their pen ... the teachers have a supply that they will give to the pupils until the lesson ends.

This couple must give out pens like confetti and not bother collecting them back in ... more fool them. (I bet they also do a lot for charriddy)

[mikey4444]

Talbot....your usual twaddle I see !

[-Talbot-]

What would you know ... you don't have kids only anecdotes.

Btw the school that my kids attend also get a C4 if they persistently turn up with no pen.

[ummmm]

It's not twaddle. My kids said the same.

[gness]

Perhaps....just perhaps if we were able to concentrate on all the other things children need and don't bring, not just pens?

[fiction-factory]

mikey, as our thread title is about pen provision I think you are missng the point when you say "I posted this to show how education budgets are failing to provide for the needs of our kids"

I am not sure it is the school's responsibility to provide basic equipment such as pens, just as it's not the school's responsibilty to provide uniform, shoes, break time drinks, etc.

But having worked in lots of schools I know that in some you could provide every child in the school with a new pen at the start of each day and maybe a quarter of them would have lost it by morning break. Pens mysteriously explode leaving pools of ink and smeared faces or mothfuls of ink, get snapped into little bits, get thrown at someone across the room, get pinched ("he's nicked mi pen sir", "No I haven't" or "well he broke mine sir" or just end up on the floor or behind a radiator along with a few broken protractors and rulers. Some kids enjoy destroying glue sticks too- it's good fun trying to get lumps of glue to stick to the ceiling.

I'm not talking about all schools or all classes of course but for too many pupils its a problem of attitude not a lack of resources

[-Talbot-]

I'm not talking about all schools or all classes of course but for too many pupils its a problem of attitude not a lack of resources


Nail on head.

[gness]

So you've changed your mind, Talbot......it isn't twaddle and it does happen?

[-Talbot-]

Eh?

[Spicerack]

Ditto?