Comments on: Some standard reflections http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/ A Parent's Perspective from a Ross High Mum Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:32:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: guineapigmum http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-423 guineapigmum Mon, 03 Sep 2007 14:30:10 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-423 Maybe so, although I always feel very much of a lay person where education is concerned. I do reassure myself by thinking that most planners and decision makers are probably also parents. Maybe so, although I always feel very much of a lay person where education is concerned. I do reassure myself by thinking that most planners and decision makers are probably also parents.

]]> By: Jackie Cameron http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-422 Jackie Cameron Sun, 26 Aug 2007 13:53:35 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-422 Maybe we parents who have been through/are going through it could be a valuable -and as yet untapped - resource to the planners and decision makers in the education system? Jackie Maybe we parents who have been through/are going through it could be a valuable -and as yet untapped - resource to the planners and decision makers in the education system?

Jackie

]]> By: guineapigmum http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-421 guineapigmum Fri, 24 Aug 2007 21:58:17 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-421 Hi Jackie. Thanks for your comments! I appreciate that in a few years this will all seem irrelevant - in fact, it almost does already and it is easy for complacency to take over. And I already take pleasure in seeing the boys grow up into personable (at least occasionally!) and responsible members of society. I suppose part of the problem is that parents are only involved and interested as parents for the few years that their children are in the system. Already I have little more than a passing interest in the local primary school, despite umpteen years on the School Board. And by the time as a parent you've worked out how things work, it's too late as your children have been and gone. It must make it very difficult to introduce any meaningful change in, for example, the perception of exam results, that has the support of parents as the parents are always changing. If you see what I mean! I think that's a little confused but it's late at night. As usual. Hi Jackie. Thanks for your comments! I appreciate that in a few years this will all seem irrelevant - in fact, it almost does already and it is easy for complacency to take over. And I already take pleasure in seeing the boys grow up into personable (at least occasionally!) and responsible members of society.

I suppose part of the problem is that parents are only involved and interested as parents for the few years that their children are in the system. Already I have little more than a passing interest in the local primary school, despite umpteen years on the School Board. And by the time as a parent you’ve worked out how things work, it’s too late as your children have been and gone. It must make it very difficult to introduce any meaningful change in, for example, the perception of exam results, that has the support of parents as the parents are always changing.

If you see what I mean! I think that’s a little confused but it’s late at night. As usual.

]]> By: Jackie Cameron http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-420 Jackie Cameron Fri, 24 Aug 2007 17:17:42 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-420 This brings back memories. I am not sure that specialising so young is a bad idea as long as it goes hand- in- hand with encouraging your son to think more widely than his subjects might imply. And, you are right , the measure of success and the indicators for getting into good jobs are still very much exam pass based. When my son decided that he was going to pack school in in sixth year without sitting his Highers his ( very wise) teacher told him just to remember that having passed some exams made the choices for the future different - and possibly wider - than if he didn't. He did pass - boy was it a struggle - and went onto do a course at university that we would never have envisaged him doing. And he is really enjoying it. It will be interesting for you to reflect on this time 10 years on. Although it was all consuming at the time I can barely remember it now ( your post has stirred up old memories) as it has been supercede by the ongoing successes of both of my children - some of which are based on exam passes and others which relate to their growth and success as human beings. Love the blog Jackie This brings back memories. I am not sure that specialising so young is a bad idea as long as it goes hand- in- hand with encouraging your son to think more widely than his subjects might imply. And, you are right , the measure of success and the indicators for getting into good jobs are still very much exam pass based. When my son decided that he was going to pack school in in sixth year without sitting his Highers his ( very wise) teacher told him just to remember that having passed some exams made the choices for the future different - and possibly wider - than if he didn’t. He did pass - boy was it a struggle - and went onto do a course at university that we would never have envisaged him doing. And he is really enjoying it.
It will be interesting for you to reflect on this time 10 years on. Although it was all consuming at the time I can barely remember it now ( your post has stirred up old memories) as it has been supercede by the ongoing successes of both of my children - some of which are based on exam passes and others which relate to their growth and success as human beings.
Love the blog
Jackie

]]> By: guineapigmum http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-417 guineapigmum Fri, 24 Aug 2007 09:39:07 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-417 Thanks Don! I just wish I could get my head round the facts that 1) everyone else seems to think that early choices/exams is a great idea and 2) I think that specialising so young is a seriously bad idea. Thanks Don! I just wish I could get my head round the facts that 1) everyone else seems to think that early choices/exams is a great idea and 2) I think that specialising so young is a seriously bad idea.

]]> By: Don’s Learning Log » Blog Archive » Telling the story http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-415 Don’s Learning Log » Blog Archive » Telling the story Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:24:36 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-415 [...] If you want to read an interesting story about a mother’s perspective on her child sitting his Standard Grades a year early tune into guineapigmum. [...] [...] If you want to read an interesting story about a mother’s perspective on her child sitting his Standard Grades a year early tune into guineapigmum. [...]

]]> By: Don Ledingham http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-414 Don Ledingham Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:05:15 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/guineapigmum/2007/08/23/some-standard-reflections/#comment-414 Fascinating post and demonstrates once again the value of blogs from a variety of perspectives. Fascinating post and demonstrates once again the value of blogs from a variety of perspectives.

]]>