Wednesday 1 February 2012

Complete This Sentence...

Primary schools in Lewisham and Croydon will be the first in England to use...
Outdated but actually competent teaching methods? New technology? Tasers?
...infants...
Wha..?
...to educate children as young as four about emotional literacy.
*boggle*
The Roots of Empathy scheme, aimed primarily at five- to 10-year-olds from problem homes, has reduced rates of bullying in schools in the US, Canada and New Zealand. The Big Lottery today announced two grants of £900,000 to fund the scheme in the south London boroughs.
What, are they going to use it to buy the babies?!
Organisers are looking for 25 pregnant women to volunteer to take their babies into schools nine times during the school year. Trainers will also visit from Canada to educate local instructors in running the programme.
/facepalm
Val Pope, executive manager at the Lewisham Pre-School Learning Alliance, said: "Roots has an incredible impact on levels of aggression in children and on issues such as bullying and inclusion.

"It improves children's social and emotional competence - increased sharing, helping, caring and empathy. And research has shown that empathy is an antidote to violence."
And also a nice little earner for someone...

12 comments:

Pavlov's Cat said...

I assume that they have to be pregnant because if they weren't by the time their enhanced CRB check comes through thier kids would actually be in the class and that woudl defeat the object of showing them baaaaybeeees

I believe Enhanced CRB checks are still required for adults having 'regular' contact with children

Macheath said...

Back in the 1970s, my local high school started a childcare class for the less academic 5th-formers.

Through contacts in the town, the staff arranged for a group of mothers to bring their babies for regular visits so the pupils could put into practice the skills they had learnt.

Funnily enough, this didn't cost anyone a penny - apart from the tea and biscuits the school offered the visiting mothers while their children were being fed, bathed, changed and entertained by pupils for an hour.

A win-win situation, it all made perfect sense - right up until the moment it was shut down by Health and Safety.

Anonymous said...

'.. and inclusion.'

Steve

Tattyfalarr said...

research has shown that empathy is an antidote to violence

I beg to differ.

Experience has shown me that empathy is essential in visiting violence on other people.

It helps enormously to know precisely how much something is going to hurt someone else otherwise what's the point ?.

Kevin said...

the fuck is "emotional literacy"? Someone invented that phrase methinks, probably after a touch of good Merlot and an idea to take a lot of dosh out of the taxpayers' pockets.

Captain Haddock said...

"Primary schools in Lewisham and Croydon will be the first in England to use" ...

Lion Tamers ?

"Organisers are looking for 25 pregnant women to volunteer to take their babies into schools nine times during the school year" ..

Given the chosen locations, isn't this just encouraging the "dope" carriers ?

jaded said...

Shouldn't be hard to find 25 pregnant women in Lewisham or Croydon.Might be very hard to find that many married ones though!

Woman on a Raft said...

It is an irony of the age that those who prattle about emotional literacy and empathy demonstrably don't have any.

If they did they would STFU before the urge to brain them becomes overwhelming.

If there is one thing which would make me beg cigarettes from Dick Puddlecote and head for the nearest outdoor place, it is them. Actually, I might go anyway, take some rolled-up paper and pretend to be smoking it, just to get away.

Besides, it's sexist, innit. Why aren't they advertising for fathers-to-be to go in to schools? They'll have babies when the time comes.

If you have been offended by this you need a compo form and just take out one of these no-win no-fee insurance policies....

Captain Haddock said...

"Besides, it's sexist, innit. Why aren't they advertising for fathers-to-be to go in to schools? " ..

'Cos its virtually impossible to identify 'em .. even the potential mothers don't know which one was responsible, half the time ..

Captain Haddock said...

"Shouldn't be hard to find 25 pregnant women in Lewisham or Croydon.Might be very hard to find that many married ones though! " ..

It'd be easier to find bloody Unicorns .. ;)

JuliaM said...

"I assume that they have to be pregnant because if they weren't by the time their enhanced CRB check comes through thier kids would actually be in the class.."

LOL!

"...right up until the moment it was shut down by Health and Safety."

Indeed! I wonder if that will happen again? And what if they don't get volunteers?

" Someone invented that phrase methinks, probably after a touch of good Merlot and an idea to take a lot of dosh out of the taxpayers' pockets."

It seems a lot of useless 'policy' is formulated on nonsense concepts these days, doesn't it?

"Besides, it's sexist, innit. Why aren't they advertising for fathers-to-be to go in to schools? "

I think that question's been answered... ;)

livescore said...

Gorgeous dress and lovely fabric choice! Don't be sad about ผลบอล moving to London, think of all the lovely vintage social events you ผลบอลสด can go to. Also London has great fabric shops!