5/5/2008 8:56:00 AM
TEACHERS SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED
Letters; The Times 5 May
The claim that there are up to 24,000 failing teachers is unfounded and unacceptableSir, The claim that there are up to 24,000 failing teachers (report, May 2) is unfounded and unacceptable; and the attempt by Keith Bartley, chief executive of the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE), to create a witch-hunt by publicly condemning teachers without a shred of hard evidence is outrageous. To bemoan the fact that the GTCE has only had 46 cases of incompetence and then to draw the conclusion that incompetent teachers are not being reported reeks of the regulator of the teaching profession touting for extra business. Teachers are already monitored and inspected to within an inch of their lives, and all maintained schools are required to have a policy and procedure in place to deal with capability issues which can end in dismissal for a teacher. All the statistics show that the vast majority of teachers are doing a good job and are delivering improvements in outcomes for pupils in line with the Government’s aspirations. We should be celebrating the hard work, dedication and demonstrable achievements of teachers rather than lining up to undermine their status, competence and professionalism.
Chris Keates General Secretary, NASUWT
Sir, Having taught in both state and private sectors for more than 35 years, and served as pastoral governor of a comprehensive school, I’ve seen many situations in which the problem was not so much the teacher but the lack of authority invested in school governance itself. When a 14-year-old lad marches into ones classroom, throws his satchel on the floor and proclaims that he “bloody well does not want to be in school, and f***ing well does not intend to do any work” then this involves the whole ethos of the school, and its leadership and management. I hear at first hand of London comprehensives where youngsters cannot hear teachers because of the general chatter and the widespread use of mobiles; of course students may well see little point to being in school. A considerable percentage of teachers find that they cannot cope on their own — nor should they have to.
Brian Stowe Great Malvern, Worcs
Sir, I would urge readers to take the figures on the number of incompetent teachers with a very large pinch of salt. They are more to do with the reluctance of many teachers to deliver their lessons in the totally prescribed and doctrinal manner demanded by Ofsted inspectors. A colleague of mine (a very good teacher, I might add) was told her lesson was unsatisfactory because she failed to smile at a pupil who walked in late and told another pupil that she thought he was lazy. One of the principal reasons for disaffection in teachers is having to jump through ever-changing Ofsted hoops that deliver little or no benefit to the pupils.
Peter Holmes Alcester, Warwickshire
General
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