READING, WRITING, RIGHT AND WRONG

Standards are on the slide. Youngsters don't know right from wrong. That's the view of a growing number, who are also looking for where to put the blame. Parents take much of the criticism, but so do the country's schools. As the national debate about moral teaching in our schools rolls on, Ashtead at Easter talks to the head-teacher of one Ashtead school…

Vivienne Aitchison, head-teacher at St Giles C of E Aided Infants School, together with her teaching colleagues, decided only recently to review the school rules.

However, rather than write them herself, Vivienne asked the pupils what they thought the rules should be - a somewhat risky idea, you might think. Teachers put the question to each class: It's your playground, so what rules would you make to help everyone enjoy it together?

'No pushing, kicking, fighting…' etc. Pupils gave a list of 'do nots', which were difficult to remember, and would also have made for a very negative air about the school. Instead, Vivienne Aitchison turned these into one simple and positive rule: "Be kind".

Similarly, another set of 'thou shalt nots' could be summed up with a "Be safe". The children had a final set of complaints, such as others barging into their game or interrupting whatever they were doing. These and other examples of 'anti-social behaviour' could be reflected with a straight-forward "Be polite".

This is how St Giles found its three rules which cover nearly all that a naughty school child can muster. So, when someone has transgressed in one of a number of possible ways, teachers can say: "and why should you not do that?" The answer will probably have something to do with being kind, safe, polite… or even all three!

COMMENT

Jane Hiley teaches at Woodville Junior School, Leatherhead. For most of the 7-11 year-old pupils, Therfield School is the next step. Jane, who also worships at St Giles and St George's, writes in defence of our schools.

"Too many people say that children's behaviour is the school's responsibility. Well, yes it is. But it is everyone else's responsibility as well.

The article above about St Giles is one of a number of similar stories. My own school in Leatherhead has 10 principles in our code of conduct, which we have made into a booklet and a wall display. Like St Giles, we and many others have happy, yet structured and disciplined schools.

However, we need parents and others in the community to reinforce the messages that children receive at school. They need this wider teamwork. If a child acts dangerously, call on what he or she has been taught at school. Speak out in a caring way - rather than ignore it altogether."

See also St Giles' School