The Gentle World of Childhood: Starting School in England

The Gentle World of Childhood: Starting School in England
ISBN-10
1889574104
ISBN-13
9781889574103
Category
Education
Pages
102
Language
English
Published
2001
Publisher
Severn Books
Author
William Stephens

Description

"Infants" bring their Teddy bears to Mossford Green. On the schoolgrounds, a teacher takes them by the hand. At the moments when they might feel overwhelmed, they can go into the Wendy house, lie down on a little bed, be covered up by another child. Older girls, aged perhaps nine to eleven, are eager to mother them. In the one case of school phobia: Steven sat on a mother's lap, wearing his balaclava and gloves; other children gave him parts of their "biscuits." Although the classes are large, up to thirty-nine pupils, children receive individualized attention. They work on their own workbooks, moving at their own pace; there is little time for teaching "chalk-and-talk." An Infant, learning to read, reads out loud to a teacher or to a parent-helper. The Infant's progress -- abd what sounds and words he is having trouble with -- are noted in a journal. In this manner, each adult whom he reads to, know his reading level and what he needs to work on. Although the children are eager to learn, open competition is discouraged. Slow learners are treated with special kindness; and of course they have their own slow-paced assignments. Other children ask to sit with them and help them. A phenomenon familiar to us -- slow learners, embarrassed, becoming alienated from school -- seems not to occur at Mossford Green. Slow learners still enjoy school. They look forward to going to Mrs. Opposs' Special Help. "May I go to Special Help?" -- "But you don't need to go to Special Help." Moral education, learning how to live as a responsible adult, is a major theme at Mossford Green. The school takes in handicapped children from a nearby institution, Doctor Barnardo's. The other children must learn to live with them -- make allowances for them, help them through the day. Mossford Green has campaigns for various charities, as do other schools in England. Also the children make cards and presents and tokens of appreciation to others; and there are appreciation programs, as with Safety Sam's retirement. Finally, there are moral-education discussions. These follow stories told in School Assembly. -- "What would you think, if you had been put in that position?" -- Also, special opportunities are taken advantage of as when "The Football Team went on a Shoplifting Spree." Ordering: Pathway Book Service. Phone: 1-800-345-6665. Fax: 1-603-357-2073. E-mail: pbs@pathwaybook.com

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