Read the following with a massive pinch of salt! (and also forgive any typos .. I will correct in the morning! I still have a floor to mop this evening!!)

If you needed a reason (as if we need more of them!) as to why PISA and the other international benchmark tests cannot be taken in isolation you need to watch Are Our Kids Tough Enough?: Chinese School on BBC 2.

Taking aside the fact that these type of programmes are subject to a great deal of editing – otherwise it would be sh1t viewing – let’s just say I’m not convinced programmes like this were the best idea Nicky Morgan has had for teacher recruitment (to be fair its better than bringing people out of retirement!) … I am joking of course it had nothing to do with the DfE (I hope!)

Whilst the programme isn’t going to get people running to sign up to be a teacher – it came across loud and clear that teaching is so very far away from the romantic images of standing on desks and spouting “poetry” but if nothing else it’s got people talking about teaching.

I have been banging on this drum for what seems like forever … you can’t separate education from the culture in which it operates .. Fact! I am not saying we can’t learn from the Chinese but I genuinely believe we have the expertise here (YES … here in this country!) … and I’m not convinced that the exchange programme will bring about the changes or results that the government is expecting. Looking elsewhere and trying to “superimpose” models from such a culturally different nation isn’t in my view what we need right now … there is a danger that changes (and I don’t mean sweeping ones either) could, exacerbate the spiral the system is in and what we need is to stop the spiraling before making more changes but no-one is listening. There is an argument that the government is but are they really? OK so I can find lists and lists of consultees and people involved in projects but someone once told me and I keep hearing the words … the further you go up the “maths aristocracy” chain the more likely you are to change your views and stop being questioning or bringing differing views to the table. Why? Well they’re flattered they are involved and start believing the hype and it gets worse when these people move into paid roles … their mortgage then depends on it!

Now don’t be coming back to me with arguments about learning and reflecting as a teacher – I do that every single flipping day! There is a danger that prescripted methods will creep into teaching and de-professionalise us (is that a word?) … you only need to listen to the ministers talking about standard lesson plans and textbooks. It worries me. No … it does! Somebody, somewhere thinks that teaching is something that can be broken down into a series of tick boxes … almost like … “now if you do X, Y then Z .. You’ll be a good teacher”. What nonsense!

Anyway back to the programmes – if you’d watched it you’ll come away with so many feelings and opinions .. so here are some thoughts for you …

I was a bit disappointed with the comment after observing a lesson: “I don’t want teachers talking at pupils to be the better method, that doesn’t sit right with me.” and not because I have an opinion about the most effective way to teach, but “so much for an open mind” was my first thought.. If this is the best method then “so be it” – surely we should be looking for the right methodology regardless of what we want “it” to be. This links to my issue with Shanghai and all that is being done with the exchange programme … it all feels very much pre-ordained and this isn’t what should be happening. It goes against everything that I hold dear.

At one point it was said that “In China we don’t need classroom management skills” well in the UK the vast majority of teachers do and this isn’t because we are shit teachers … we’re not!. It’s because we operate in a different culture and it cannot be separated from what goes on in schools and the fact is that behaviour management is THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING to nail as a teacher. At the heart of it, in my opinion it was very, very, very clear that the programme wasn’t about the difference in teaching methods (when the maths teacher got the puzzles out I thought it was fab and a hook to some of the kids which I know most of us have used at some point … something… anything to get them interested!) it was more about the different cultures and the different expectations.

Some people will have views that it isn’t schools that are failing the kids … it’s the parents. Not my view by the way! I would question are we really failing them? By what measure?… if its PISA (or similar) its flawed. Having seen the programme others will suggest that there is a choice between our system where we have to face behaviour issues and the Chinese system of teaching “robots” … and that isn’t the case. Well it shouldn’t be. I know our system isn’t perfect. I am not naïve but the flaws are just the symptoms of the bigger picture .. the UK society. Schools are not at fault.

Teaching is such a complex thing. There is no “golden bullet” apart from … time. The time to build relationships with students. The time to understand what makes them tick. The time to build their trust in you. The time … (complete the sentence as you feel fit because I could go on and on and on!)

Towards the end, the teachers were seen discussing their groups and it was evident that they care … all teachers do! You couldn’t do this job if you didn’t care! These conversations do not just take place with Chinese teachers teaching in English schools, they take place in every school and almost every teacher has had them when taking on a new class. The clip at the end was heartbreaking. Seeing a teacher in tears is an everyday occurrence in some schools and that makes me sad – it wasn’t that long ago that I was sobbing in a cupboard (it’s a big cupboard!) but I’m over it now!

I am cynical and I know that the programme would have some “bigger – deeper” aim … I’m also as shallow as a teaspoon and so maybe that has passed me by so maybe I’ll come back tomorrow once I’ve slept on it.

One final thought … four words … I love my job!

Compulsive viewing!