tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544753163957519344.post4787253724215194989..comments2023-09-30T10:52:59.386+01:00Comments on skillsworkshop Blog: Can’t read, can’t write - episodes one and twoMaggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13946096894888521811noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544753163957519344.post-34371179004300032672008-08-10T20:02:00.000+01:002008-08-10T20:02:00.000+01:00I have now seen all three episodes of "Can'tRead, ...I have now seen all three episodes of "Can'tRead, Can't Write" and read Phil Beadle's comments in The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/aug/05/teaching.education) and am perplexed as to why a "super" teacher with no previous knowledge of teaching literacy was allowed to present his half-baked ideas and teaching methods on national television. <BR/><BR/>His comments on the core curriculum showed a complete lack of knowledge of the curriculum, the purpose of the curriculum or the teaching materials SfL teachers have developed over the years to improve literacy in their classes. <BR/><BR/>He showed lack of professionalism in critising a teacher whose class he observed and then the college at which that teacher taught. He lost his temper with the students, used far too much TTT and alienated several students. <BR/><BR/>I hope that none of my prospective students for September have seen the programme. It could have put them off literacy classes for life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544753163957519344.post-47054508714449207862008-07-31T14:33:00.000+01:002008-07-31T14:33:00.000+01:00As a Skills for Life tutor of more than a decade's...As a Skills for Life tutor of more than a decade's standing I agree that this programme may well put learners off. Who would want to come into a classroom where the learners use children's materials and the tutor feels the need to swear and tell everbody he needs to calm down?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544753163957519344.post-57441724630489027452008-07-30T23:58:00.000+01:002008-07-30T23:58:00.000+01:00I had a feeling that one client had been chosen ra...I had a feeling that one client had been chosen rather more for their telly-appeal than anything else. <BR/><BR/>Some of the strategies beggared belief - take the single mum who was taken off to see the expensive independent school for dyslexic children which was totally out of her reach. What was the point of that? To crush her spirit? Oh right, well, job done then. <BR/><BR/>The tiff and walk out smacked of stage management. One needs that sort of incident to keep the punters from switching over. Gives the programme a focal point and a bit of structure, y'know.<BR/><BR/>And as for wheeling in a calligrapher for someone who has a phobia about writing - words fail! No action could have made it more transparent that Beadell does not know his stuff. <BR/><BR/>Shocking to those who work in the field but remember that this is designed to entertain not to inform. A film about a well-run adult literacy class would not make an entertaining 1-hour show. <BR/>A great pity if it puts folks off joining a class but don't labour under any delusion that Channel 4 cares about that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6544753163957519344.post-6301874751974705912008-07-30T08:43:00.000+01:002008-07-30T08:43:00.000+01:00I agree with Rachel. It was sickening to watch Ph...I agree with Rachel. It was sickening to watch Phil Beadle's 'performance' with the students. One of the few bright spots in this week's programme was when Linda got up and walked out of the class. I suspect she was the one who had the courage to say what everyone else was thinking.<BR/>I suggest that as many people as possible send complaints to Channel 4. If you google 'Channel4 complaints' and follow the first link it comes up with, you will get a form which enables you to register an official complaint.<BR/>Amy Burgess<BR/>Chair, RaPAL www.rapal.org.ukAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com