Monday 9 November 2015

Parents Angry over 'Walk with Hands Behind Back ' at Primary School. By

Is this measure to extreme to control students' behaviour? 

Unruly pupils: Under the Government's admissions code, schools are told that progression into the sixth form must not be dependent on attitude, attendance or behaviour records.

Parents have hit out at a "repressive" new school rule which demands that their children walk with their hands clasped behind their backs at all times.
Pupils at St George the Martyr Primary School in Holborn, central London, have been ordered to adopt the pose -- known as the "University Walk" -- when walking down corridors.
This follows an order from new executive headteacher Angela Abrahams who says the rules will strengthen pupil safety, raise their aspirations and maximise learning time.
However, it has emerged that parents are preparing a petition against the rule and education chiefs at the Town Hall are understood to have been alerted to unrest at the school gates.
Families are even reportedly choosing different schools because of the policy.
Parent Chantal Aster told the Camden New Journal: "I am personally quite against it, I think it's too dictatorial. It's from one extreme to another. My son is in reception and they walk in a conga line. I think it is a pretty poor way to increase their self-esteem."
She added: "I think just having hands by their sides would be more natural. I know it's only through the corridors but I think it's too restrictive and I find it very repressive."
Carly Taylor, who has three children at the school told the Camden New Journal: "The head is bringing over lots of strategies that are not in keeping with the nurturing and caring feel of our school. I think our identity needs to be protected". She added: "Hands behind the backs is associated with a loss of liberty and lack of trust".
Other parents have privately compared the measure to the way prisoners are kept under control when transported between jails.
Parents opposing the rule say their concerns have not been taken on board by the school's governors, and fear that its rules are being cloned from St Clement Danes School, where Ms Abrahams also serves as head.
Ofsted inspectors praised the school in Westminster after observing pupils walking with "heads held high and hands behind their backs". It was marked "outstanding" for pupil behaviour.
The school declined to comment when approached by the Daily Telegraph,
But Ms Abrahams told the Camden New Journal that the school has seen a 93 per cent reduction in the number of recorded incidents since the walk was introduced.
"It was introduced to strengthen pupil safety, further raise the aspirations of pupils and to maximise learning time. Staff report that they appreciate the impact it has had on learning time and pupils continue to be very happy and excited about learning."
Reverend Guy Pope, the school's chairman, told the New Journal: "I think parents are not looking out for the best interests of their children. It (the rule) is helping to make sure children arrive in class in the best possible frame of mind for learning, in a calm and ordered manner."

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