teachers to 'supervise' tooth brushing

Morglin

meritaten wrote: »

I am sure I saw this on the news - it had me checking the calendar in case it was April 1st.

I've been waiting for a thread to appear on it!

apparently they want teachers to supervise the class (primary/nursery) brushing their teeth each morning.

sorry, but I think teachers have far better things to do each morning - like actually TEACH?

What other Parental Responsibilities are 'they' planning on taking over? isn't this getting silly now? whats next - turning all State Primary schools into boarding schools so they can 'supervise' all aspects of the kids lives? (yeah I know, that's silly - or is it?)

Years ago, the expectation (generally adhered to) was that parents would prepare breakfast for the kids, supervise teeth brushing, and prepare them for school with being able to use a toilet, dress themselves and tie their laces etc.,

When did this all become the responsibility of teachers? :think:

Breakfast clubs and now this is just absolving parents of their responsibilities - working or not, they should be able to organise their own kids. :doh:

Teachers are not parents, nor are they social workers - they are just there to just try and educate the children.

Lin :wall:

notanewuser

Morglin wrote: »

Years ago, the expectation (generally adhered to) was that parents would prepare breakfast for the kids, supervise teeth brushing, and prepare them for school with being able to use a toilet, dress themselves and tie their laces etc.,

When did this all become the responsibility of teachers? :think:

In this area children will often start school (full time) at 3 - many on their 3rd birthday. I don't know of any child that was completely capable of going to the toilet themselves, wiping properly etc without adult intervention on their 3rd birthday, never mind tying laces etc.

Errata

Morglin wrote: »

Teachers are not parents, nor are they social workers - they are just there to just try and educate the children.

Lin :wall:

Which they seem not to be particularly good at given the number of children who leave school and are barely literate and numerate, and the remedial work universities have to undertake with new intakes.

Janepig

Morglin wrote: »

Years ago, the expectation (generally adhered to) was that parents would prepare breakfast for the kids, supervise teeth brushing, and prepare them for school with being able to use a toilet, dress themselves and tie their laces etc.,

When did this all become the responsibility of teachers? :think:

Breakfast clubs and now this is just absolving parents of their responsibilities - working or not, they should be able to organise their own kids. :doh:

Teachers are not parents, nor are they social workers - they are just there to just try and educate the children.

Lin :wall:

I've got no issue with breakfast club - AFAIK they're not run by teachers anyway. Certainly in DS's school it's the dinner ladies who run it and at least one LSA, all get paid overtime for doing it.

As for trying to educate the children, I don't see DS's current teacher trying very hard!!

notanewuser wrote: »

In this area children will often start school (full time) at 3 - many on their 3rd birthday. I don't know of any child that was completely capable of going to the toilet themselves, wiping properly etc without adult intervention on their 3rd birthday, never mind tying laces etc.

My cousin's boy started full time school last year, two weeks after he turned three and he was still in nappies. My cousin was mortified but the school made it quite clear that they had no problem with it and again I don't think he was ever helped by a teacher, there were nursery nurses and LSA's to assist him if he needed changing.

I don't know much helping in terms of wiping, etc.... goes on there though - I took DS to the toilet in the nursery block when he was there as he needed to go when I collected him one day. Buzzing is not the word after a day of three and four year olds using them. Ewwwwwww. DD also went missing on one occasion when she was there and she was found in the toilet swilling out her knickers under the tap as she'd had an accident.

Jx

cazziebo

Errata wrote: »

Which they seem not to be particularly good at given the number of children who leave school and are barely literate and numerate, and the remedial work universities have to undertake with new intakes.

Errata - have you been reading the Daily Mail?!

I left school with near perfect spelling and grammar, but nowhere near the level of life skills and communication ability my daughters have. THANK YOU, TEACHERS! (and maybe if our politicians stopped forcing non academic kids into universities remedial work wouldn't be an issue?)

Back to the point. We are facing huge challenges in our society. Childhood obesity, poverty, poor dental health, adolescent mental health issues, behavioural problems are increasingly causing problems for ALL of us. Too many children are being failed by those who are supposed to care for them - and sadly that's their parents in most cases.

Teachers, over burdened as they are, are so well placed to be the major stable, positive influence in children's lives. I agree it's not right and not fair, but who else can support children when their main carers are letting them down?

It is a damning indictment of where we are today, and a huge imposition on an undervalued profession, but is there an alternative workable solution?

Errata

cazziebo wrote: »

Errata - have you been reading the Daily Mail?!

No, just watching Educating Yorkshire, Educating Essex, Educating the East End.

dingdongavoncalling

sulphate wrote: »

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29712453

Funny, I thought that teeth hygiene came under parenting, not teaching.

What will teachers have to do next, wipe the kids' bums?

Haven't had chance to read all the answers but yes - wiping bottoms is part of a infant school teacher's daily routine. I teach my class how to wipe their own bottoms and then check they are clean.



We also spend lots of time on skills such as dressing and undressing, all of which are in the curriculum

sooty&sweep

Hi
I totally agree that supervising tooth brushing is a parents job not a teachers.
However it is useful for the importance of dental hygiene & what happens if you don't look after your teeth to be reinforced at school. As children don't always listen to tgeir parents.
Jen