Gareth Malone’s Extraordinary School for Boys

This is a sort place marker. First I heard about it was when JH text me earlier asking if I was watching it and how she wasn’t sure how she’d cope. (I hope you don’t mind me mentioning that!)

So, I’ve sort of watched it between eating dinner and idly washing up at midnight and noticing my sister has put a picture I drew when I was 10 on FB and packing for the weekend. I plan to watch it again on Sunday when I’ve had a chance to properly think about it, especially after reading other peoples views on it (Teachers on the TES website/Independent.co.uk T.V. critic/BBC Blog comments.

I think my initial response was that of a teacher (which I am, primary trained male(!) with only a few years experience). Lots of well it’s all well and good but. BUT. But those boys in a class with just him in charge would have been a different thing without those hovering adults. But what about all the other subjects? But what happens when it’s over? However I think my views are mellowing slightly.

Still, we’ll see.

In any case, it’s not all boys that are struggling. I was in a school today teaching boys of a similar age to the ones in the programme. Most of them were quite happy to read when asked. In fact, I had to ask one of them to stop reading so that we could get on with the lesson. Also, one of them was reading ‘The Day My Bum Went Psycho’ (also by the same author ‘Zombie Butts From Uranus!’).

September 10, 2010

Posted in Uncategorized.