"attention clapping" at school reinforces conformity

[ev]

I was thinking today back in primary school how during class, when the teacher wanted the childrens attention she would clap a rhythm of some kind and we would have to follow it, and those who did not would be disciplined accordingly.

I think such approaches to teaching only reinforces the conformity of students to the education system and does not assist in learning. If anything it teaches students not to question authority at a young age and asserts a hierarchy and a status quo between the relationship of school faculty and students/children.

I think if teachers must get the attention of their class then why can they not deliver lessons in an enjoyable way?

[Communist Theory]

Sounds like some evil communist plot.
:rolleyes:

[jake williams]

I was thinking today back in primary school how during class, when the teacher wanted the childrens attention she would clap a rhythm of some kind and we would have to follow it, and those who did not would be disciplined accordingly.

I think such approaches to teaching only reinforces the conformity of students to the education system and does not assist in learning. If anything it teaches students not to question authority at a young age and asserts a hierarchy and a status quo between the relationship of school faculty and students/children.

I think if teachers must get the attention of their class then why can they not deliver lessons in an enjoyable way?
I basically agree.

Shouldn't be in chit chat.

[Angry Young Man]

Whoever said that politics has no place in Chitchat? Chatcats are reds too, you know!

[Killfacer]

Not sure. To be honest when i used to babysit and i wanted to get the two kids attention to tell em to go to bed i'd leap up and clap.

[apathy maybe]

when i used to babysit and i wanted to get the two kids attention to tell em to go to bed i'd leap up and clap them.

Not a true story.

[Angry Young Man]

When I wanted to send them to bed, I'd lace their milk with tranks.

[Pogue]

When I used to babysit and wanted to get the kids atgtention i'd tell them that i had the clap

[Killfacer]

when i used to babysit and i wanted to get the two kids attention to tell em to go to bed i'd leap up and clap them.

Not a true story.

why would i lie about something as mundane as clapping to some 9 year old kids? When they're gawping at ben10 you have to do something to grab their attention.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Clapping?! What on Earth is this nonsense? In my day, when a primary school teacher wanted the attention of the class, he or she (usually a she, though) simply raised their VOICE!

Aren't teachers allowed to shout at kids any more or something? :confused:

[apathy maybe]

why would i lie about something as mundane as clapping to some 9 year old kids? When they're gawping at ben10 you have to do something to grab their attention.

You didn't actually read it did you.

I said I used to "clap" the children.

Not that I ever did.

[Angry Young Man]

Clapping?! What on Earth is this nonsense? In my day, when a primary school teacher wanted the attention of the class, he or she (usually a she, though) simply raised their VOICE!

Aren't teachers allowed to shout at kids any more or something? :confused:

Noxion = Daily Fail.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Schools under capitalism reinforce conformity.

It's one of their primary functions if you go to public schools in the US. The main thing they are there to teach you is how to follow instructions for when you get a job in a office, factory, store, or join the military.

At elite schools they teach you the precious bubble of light that is your individuality so that you can grow up to be in the Ruling Class or a Professional and throw a 10-minute tantrum when someone messes up your order of coffee. That low-fat instead of 2% milk crushed your unique individual specialness!

Damn, me, that was bitter. Seriously, everyone should have a good education so they don't end up bitter like me.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Noxion = Daily Fail.

Puh-leez. I said "raised their voice" not "screamed in apoplectic rage before smashing a ruler over our heads"

[Angry Young Man]

It wasn't that; it was the 'are teachers not allowed to raise their voices at children anymore? It's political correctness GONE MAD!'

Plus if you were anything of a teacher you wouldn't need to raise your voice to any of them apart from that cheeky little ****.

That is why you are a daily fail. I bet you come from the (outside London) South East.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

It wasn't that; it was the 'are teachers not allowed to raise their voices at children anymore? It's political correctness GONE MAD!'

It wasn't a rhetorical question, and I mentioned nothing about political correctness. In my experience it's perfectly normal for teachers to raise their voices in certain circumstances.


Plus if you were anything of a teacher you wouldn't need to raise your voice to any of them apart from that cheeky little ****.Maybe I just had crappy teachers, but my ones felt they needed they needed to be heard over the din of a noisy classroom.


That is why you are a daily fail. I bet you come from the (outside London) South East.You would lose that bet, since I was born in Lewisham and went to school there.

[Jazzratt]

I was thinking today back in primary school how during class, when the teacher wanted the childrens attention she would clap a rhythm of some kind and we would have to follow it, and those who did not would be disciplined accordingly.

I think such approaches to teaching only reinforces the conformity of students to the education system and does not assist in learning. If anything it teaches students not to question authority at a young age and asserts a hierarchy and a status quo between the relationship of school faculty and students/children.

I think if teachers must get the attention of their class then why can they not deliver lessons in an enjoyable way?


I think the clapping in rythm idea, which to be honest I'd never heard of before, is a fairly benign way of grabbbing attention - the kids concentrate on something other than being an unruly mob for a few minutes while the teacher can gather his/her thoughts. So if it works I'm all for it.

As for the NoXion/Ignorant Young Man argument:
As NoXion pointed out it is perfectly normal for a teacher to shout and there is little reason it shouldn't be. If you've ever been in a noisy classroom you will see why people sometimes need to raise their voice.

I love, incidentally, how people feel more than qualified to tell teachers how to do their jobs; When you go to a pub do you tell the barstaff how to do theirs?

[apathy maybe]

When you go to a pub do you tell the barstaff how to do theirs?
Yes, of course.

I'm always like, come on, put a bit more vodka in that Bloody Mary...! Or even, Shirley Bloody Temple? What is this place a kids party?

[ev]

Schools under capitalism reinforce conformity.

It's one of their primary functions if you go to public schools in the US. The main thing they are there to teach you is how to follow instructions for when you get a job in a office, factory, store, or join the military.

At elite schools they teach you the precious bubble of light that is your individuality so that you can grow up to be in the Ruling Class or a Professional and throw a 10-minute tantrum when someone messes up your order of coffee. That low-fat instead of 2% milk crushed your unique individual specialness!

Damn, me, that was bitter. Seriously, everyone should have a good education so they don't end up bitter like me.

Yes, of course.

I'm always like, come on, put a bit more vodka in that Bloody Mary...! Or even, Shirley Bloody Temple? What is this place a kids party?

Best posts..

My position on this is that teachers shouldn't do idiotic things like clap and make fools of themselves. Instead they should tell the student's what they're trying to do ('teach') and remind children not to interrupt them. Personally, yelling lacks subtlety and may evoke resentment and fear amongst the younglings :)

[NecroCommie]

Raising the voice works well enough. It does not have to be angry in tone, or so loud that it hurts. It simply needs to be slightly above the neutral sound level in order to remind the students what they are supposed to do. Dismissing problem students does miracles also.