Tips and classroom practice in TESprofessional
From this week, the TESpro supplement has been brought into the main body of TES and has been revamped, with new ideas, new features and a new name. Now called TESprofessional, the section still aims to deliver strategies and tips for teachers, but will now do so not just through the regular classroom practice and behaviour articles, but also via a new feature aimed at school leaders. In addition, regular columns look at the classroom of tomorrow, what keeps teachers awake at night and readers’ behaviour questions.
US school holds its first racially integrated prom
A high school in Georgia, US, has held an integrated prom for the first time, nearly 60 years after segregated schools were ruled unconstitutional. Wilcox County High School has held privately funded segregated dances for more than 30 years, and last year, when a mixed-race student attempted to attend the white prom, the police were called. Despite some opposition, the integrated prom went ahead on Saturday evening, although the white-only prom also took place the previous week. “I feel like we are living Martin Luther King’s dream,” Alexis Miller, a white student with an African-American boyfriend, told local news.
Principal hanged herself after inspection worries
A principal found dead at her school less than six months into the job hanged herself, a coroner ruled this week. The body of Helen Mann was discovered at Sytchampton First School in Worcestershire, England, last November. Ms Mann had been worried that the school, for children aged 4-9, would lose its “outstanding” rating from UK schools inspectorate Ofsted, the inquest heard. The coroner said Ms Mann had been a “dedicated and professional teacher, with high expectations of herself”, and had felt under pressure in her new job.
English schools told not to be coy about sex
Many schools in England are failing to give students good-quality sex and relationships lessons, potentially leaving young people open to sexual exploitation or inappropriate behaviour, inspectors have warned. Secondary schools should be teaching students aged 11-18 more about pornography, relationships, sexuality and staying safe, rather than just the “mechanics” of reproduction, schools inspectorate Ofsted said. It also criticised primary schools (for children aged 4-11) for spending too much time teaching students about friendships and relationships, leaving them ill-prepared for puberty. Ofsted said that sex and relationships education needed to be improved in more than a third of schools.
Florida rejects bid for ‘parent trigger’ law
Politicians in Florida, US, have rejected a bid to introduce a controversial law that allows parents to force through teacher sackings or even close failing schools. The “parent trigger” law, introduced in more than 20 US states, allows parents to implement a school closure, prompt a “turnaround” process - involving sacking half the teachers - or convert a school to charter status if the proposal is backed by at least 50 per cent of parents in a ballot. The law has been bitterly opposed by teaching unions, and moves to introduce the legislation in Florida were criticised by campaigners. Republican senator Nancy Detert said: “I have not heard from one parent who supports this bill.”
