Author Topic: Diversity in Schools  (Read 5399 times)

StephenM123

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Diversity in Schools
« on: Jan 14, 2020, 07:55:52 AM »
Diversity never seems off the agenda these days. On the local radio this morning they were talking about ethnic minorities being under represented in senior teaching positions. Apparently children need role models. The strange thing is they never talk about men being under represented in the teaching profession. With so many single parent families more male role models are needed. Even my young grandson has commented on this to me!

richmond62

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #1 on: Jan 14, 2020, 09:20:48 AM »
This is utter 'bollo.'

I run a small private English as a Foreign Language school in Bulgaria.

When I appoint a teacher I look for their capabilities, their track record, and last of all (far, far down the list) their formal qualifications.

I really don't worry about whether they are male, female, black, brown, white of sky-blue-pink.

This obsession with 'representation' means that one is forced to involve oneself in gender and racial profiling
when appointing teachers: something we should all be trying to avoid as those are examples of sexism and racism.

Michael Rolls

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #2 on: Jan 14, 2020, 11:19:38 AM »
Well, in the interests of diversity, I have it on very good authority that the SAS has hardly any obese septuagenarians in its ranks
SHAMEFUL!!!
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

klondike

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #3 on: Jan 14, 2020, 11:57:53 AM »
I vaguely recall Brian complaining about this. They found out he'd lied about his age after passing selection.
So long and thanks for all the fish

Michael Rolls

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #4 on: Jan 14, 2020, 12:07:02 PM »
 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

richmond62

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #5 on: Jan 14, 2020, 01:00:19 PM »
I recently applied to work at a University in England.

My application letter and CV were returned with the following sentence:

Dear Sir, as you are over 50 you are not eligible to apply for this position.

I've signed up to a Plastic Surgery clinic here in Bulgaria to undergo a race-change

(White Scots to Black Nigerian [Yoruba])

and then I'll reapply.  8)

mick607

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #6 on: Jan 14, 2020, 01:50:57 PM »
Isn't that age discrimination.?

Michael Rolls

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #7 on: Jan 14, 2020, 02:16:54 PM »
Yes
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!

Jacqueline

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #8 on: Jan 14, 2020, 04:51:38 PM »
If your going down the road of equality, everyone is equal surely even old farts?

zoony

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #9 on: Jan 14, 2020, 05:04:37 PM »
Of course!..But, as Orwell pointed out, some are more equal than others..
"Listen to the wind, it cleans the mind."

"Never use money to measure wealth, son"

                                           cowboy wisdom.

richmond62

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #10 on: Jan 14, 2020, 08:39:22 PM »
The problem is, surely, not how old or how young you are,
but whether you have lost your marbles or not?

zoony

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #11 on: Jan 14, 2020, 08:55:39 PM »
I'm happy to be wrong but it seems to me that, as far as I can tell, none of these people who write about diversity in schools actually go to one...
"Listen to the wind, it cleans the mind."

"Never use money to measure wealth, son"

                                           cowboy wisdom.

richmond62

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #12 on: Jan 14, 2020, 10:02:03 PM »
I'm bl**dy glad I don't have to go to school in Britain, or teach in one any more.

I went to a private, Anglican boarding school:

1. I did not like the Anglican Christianity (especially the endless compulsory church services).

2. I did not like the obsession with team sports.

3. I did not like the fact that the school was boys only.

4. I did not like sleeping in a dormitory with 48 beds.

But, looking back, it was a good thing I had a set of things that were that strong to dislike
and rebel against.

The things I disliked gave a structure to the school.

I was always getting in trouble because I did not conform: no diversity in sight.
In the long run it has done me absolutely no damage at all.

This is why, when my younger son got himself in a bit of a hole when he was 15 we sent him to a boarding school
in Germany which, while being considerably "kinder" than where I went, did have lots of moral and organisational structure:
some of which he liked, and some of which he didn't: emerging as a very fine young man indeed.

The teachers at that school in Germany were all either German or English and fairly undiverse racially and culturally,
although healthily diverse in their interests and specialisations.

If my grandchildren attend schools where the teachers are racially diverse NOT because of some screwy
racial profiling rule or reverse-discrimination, but because they are fine, able teachers that's OK with me.

But if the school is full of token racial types just because some daft, lefty-liberal lot in power has determined every school has to have
a certain percentage of whatever racial group: I'll kick up one hell of a stink.


biglouis

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #13 on: Jan 16, 2020, 12:46:03 AM »
When I was an academic I heard of a colleague in another university who was threatened with disciplinery action for being "insufficiently anti racist" whatever that meant.
Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the blind obedience of fools.

Michael Rolls

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Re: Diversity in Schools
« Reply #14 on: Jan 16, 2020, 03:05:59 AM »
Probably meant that he committed the crime of being white and male
Mike
Thank you for the days, the days you gave me.
The older I get, the better I was!