Should children be allowed to have an input in school management?

[Lace Neil Singer]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7086539.ece

Basically, the teacher's union is complaining that children are abusing a system called "student voice" where students are encouraged to evaluate teachers and teaching methods; even allowed to sit in on interviews. Should children have this kind of power? Especially when they abuse it to the point of ridiculousness, such as this, taken from the article:

One teacher complained that they had been told to sing their favourite song during an interview, while another was asked how they would impress the Britain’s Got Talent TV judges.

A teacher who successfully applied for a job told NASUWT a fellow candidate had been rejected by a pupil interviewer for looking like Humpty Dumpty.

Children are not adults, therefore should not have the rights of adults, cuz they don't have the responsibility of adults. Yes, there are bad teachers, but there's got to be a better way of weeding them out without putting the power in the hands of ten year olds.

[AdminAssistant]

Basically, the teacher's union is complaining that children are abusing a system called "student voice" where students are encouraged to evaluate teachers and teaching methods; even allowed to sit in on interviews. Should children have this kind of power?

No. I agree with student evaluations at the college level, as those students are legally adults and usually mature enough to give a good eval. And those evals are really helpful to me and make me a better teacher. However, placing the fortunes of a teacher in the hands of children? No. Let the parents have a voice, sure. But not the kids.

However, I have read studies that indicate that a professor's dress, especially a female professor, can have an effect on evaluations. Just sayin'.

[HYHYBT]

Input, yes, but nothing binding, and nothing anywhere near this level.

[AdminAssistant]

Now, just to add to and clarify, I do think it's okay to have the prospective employee teach a class or lead a discussion...something like that. Just to see how they interact with the kids. They do something similar in University, usually referred to as a "job talk." But even then, students aren't allowed to be part of the interview process. Only exception to that being if they are a student representative on a hiring committee. Then they might be able to sit in on the interview and ask questions, but wouldn't be allowed to vote or decide on whether or not to hire the faculty member.

[Greenday]

At the college level, I think input from students is good. The students are old enough to take evaluations seriously.

Before that, I feel students aren't nearly mature enough. Unless it's a LARGE group of students complaining about one teacher, the students should have no say in what goes on.

[joe hx]

Perhaps I missed it, but what age are these students?

[Lace Neil Singer]

It doesn't say, but the oldest they can be, seeing as it's refering to schools and not colleges, is sixteen.

[elsporko]

Good lord this is idiotic. Lets take the kids who are trouble makers and boost their self esteem by letting them prevent the school from hiring good teachers. I hope this is stopped very soon or in ten years Britain's education system will consist solely of teachers who pander to make students like them the most. No more teaching or disciplining, students won't hire you if your that kind of teacher. Teachers who don't care and show movies every day however will find lots of employment opportunities.

[blas87]

If it wasn't for massive groups of kids in my second high school (well, it helps that nearly all of them got their parents in on it too, and yes, ALL different kinds of kids, even the jocks and popular crowd) standing up and saying something about one really sucky teacher, she'd still be there, Medusa with her snakes in her hair, making every day miserable for a bunch of kids.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

I like the concept behind this, not the execution. I would have the potential applicant teach a class and then after have each student share some thoughts about the new teacher. These opinions would then be considered in addition to background/experience and a formal interview when deciding who to hire.

[Greenday]

I like the concept behind this, not the execution. I would have the potential applicant teach a class and then after have each student share some thoughts about the new teacher. These opinions would then be considered in addition to background/experience and a formal interview when deciding who to hire.

Once again, it really depends on the age of the students. I have no faith in kids in high school or lower to make a decent decision. The majority of choice would be made based on who seems cool and who is hot.

[Rageaholic]

I'm all for giving kids more say in their education and putting an end to this authoritarian crap that goes on in schools, but this is just... wow... WTF?!

Children being allowed to interview teachers?! There are so many things wrong with that I can't even write it all! They might as well let the kids run the school if they are going to go that far.

With that said, yes, I think they should have *some* say. Blas gave a good example of enough students complaining to get rid of a sucky teacher. But only if enough students complain and have good reasons for hating the teacher. Looking like humpty dumpty is not a good reason to fire a teacher.

[Rapscallion]

Teaching should not be a popularity contest.

Rapscallion

[Lace Neil Singer]

Once again, it really depends on the age of the students. I have no faith in kids in high school or lower to make a decent decision. The majority of choice would be made based on who seems cool and who is hot.

Agreed. I think that when kids go to college, that they should get a say in choosing teachers; they choose to go to college, are at an age where they start to have to mature and are being treated like adults. At least, in the college I went to, that was the case. We didn't call our tutors "Mr" or "Mrs/Miss"; we called them by their first names and they treated us like equals.

But kids at primary and secondary school are in no way mature enough to be choosing teachers or sitting in on interviews. We don't need whole schools of teachers chosen on the basis of who looks the best and who lets the kids do as they please. That's not what good teachers are all about.

[Fryk]

I think it could work if tweaked. Instead of just giving them a free vote-down, make them list 3 reasons why they don't want them. They might be able to fake one, but three is a little much for your typical HS student. Then, when looking at the results, factor in the reason why as a reason to validate or invalidate the vote. If they've come up with something that belies what you have seen, you can dig forther, if you want.

Ultimately, in this scenario, the decision would rest on the administrators still.