RED INK

"New guidelines from the board that certifies child-care workers also instructs teachers to avoid negatives like "no" and "don't" because they might hinder a child's development. Staff are told to use alternative words like "stop" instead."

Give it time we'll get there.
BTW I'm offended by "STOP", what if I want to go.
 
I've been reading all the indignation here. All I have to say is, "for God sake do something!" Do you realize that teachers are being fed to the wolves because politicians make decisions for school systems and they do it at the bidding of their constituants. Please if you don't like things be part of the solution, not a part of the audience watching a tragic play. Find out what is going on with No Child Left Behind. The idea is great, the implementation is a nightmare. A HUGE burden is being placed on the education system with very little support financially or otherwise to bear it. Please educate yourselves, and start speaking up. Please help teachers, be part of the solution. I am not a Hilary fan, but it does take a village!
 
>"New guidelines from the board that certifies child-care
>workers also instructs teachers to avoid negatives like "no"
>and "don't" because they might hinder a child's development.
>Staff are told to use alternative words like "stop" instead."
>

I'm a preschool teacher, and I actually agree with this form of guidance. I don't think it will hinder a child's development if I use "no" and "don't", but I've got to say that it's a much nicer envirnoment to work in when we phrase things positively rather than negatively. It also increases language development when you give a reason rather than just saying "stop" or "no, no, Johnny," which is the tendancy when using those phrases.
Here's a simple example:
Janet is hitting Alex over the head with a shovel. Rather than "No, Janet!" we say "Janet, you can dig with the shovel. Use gentle hands." (These kids are 2-4, BTW. And we'd also have them talk to each other and have the hurt child say "stop" or whatever they're capable of saying.)
I think people get too caught up in these things, though. I really understand this use of positive guidance and redirection, and I use it to help my students become problem solvers. It seems like some people heard about positive guidance and don't really understand what it's about, and now they just tell teachers they can't say "no". That's not what it's about...
As for the red ink, that's just silly. Why is red more offensive than purple, green or blue? A red "A" isn't offensive. A red "C", "D" or "F" might be, but the teacher is the one who should be offended, not the student, and it isn't the color that she should be shocked by.
 
>>"New guidelines from the board that certifies child-care
>>workers also instructs teachers to avoid negatives like "no"
>>and "don't" because they might hinder a child's development.
>>Staff are told to use alternative words like "stop"
>instead."
>>
>
>I'm a preschool teacher, and I actually agree with this form
>of guidance. I don't think it will hinder a child's
>development if I use "no" and "don't", but I've got to say
>that it's a much nicer envirnoment to work in when we phrase
>things positively rather than negatively. It also increases
>language development when you give a reason rather than just
>saying "stop" or "no, no, Johnny," which is the tendancy when
>using those phrases.
>Here's a simple example:
>Janet is hitting Alex over the head with a shovel. Rather
>than "No, Janet!" we say "Janet, you can dig with the shovel.
> Use gentle hands." (These kids are 2-4, BTW. And we'd also
>have them talk to each other and have the hurt child say
>"stop" or whatever they're capable of saying.)
>I think people get too caught up in these things, though. I
>really understand this use of positive guidance and
>redirection, and I use it to help my students become problem
>solvers. It seems like some people heard about positive
>guidance and don't really understand what it's about, and now
>they just tell teachers they can't say "no". That's not what
>it's about...
>As for the red ink, that's just silly. Why is red more
>offensive than purple, green or blue? A red "A" isn't
>offensive. A red "C", "D" or "F" might be, but the teacher is
>the one who should be offended, not the student, and it isn't
>the color that she should be shocked by.

While I agree positive reinforcement works with pre-schoolers, something has gone wrong enough that by the time kids are in Jr High, they are terrible. Someone mentioned that it used to be just one or two kids and now the whole time is spent on discipline. That is so true and I have seen a difference in just the 5 years between my kids how much worse it is. It makes me think that in the quest for gentleness and kindness and positive reinforcement, we have forgotten how to teach right from wrong.
 
>BTW I'm offended by "STOP", what if I want to go.

And, since 'stop' signs are red, wouldn't that subconscious association traumatize the child?

(And "stop" sounds like a dog command to me!)
 
> A red "A" isn't
>offensive. A red "C", "D" or "F" might be, but the teacher is
>the one who should be offended, not the student, and it isn't
>the color that she should be shocked by.

LOL! How true!
 
>I've been reading all the indignation here. All I have to say
>is, "for God sake do something!" Do you realize that teachers
>are being fed to the wolves because politicians make decisions
>for school systems and they do it at the bidding of their
>constituants. Please if you don't like things be part of the
>solution, not a part of the audience watching a tragic play.
>Find out what is going on with No Child Left Behind. The idea
>is great, the implementation is a nightmare. A HUGE burden is
>being placed on the education system with very little support
>financially or otherwise to bear it. Please educate
>yourselves, and start speaking up. Please help teachers, be
>part of the solution. I am not a Hilary fan, but it does take
>a village!


Go hopeful!! Go hopeful!!! Get involved indeed all of you very smart people out there!!! Our kids need you!!!! PTA, school volunteering and most of all by empowering our kids in their classroom dealings.

Case in point: I coached my kindergarten daughter last year on how to deal with a very troubled girl in her class (she was a hitter, cursed, stole - no discipline from the school). My feeling was I was not going to be there to fight all her battles so she had to step up. And you know what? My DD had this girl eating out of her hand. She simply said, "Listen, you can't be mean to me because it is wrong, and I won't be your friend any more. And I am the best kind of friend you can have!". How brilliant! Set a boundary and stick to your guns. Let's support our teachers to do the same. And vote anyone out of office who dumbs down this profession!

I was raised by a teacher BTW. And he raised us right.

Julie

P.S. Bill, dare I say my DH's favorite color is RED????
 
That's just silly. Red is a high-contrast color - shows up well against black/white or grey/white. When I've ever proofed my own stuff I use red ink so that I can make sure to see the changes.

I agree - it's PC BS!
 
>>one of my favorite remarks to them when they do whine needlessly, "Get over it, life is not and never will be fair."

AND I also hug them, kiss them, laugh with them, play with them, cry with them, and worship the ground they walk on... <<

DH and I are the same way w/ DS! We love him, support him, encourage him, etc., etc., but we also let him know that life is not fair, not everyone can finish first, there will be people who are better at some things than you, but you will may be better at other things.

One of the things I've liked about living in the UK for the past few years is that the 'ultra-PC' thing hasn't reached DS's school, yet. He goes to football day camp and golf day camp during the school holidays. The staff are always very supportive and encouraging, but they don't pander to the kids. They encourage each child's abilities, but they don't disguise the fact that some children are more talented than others at certain skills. That's just life, and I think it's important for kids to learn that not everyone can be the best at everything.
 
I just had to chime in and say that after reading several of your parenting posts, Bill, I believe we are from the same planet.:) I especially liked the one about no dating until 16 - took that one and made it my own! I have a 16,13 and 5 y/o. I have been accused of being tough, overprotective, not with the times, etc (usually by my kids friends- not by my kids). I love my kids and want them to be responsible, happy, self-sufficient adults - so I discipline them. I love them and want them to LIVE, and that's why I don't let my teens climb into a car with a bunch of kids and ride off! I don't want them to get involved with drugs or become sexually active, so I make sure I know exactly where they are going to be - and I double check that the info is correct!

It's a shame about the red ink business but there seems to be no end to this junk! My favorite remark is one I got off a show my kids were watching a couple years ago - "Life's tough - get a helmet". I use it all the time.:D Marnie;-)
 
Bill,

I don't know what is happening with the world today. (This is off the subject of RED INK but still dealing with the school system). I listen to a particular radio station quite often (christian) and now there's talk about having signs removed from girls room/boys room and replaced with "Unisex". The question was asked: "Well what about the child who doesn't feel comfortable using a stall next to the opposite sex?" No real answer.....


http://www.PictureTrail.com/haydee1

Haydee
 
I find this very intersting. My kids go to a private school and they
have to or we have to buy our own supplies. Guess what starting in
3rd grade they have to have a red pen to correct their papers! I wonder when that will change.... Also there is a public school system
close by that will no longer be giving out letter grades they will say proficient or not proficient. How are parents going to know were
their child truly is and by who's standard? Is your child one or the other?
 
Did anyone else hear the thing that in CA now you are not supposed to use "mother" and "father" in textbooks, because some kids may not have one, and kids with same-sex parents may be upset?

Sparrow

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
I think it's interesting that they feel second graders will be upset by the red ink. My guess is that they are concerned that the "red ink fear" is introduced in second grade and becomes full blown "red ink terror" by high school (I'm sure this could become the next great horror movie flick). I would imagine that there is some truth to the logic behind the rule--in that it takes time to learn the fear of red ink and build the association that red ink is equal to a bad grade, which in turn, causes the bedreaded loathing of self.

Time for a dramatization--Mean teacher (dressed in black) gives student (dressed in white with an angelic glow around him or her) the graded paper with lots of red ink all over it. Zoom to student--"Oh, I am so awful, I screwed up on this assignment and now everyone will know that I am a slacker, an idiot, soon I won't have any friends." Student rushes home to parents. Parents: "What? We can't possibly put this on our refrigerator!" Oh the humanity!

It sounds about right though, afterall, it is much easier to stop using the red ink then to focus on the real problem, which is that the student is consistently performing poorly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top