UNICEF report: UK kids as the most “unhappy” ones

[dbears 1]

Teachers call for Royal Commission into 'why children are so unhappy'

Teachers are calling for a Royal Commission to be set up investigate why so many children feel unhappy and to find ways of alleviating the problem.

The call comes in the wake of a major international report from Unicef that put the UK at the bottom of a league table for childhood well-being.

The teachers argue that compulsory homework should be scrapped for primary school children and cut back for teenagers because the pressure it causes is a key factor in childhood unhappiness.

One independent secondary school, the Wellington College in Berkshire, has even introduced "happiness" lessons in an attempt to make sure pupils grow up with the emotional resilience they need.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) will debate a motion at its annual conference in Torquay next week "that many children in our schools appear unhappy and anxiousâ€.

The motion adds: "Children should be able to explore, experiment and enjoy their learning without feeling pressurised.

"Homework has become an increasing pressure placed on children in primary and secondary schools."

The union blames a lack of resources and parental help available to less-advantaged pupils for causing resentment.

General secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: “Everyone just accepts that homework has got to be done.

"I think a lot of homework is a waste of time. It puts a huge amount of stress, particularly on children from disadvantaged homes.â€

For these poorer children, who do not have books, computers and well-educated parents to help, homework can lead to resentment of school, she said.

"Middle-class children can go home and get help with their homework; disadvantaged children can't and then they get in trouble," Dr Bousted said.

"I think it sets up a cycle of resistance to school because they don't have access to the cultural and emotional and learning support which middle-class children can get."

Current guidelines say children aged five to seven should be set an hour's homework a week, rising to two-and-a-half hours a night for 14 to 16-year-olds.

A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families rejected the union's concerns, saying: "A good, well-organised homework programme helps children and young people to develop the skills and attitudes they will need for successful, independent, lifelong learning.

"Research shows that for most children, 2008 is a great time to be a child.

"Most children are happy, most are achieving to a higher level than ever before, enjoying better health, more opportunities to travel, to engage in sport or cultural activities than was the case for any previous generation."

Some primary schools have already replaced homework with activities with parents, such as museum visits.

Edited March 13, 2008 by dbears

[Niels Bohr 72]

Hmm...I don't think cutting homework would make them happy. I think it's more of the parent responsibility to make them happy.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Maybe they'd be happier if the media stopped demonising kids.

I hardly ever hear a positive word about children from adults - only that they are 'disrespectful', 'feral', 'uncontrollable', etc. Even when they do well in school exams you get the inevitable backlash of 'oh, school is easier than it was in our day'.

Sure, there are some troublesome little terrors out there, but the vast majority of children are no more wild or naughty than their parents were, only their parents' generation doesn't seem to realise this.

Oh, and UK kids are tested far too often. I'm just old enough to have skipped the introduction of SATs aged 7 and 11 - the ones aged 14 were bad enough; not that I found them hard, but all of our teachers' energy was diverted for a few weeks from teaching classes to preparing for the exams. I was fortunate to attend a wonderful primary school where our lesson structure was a little less rigid and there was plenty of learning through play - I really feel that this stood me in good stead for high school, and it didn't make me afraid of learning.

It'd be nice for a change to see a report that blames the parents instead of the children for once. I really get the impression sometimes that the UK really hates kids.

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Heh, right after I wrote my post I found this article on the BBC website:

Kids these days... criminals or celebrities