Educating the Dragon

I’m supervising the art class this morning and then again this afternoon.

It’s the last session of the term, those that have not finished are very nearly, it has been nine weeks in the creating and they are all nearly done.

In both the morning and the afternoon sessions there a couple of boys on the “Watch out for..” list as relievers often get.

The morning session boys had finished and one came to me saying “Can we listen to my ipod, please Mister.” I thought about it for a little while, scrolled through the menu like I “on the In-crowd” and said; “Sure just so long as your quiet and sensible about it.”

The session in the afternoon, some of the boys had finished and others had not.

The difference between the two: Ipods sat for a little over a hour, drawing and colouring, barely talking to each each other let alone disturbing others.

Non-Ipods threw crayons to another table, left the room when my back was turned and continued a conversation in a loud and somewhat ridiculous manner.

So I’m leaning towards Ipods having a constructive impact on classroom management.

How about you?

David Hill is a wonderfully natural story-teller. He has just finished a series of visits to schools in the Hawkes Bay, finishing here at Hastings Intermediate .

I would love to tell you of the great tales he told, but I really couldn’t do them justice. He first tried writing when he was 16 or 17, trying to impress a girl. Then he leaves it alone for a decade until he finds some old notes he made…. Now 23 chapter books later and still writing, in fact we were honoured with the first public reading of his, yet to be published, next book.

If you ever get the opportunity to invite David Hill to your school, take it. He is well worth listening to.

My boy’s nearly 2 now and we went to see the local private boys school for Look-See. Hereworth is in Havelock North, NZ. Very traditional, values centred. ‘Growing boys toward manhood’ kinda flavour. I was vert impressed with the grounds, uniform, manners of th boys, opportunities available even when I got down with the Junior Teachers and talked reading plans and frameworks, provision for special needs and gifted and talented I remained impressed. But then I got thinking about the whole ‘boys-only’ education what are the pros and cons to that approach? At what age and stage does it have most impact, for character development and academics. Thoughts on the subject are most welcome.