Welcome to my blog. I am a parent of two children at the school and a Governor, technically a Local Education Authority governor.
Why be a governor? What does it mean? What do I do? Does it matter? What do I believe in? And mostly what do I bring to school?
It's a mixture of things. I have four children, two still at school. My experience of education, as others, comes from my own experiences at school. My school days were in the (swinging) sixties, corporal punishment was still part and parcel of school life. My memories are not of inspirational teachers or Mrs so and so the best teacher in the world (they were there, but lost to my memories) but of being slapped on the legs or have blackboard rubbers and chalk thrown at me and my fellow pupils. This casual violence became systematic at my senior school. It was pointless to talk about bullying amongst pupils when the teachers were the worst ones.
Fortunately, or otherwise, by the eighties when my older children were at school, violence was reserved between pupils alone not teachers. I then had the priviledge of watching my oldest child be inspired by a school and a particular teacher. It is a wonderful thing to see a child grow, develop and surge ahead. Not surprisingly she is now a teacher herself. That relationship -challenging, demanding yet fun is the model that I carry in my heart (if not my head) and is what I really want from a school for my children.
Now in the age of targets, league tables and SATs. what of school today? What I miss most and wanted as a governor is that relationship between school, teachers and parents. A big fence, appointments and a safe route into school ensure our children and teachers' physical safety, but if like me you only see the teacher twice a year, a relationship is harder to get. With no relationship there is no PTA (hopefully this is changing) and no input of all those skills parents can offer. The blog, and e-mail is good though - I can ask the questions that don't need a formal appointment but help me understand school.
So what do I bring to school as a parent governor? A mixture of feelings and emotions, sweet and sour. A sympathy for parents who had difficult times at school and like me are slightly weary of the response they may get from authority. Mixed with an envy and admiration for some teachers who inspire change and enthuse children. What I want from Chellaston Junior school for my children is an adventure in learning. To be encouraged, helped, challenged and changed. Most of all to enjoy school. Some of that they do get, my job as governor is to ensure that the opportunity and, where possible, the culture of the school allow and encourage this.
What do you want from school? Blogging is about people talking and saying what they believe. I have had my say, and will say more. What do you think? Be my guest.
Paul
P.S. We also look at polices, procedures, reports etc but I will leave the excitement of that for another day.
