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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/24/banning-schoolchildren-talking-between-lessons-absurd-ninestiles-birmingham
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| Banning schoolchildren from talking between lessons is the stuff of Matilda | Banning schoolchildren from talking between lessons is the stuff of Matilda |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Top of the things that make me despair this week (there are many options) is the decision by Ninestiles secondary school in Birmingham to enforce silence on “all student movement, including to and from assembly, at lesson changeover and towards communal areas at break and lunch”. It is difficult to think of a more harmful and mean-spirited policy than taking away children’s means of communication for a significant part of the day. It’s a rule that recalls Miss Trunchbull’s sinister control of her pupils, or Gilead’s handmaidens shuffling about, eyes downwards and whispering behind their hands. | Top of the things that make me despair this week (there are many options) is the decision by Ninestiles secondary school in Birmingham to enforce silence on “all student movement, including to and from assembly, at lesson changeover and towards communal areas at break and lunch”. It is difficult to think of a more harmful and mean-spirited policy than taking away children’s means of communication for a significant part of the day. It’s a rule that recalls Miss Trunchbull’s sinister control of her pupils, or Gilead’s handmaidens shuffling about, eyes downwards and whispering behind their hands. |
| These may seem excessive comparisons, but even parents of pupils have described the new diktat as “like a prison”. The lucky children will, however, “be able to speak to each other in designated areas at break and lunch times”. How exciting for them! | These may seem excessive comparisons, but even parents of pupils have described the new diktat as “like a prison”. The lucky children will, however, “be able to speak to each other in designated areas at break and lunch times”. How exciting for them! |
| Secondary school bans talking in the corridors to keep children calm | |
| Ninestiles isn’t the first school to introduce this change. The Albany school in east London also banned talking in corridors, in July. Its headteacher later claimed this had improved GCSE results, but I would perhaps suggest that the “four weekly compulsory silent revision sessions before exams” made more of an impact than vetoing talking and walking. | Ninestiles isn’t the first school to introduce this change. The Albany school in east London also banned talking in corridors, in July. Its headteacher later claimed this had improved GCSE results, but I would perhaps suggest that the “four weekly compulsory silent revision sessions before exams” made more of an impact than vetoing talking and walking. |
| There is nothing acceptable about allowing children only to speak in designated areas throughout a normal school day. Mental health issues in young people are rising at an alarming rate. Earlier this year, it was estimated that 400,000 of those aged 18 and under are in touch with NHS services for mental health problems. In 2017, a study by University College London found that 24% of 14-year-old girls reported symptoms of depression. So the idea that a school would ban young people talking to each other in corridors or parts of the school grounds is absurd and isolating. | There is nothing acceptable about allowing children only to speak in designated areas throughout a normal school day. Mental health issues in young people are rising at an alarming rate. Earlier this year, it was estimated that 400,000 of those aged 18 and under are in touch with NHS services for mental health problems. In 2017, a study by University College London found that 24% of 14-year-old girls reported symptoms of depression. So the idea that a school would ban young people talking to each other in corridors or parts of the school grounds is absurd and isolating. |
| When I was at school, I had a lot of fun. Much of that included streaming out of classrooms to giggle about the fact our teacher had stepped backwards into a bin; analysing a conversation we’d started having before the period had begun; doling out hugs to friends; even – shock horror – discussing what we had just learned. It was also a time to snatch one-on-one time, as break times were more dedicated to group gatherings. It was a chance to chat to people who might not have been in the same social circle as you, or mix outside of joint classes. I made many friends this way. And I even chatted with teachers passing by on the way to their next lesson, which fostered good student-teacher relationships. | When I was at school, I had a lot of fun. Much of that included streaming out of classrooms to giggle about the fact our teacher had stepped backwards into a bin; analysing a conversation we’d started having before the period had begun; doling out hugs to friends; even – shock horror – discussing what we had just learned. It was also a time to snatch one-on-one time, as break times were more dedicated to group gatherings. It was a chance to chat to people who might not have been in the same social circle as you, or mix outside of joint classes. I made many friends this way. And I even chatted with teachers passing by on the way to their next lesson, which fostered good student-teacher relationships. |
| Teens are smart. Stop them talking in the corridors between lessons and they will text each other in their respective classrooms to arrange to simultaneously take a loo break, and then rendezvous, taking the long route back, walking at tortoise speed. I’d say they would also pass notes, but there’s WhatsApp for that now. If anything, I’d imagine that stopping conversations in the halls would increase attempts to banter during lessons. And can we really moan that kids spend too much time glued to screens if face-to-face communication is being discouraged for much of the day? | Teens are smart. Stop them talking in the corridors between lessons and they will text each other in their respective classrooms to arrange to simultaneously take a loo break, and then rendezvous, taking the long route back, walking at tortoise speed. I’d say they would also pass notes, but there’s WhatsApp for that now. If anything, I’d imagine that stopping conversations in the halls would increase attempts to banter during lessons. And can we really moan that kids spend too much time glued to screens if face-to-face communication is being discouraged for much of the day? |
| ‘I will never return to teach in England’: the UK teachers finding refuge abroad | |
| The rule also comes across as arbitrary and sure to enrage young people. I remember being infuriated by the rule about taking one’s coat off during registration – something that lasted barely three minutes. Before the coat was off, the bell had rung and it went back on again. Ninestiles defended the change, saying there was “already an expectation for arrival at exams and during fire drills” that pupils are silent. Well, of course. Those are different circumstances and the rule thus serves a purpose, not simply acting as a meaningless demonstration of power and control. | The rule also comes across as arbitrary and sure to enrage young people. I remember being infuriated by the rule about taking one’s coat off during registration – something that lasted barely three minutes. Before the coat was off, the bell had rung and it went back on again. Ninestiles defended the change, saying there was “already an expectation for arrival at exams and during fire drills” that pupils are silent. Well, of course. Those are different circumstances and the rule thus serves a purpose, not simply acting as a meaningless demonstration of power and control. |
| I would have been miserable if school had been like this. If I had children, I would not want them somewhere that stifled their conversation outside of lessons. Ninestiles’ headteacher has said the policy will be reviewed after its implementation. Let’s hope they have a conversation and come to the correct conclusion. | I would have been miserable if school had been like this. If I had children, I would not want them somewhere that stifled their conversation outside of lessons. Ninestiles’ headteacher has said the policy will be reviewed after its implementation. Let’s hope they have a conversation and come to the correct conclusion. |
| • Hannah Jane Parkinson is a Guardian writer | • Hannah Jane Parkinson is a Guardian writer |
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