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A mother has withdrawn her five-year-old daughter from school after it introduced massages for pupils.
The massages are between the children at St Leonard's Community Infant School in Horsham who take it on turns to gently draw on each other's necks and shoulders while the teacher reads them a story.
The headteacher, backed by trhe local council, defended the therapy saying it has improved pupils concentration levels.
But 41-year-old Mrs Susan Barraclough, a teacher herself, maintains the massages are inappropriate because kids, unlike teachers, do not undergo protection checks. She is now teaching her daughter at home.
She said: "I understand there were some concerns from parents who were worried the sessions were being taken by adults.
"When they found out that the massaging would in fact be done by the children themselves, a lot of them seemed to be happy with that. But the children, unlike the adults that work at the school, haven't had protection checks run on them."
She added: "It's all very concerning, particularly as the sessions are cross-sex involving girls and boys. What will be the long-term effect?"
Mrs Barraclough said she declined the school's offer to put her daughter in another room during the 15-minute sessions, because she feared she would be ridiculed by classmates for being outside.
St Leonard's headteacher Helen Cobbin said: "It's not just some weird or wacky thing. People hear the word massage and worry what that means, but as soon as they see what happens they are completely at ease.
"The children enjoy it. We have noticed considerable improvements in concentration and their readiness to learn and they have a greater awareness of each other's feelings.
"It has had a positive impact on social skills and we have fewer incidents to resolve between children."
I think the whole world needs to rewind 30 years. It was a lot simpler in those days. No PC bull**** and if you deserved a clout by a teacher you got one! Bang on.
How bizzare! If it works then thats good. As for the parents reaction, well, thats just expected really in todays society.
Nah... I'd rather not... So I have nothing to say on the subject other then this.
How bizzare! If it works then thats good. As for the parents reaction, well, thats just expected really in todays society.
yes yes and yes
i'm sure we did the same sort of things when i was at imfumps school, ain't nowt wrong with me !!
FACT
DanDare
11-05-06, 01:56 PM
I'm obviously missing something here.... :? :?
...What on earth do kids need massages for? :? I was under the impression massages are to relieve tension in the muscles for people who either suffer from a muscular problem or someone who exerts themselves physically.
Aren't kids constantly growing so they don't seem to tire like adults.
What happened to good old fashioned lessons where the teachers talk and the kids listen, thus learn.
from how its written it doesnt sound like massages per se, sound more like kids "drawing" on each others backs and necks. possibly acting out part of the story they're being told. ie rain would be followed by light small dabs on the back... altho i'm guessing there.....
sharriso74
11-05-06, 02:01 PM
Whatever next. They'll be banning fagging next!!!!!!!
Kid's of today need discipline from the young years.
They'll be the ones in 20 years saying, it never did us any harm, like we are now.
Unfortunately, it's going to get even tougher to discipline over the years, as we molly coddle them even more than we do now.
In answer to the original thread, it doen't seem right. It's obviously aimed at innocence.. Not sure. Sitting on fence....... :?
skidmarx
11-05-06, 02:13 PM
It's common practice to teach children via a variety of means as they each have a different 'Learning style'. Many children respond well to Kinaesthetic methods, though this does border on the tactile. Other methods include getting younger pupils to spell out letters in sand trays as they enjoy the feeling of running fingers through the sand. This enjoyment is supposed to 'open channels' that allow pupils to engage with their learning. To be honest it sounds like a good idea as long as there are VERY CLEAR BOUNDARIES and it is voluntary....
interesting. I think it depends very much upon what a massage, is defined as.
interesting. I think it depends very much upon what a massage, is defined as.
Well, at my local knock...... errrrrrrrrrrrr....
Never mind :oops: :wink:
sharriso74
11-05-06, 02:18 PM
interesting. I think it depends very much upon what a massage, is defined as.
Well, at my local knock...... errrrrrrrrrrrr....
Never mind :oops: :wink:
£25 plus £30 for extras
"When they found out that the massaging would in fact be done by the children themselves, a lot of them seemed to be happy with that. But the children, unlike the adults that work at the school, haven't had protection checks run on them."
So the mother is saying that she is worried in case any of the children are paedos? WTF?
Boys and girls touching each other. How horrid!
interesting. I think it depends very much upon what a massage, is defined as.
Well, at my local knock...... errrrrrrrrrrrr....
Never mind :oops: :wink:
£25 plus £30 for extras
Sharisso, do you go to the same place as.................
As I said........ Never mind!
it might be good for social skills, I mean you know introducing a new kind of interaction and all that! As long as they're clothed I dont really see how anyone can complain!
But then again, I dont have any children of my own and therefore have never experienced the maternal need for protection!
So the mother is saying that she is worried in case any of the children are paedos? WTF?
Boys and girls touching each other. How horrid!
That how i read it....
and they wonder why the kids of today are turning out weird..... :lol: :lol:
We used to play this game when I was at primary school (31 years ago *ahem*) in the playground. One kid would draw a picture on your back and you had to guess what it was.
OH MY GOD!
Does that mean that these kids... they're gonna turn out like me...
... they're...
.. going to...
... BE NORMAL. *
* Normal = perfectly adjusted individual who just happens to like having their back & neck tickled and would occasionally guess wrong on purpose just so the picture would have to be drawn again. Oh the lies... oh the dishonesty... we are all doomed I tell you. DOOMED to be the victims of a tickle pleasure induced generation. Crime will run rampant, nations shall destabilise... we will end up at WAR. ALL because our future Prime Minister insists the Chinese leader draws another intricate royal palace on his back...
... and he dunt wanna!
northwind
11-05-06, 03:52 PM
So the mother is saying that she is worried in case any of the children are paedos? WTF?
No, I think she's actually saying "I'm a whackjob. In a better world, I wouldn't be allowed children- I'm going to potentially massively damage my child's education just because I'm a prude"
So the mother is saying that she is worried in case any of the children are paedos? WTF?
No, I think she's actually saying "I'm a whackjob. In a better world, I wouldn't be allowed children- I'm going to potentially massively damage my child's education just because I'm a prude"
Sounds like that to me too...
First time I felt a .... Ut'hum.. I was 5... look at me now.
:lol: background checks on 5 year olds - what does she expect to find. I feel sorry for her kid if she has a problem with this. Surely it would be a greater loss to be stuck at home with your mum all day than to be at school learning. Maybe she has a theory that if kids touch each other at 5 years old they grow into sicko's when they are older...
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