discuss...

A mother has withdrawn her five-year-old daughter from school after it introduced massages for pupils.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.

[Viney]

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.

Originally Posted by Viney

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

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.....

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.......

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....