Wowee that's a big responsibility for ECT1 and it seems you're taking to it really well! … Ensure that you read markschemes thoroughly for the exam board you’re teaching. Also, print out the exam board syllabus and highlight it very carefully before you teach it. Seek out another teacher at another school who gets great results for the same syllabus and have a chat with them.
In a world where the line between childhood and adulthood often feels like it’s drawn in invisible ink, Fiona Simpson, a teacher at the posh Burlington House School, has sparked quite the debate. With tuition fees clocking in at a whopping £51,552 a year, you might expect a certain level of… decorum? But nope! Simpson has made headlines for defending her choice to provide A-level photography students with books that include explicit images of sex, nudity, and drug use. Because nothing says ‘welcome to adulthood’ quite like flipping through pages of questionable content while your parents are still footing the bill, right?
Simpson’s argument rests on the premise that these students, who are indeed in their late teens, are ‘young adults’ and should be treated as such. And honestly, she does have a point. At 18, you can vote, join the military, and even buy a lottery ticket. But should you also be exposed to a visual buffet of adult themes in your schoolwork? It’s a slippery slope, folks.
Let’s break it down: on one hand, we have the argument for exposure to real-world issues and artistic expression. After all, the world is not all rainbows and unicorns, and art has historically pushed boundaries. On the other hand, there’s a valid concern about what exactly constitutes appropriate educational material. Do we really want to hand our kids a book that might as well come with a parental advisory sticker?
It’s not like these students are in kindergarten, where a picture of a cartoon cat is about as risqué as it gets. But the question remains: how much is too much? Are we treating these young adults like the mature individuals they are, or are we just throwing them into the deep end of the pool without checking if they can swim?
Now, I can already hear the naysayers chiming in, “But they’re practically adults! They can handle it!” Sure, they can handle it—just like they can handle the consequences of their choices, like eating soggy pizza at 2 AM or binge-watching reality TV that makes you question humanity. But should we be the ones to provide them with fodder for those choices?
Fiona Simpson’s stance may ruffle some feathers, but it’s definitely igniting a conversation about what education should look like in the 21st century. Should schools be the gatekeepers of morality, or should they empower students to grapple with complex themes? It’s a delicate balance, and I’m not sure there’s a one-size-fits-all answer.
In the end, maybe the real lesson here isn’t just about photography or art but about navigating the murky waters of adulthood itself. And who knows? Perhaps that’s the most valuable lesson of all. Just remember, when in doubt, maybe stick to images of sunsets and puppies. At least those won’t raise eyebrows at the next parent-teacher conference!
Inspired by: “Private school teacher defends giving pupil books containing sex, nudity and drugs pictures saying…” (r/News)