Jamie's Dream School is a pretty interesting experiment at the very least. It is the laboratory that education reformists could only have dreamt of until now: pick the worst examples that the system has rejected and then find solutions to turn them around. Startlingly, as Episode 1 points out, these rejects are in fact a huge group, growing in thousands every year. So perhaps it is the system that needs fixing (so goes the hypothesis).
It is noble cause to give these 20 kids another chance - and not just any ordinary chance either. We can argue about whether the show has the kids' best interests at heart or whether it just makes for good TV (as I am about to), but there is some merit to the effect that it has highlighted some very important points about the student-teacher dynamic - notoriously through David Starkey's outburst but also through Simon Callow's gentle persuasion, that eventually gives way to "shut the fuck up".
Well, how many geniuses does it take to light the spark of inspiration?
This petri dish exposes the views of many practitioners - good and bad. Hence revealing the misalignment in many cases between what wisdom preaches and what practice may prove otherwise. It also exposes the various types of mentality, characters and backgrounds of the rebellious youth who present themselves as a problem to the system.
Some of us viewers might have held sympathy for the teachers at the outset; some of us may have felt for the hard done-by students. Watching the teachers erupt upon trying students and students overreacting disrespectfully towards shocked celebrities has most likely neutralised any prejudices we started off with.
Undeniably the involvement of famous folks grabs our attention but it may also make us more receptive to changing our minds.
Ultimately though, what is the purpose of this Dream School experiment?
I think it is to plug the holes in the mainstream education system which is failing to address the needs of a growing group of individuals and delivering illequiped citizens to drive society forward. The two are related.
Without commenting on what might perhaps be Jamie's true intentions behind spearheading this, I'll stick to assessing his execution. First the facts.
a. Millions of pounds spent on facilities - new school building, provision of specialised equipment such as for the biosphere, history artifacts, science labs, etc
b. famous names and generally well acknowledged experts - albeit without any teaching experience at the school level
c. dedicated time individually to figure out personal issues and identify interests
d. small class sizes
Given that the goal is to find sustainable solutions that can be implemented for the benefit of masses i.e. through mainstream education, the expense of this experiment renders it less relevant for this purpose. The cost of such a micro project can of course not be borne by state education. Why not take a derelict school building or one that recently belonged to a failed school that may have been shut down (as numerous do)? Let's firstly kill the pretty factor in this documentary.
Arguably we shouldn't be hand picking the students either but I suppose they appear to be a diverse enough bunch and in all practicality this may have been the easier solution given parental approval, insurance, etc type of issues that need to be resolved.
But you know what, let's even put this stuff aside. There are more severe failings to consider.
Teachers are not just a knowledge bank. If that was the case, Jamie ought to have distributed encyclopedias and saved a few quid. Teaching is a skill, and one that develops with experience. Watching celebrities who might be experts no doubt, crashing on the learning curve as they learn to teach, is frankly a waste of time we have with these kids. This is where the Dream School gets self indulgent. Instead why did JO not simply pick experienced teachers who have dealt with such kids before, as he did for the role of the headmaster? The students would have had an easier time not having to deal with Starkey's tantrum (amongst other things) and teachers around the country watching this, who might be struggling with similar kids, could have learnt a thing or two about how to better deal with them. Additionally, families, parents, guardians could have benefited from that observation as well. But sure, it wouldn't have made for as exciting TV...
What do these kids really need?
Watching their disrespectful behaviour, lack of accountability, selfishness, short attention span - what they need is a reality bite.
As one of the grandparents said (and I paraphrase), "..she's looking for way to start claiming benefits instead of getting a job for the rest of her life like normal people...".
That's the truth. Most of these kids have a sense of entitlement without any responsibility. Perhaps they get that from their families who may have a similar attitude or from families who have not instilled any independence or self dependence in these kids.
Struggle, perseverance, focus and commitment are entirely alien concepts to them.
I recognise that there are teenage mom's understandably overwhelmed by the situation they are in and they need support. But I have no sympathy for kids who sense of time passing is based on the number of fags they have burnt through that day...
The greatest service Jamie can do for these kids is to get them to face reality while he has their attention. Let them spend may be a month doing the job they can get based on their current qualifications. Let them queue at the Job Centre, face rejection, be interviewed and support themselves 100% independently for this time. Struggle to make ends meet. Face the consequences of their actions till date and lose their get out of jail cards.
Right now they rebel and get celebrity attention. Too many people care for them and pick up after them. Why would they change?
A true service to the community would shadow their real world experience and document their shock on facing reality. On national television that will serve as a stark lesson to all other similar voluntary truants and troublemakers.
It's laughable and unhelpful to make them think that their schools have failed them without any fault of their theirs. Henry was on camera saying he couldn't make up his mind about either becoming an actor or a photographer or something else. Seriously? Does he have any sense of the struggle needed to become an actor. The job juggling, waiting on tables desperately waiting to hear back the nth audition.
The current school day at the Dream School is exceptionally stimulating but wasted on kids who treat it as an amusement park ride. Enjoy and move on.
There is no denying that schools need fixing but so do the kids. The school system needs upgrading and revising in terms of content, structure and culture. The kids need to grow up and take responsibility. Would I ever want to hire Harlem if I were running a business ? No. As a tax payer do I want to support her and her family? Definitely no.
School's need fixing but this show is not providing the solution. Hugely disappointing for the amount of resources it has splashing about and geniuses at its disposal. It seems the world is still Waiting for Superman to Change the Future...
It is noble cause to give these 20 kids another chance - and not just any ordinary chance either. We can argue about whether the show has the kids' best interests at heart or whether it just makes for good TV (as I am about to), but there is some merit to the effect that it has highlighted some very important points about the student-teacher dynamic - notoriously through David Starkey's outburst but also through Simon Callow's gentle persuasion, that eventually gives way to "shut the fuck up".
Well, how many geniuses does it take to light the spark of inspiration?
This petri dish exposes the views of many practitioners - good and bad. Hence revealing the misalignment in many cases between what wisdom preaches and what practice may prove otherwise. It also exposes the various types of mentality, characters and backgrounds of the rebellious youth who present themselves as a problem to the system.
Some of us viewers might have held sympathy for the teachers at the outset; some of us may have felt for the hard done-by students. Watching the teachers erupt upon trying students and students overreacting disrespectfully towards shocked celebrities has most likely neutralised any prejudices we started off with.
Undeniably the involvement of famous folks grabs our attention but it may also make us more receptive to changing our minds.
Ultimately though, what is the purpose of this Dream School experiment?
I think it is to plug the holes in the mainstream education system which is failing to address the needs of a growing group of individuals and delivering illequiped citizens to drive society forward. The two are related.
Without commenting on what might perhaps be Jamie's true intentions behind spearheading this, I'll stick to assessing his execution. First the facts.
a. Millions of pounds spent on facilities - new school building, provision of specialised equipment such as for the biosphere, history artifacts, science labs, etc
b. famous names and generally well acknowledged experts - albeit without any teaching experience at the school level
c. dedicated time individually to figure out personal issues and identify interests
d. small class sizes
Given that the goal is to find sustainable solutions that can be implemented for the benefit of masses i.e. through mainstream education, the expense of this experiment renders it less relevant for this purpose. The cost of such a micro project can of course not be borne by state education. Why not take a derelict school building or one that recently belonged to a failed school that may have been shut down (as numerous do)? Let's firstly kill the pretty factor in this documentary.
Arguably we shouldn't be hand picking the students either but I suppose they appear to be a diverse enough bunch and in all practicality this may have been the easier solution given parental approval, insurance, etc type of issues that need to be resolved.
But you know what, let's even put this stuff aside. There are more severe failings to consider.
Teachers are not just a knowledge bank. If that was the case, Jamie ought to have distributed encyclopedias and saved a few quid. Teaching is a skill, and one that develops with experience. Watching celebrities who might be experts no doubt, crashing on the learning curve as they learn to teach, is frankly a waste of time we have with these kids. This is where the Dream School gets self indulgent. Instead why did JO not simply pick experienced teachers who have dealt with such kids before, as he did for the role of the headmaster? The students would have had an easier time not having to deal with Starkey's tantrum (amongst other things) and teachers around the country watching this, who might be struggling with similar kids, could have learnt a thing or two about how to better deal with them. Additionally, families, parents, guardians could have benefited from that observation as well. But sure, it wouldn't have made for as exciting TV...
What do these kids really need?
Watching their disrespectful behaviour, lack of accountability, selfishness, short attention span - what they need is a reality bite.
As one of the grandparents said (and I paraphrase), "..she's looking for way to start claiming benefits instead of getting a job for the rest of her life like normal people...".
That's the truth. Most of these kids have a sense of entitlement without any responsibility. Perhaps they get that from their families who may have a similar attitude or from families who have not instilled any independence or self dependence in these kids.
Struggle, perseverance, focus and commitment are entirely alien concepts to them.
I recognise that there are teenage mom's understandably overwhelmed by the situation they are in and they need support. But I have no sympathy for kids who sense of time passing is based on the number of fags they have burnt through that day...
The greatest service Jamie can do for these kids is to get them to face reality while he has their attention. Let them spend may be a month doing the job they can get based on their current qualifications. Let them queue at the Job Centre, face rejection, be interviewed and support themselves 100% independently for this time. Struggle to make ends meet. Face the consequences of their actions till date and lose their get out of jail cards.
Right now they rebel and get celebrity attention. Too many people care for them and pick up after them. Why would they change?
A true service to the community would shadow their real world experience and document their shock on facing reality. On national television that will serve as a stark lesson to all other similar voluntary truants and troublemakers.
It's laughable and unhelpful to make them think that their schools have failed them without any fault of their theirs. Henry was on camera saying he couldn't make up his mind about either becoming an actor or a photographer or something else. Seriously? Does he have any sense of the struggle needed to become an actor. The job juggling, waiting on tables desperately waiting to hear back the nth audition.
The current school day at the Dream School is exceptionally stimulating but wasted on kids who treat it as an amusement park ride. Enjoy and move on.
There is no denying that schools need fixing but so do the kids. The school system needs upgrading and revising in terms of content, structure and culture. The kids need to grow up and take responsibility. Would I ever want to hire Harlem if I were running a business ? No. As a tax payer do I want to support her and her family? Definitely no.
School's need fixing but this show is not providing the solution. Hugely disappointing for the amount of resources it has splashing about and geniuses at its disposal. It seems the world is still Waiting for Superman to Change the Future...
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