Child Study - Teacher Training Assignment 1

2383 Words10 Pages
Child Study – GTP Assignment 1 Equal opportunities is a term that is not easy to define because it incorporates so many areas. However, in terms of equal opportunities within education and the classroom, the DfES recognise that it is crucial that we as teachers should be made aware of, and strive to promote. In order to do this they have listed the following examples which help to clarify what providing equal opportunities means: 1. Providing for all pupils, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability etc; 2. Being mindful of the difficulties that some groups can face and ensuring that any obstacles to them are removed; 3. Being aware of personal prejudices and stereotypical views and avoiding labels related to these; 4. Valuing each pupil's worth. (www.teachernet.gov.uk) Firstly, it is important to realise that pupils do learn differently depending on gender. Research published by Estelle Morris, the school standards minister in 1998, showed that about 2/3 of girls, but only ½ of boys, reached the expected level in history, geography, design and technology, modern foreign languages and music. Some of the subsequent and extensive research that was conducted after these results were published found that right from nursery schools boys display different ways of learning. For example, boys tend to enjoy charging around the playground pretending to be a policeman arresting a baddie, or a superhero such as Batman. Girls on the other hand, preferred to play domesticated role play in the home corner or to sit and read quietly (Equal Opportunities, p.32). The stereotypes of men and women, boys and girls, are particularly significant in schools. According to the Equal Opportunities Commission, 'Children express fixed views about men and
Open Document