All Campaigns subcategories:
NHS keywords:
Mental health
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Education - Strike - SATs - Children - School - Teachers - Schools - Parents - Students - Mental health
Let kids be kids: children 'strike' against Sats tests
Primary school children playing outside on space hoppers, photo National Assembly for Wales (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)
Samantha Lane
As a parent whose child is in the foundation stage at school, and with another who is starting this September, it is important to me that we take action against Sats tests now.
The Sats are a measurement of the school and not for the benefit of the children. Teacher assessments of the students' progress are important to inform them of how to help the children develop but the Sat tests are not required.
I am also a teacher of psychology and am acutely aware of the psychological impact this current government's regime for testing is having on children's mental health.
Some of my friends' children have been very upset and worried about the tests. This should not be happening at primary school, they have enough of this to come in the future.
Therefore I believe it is important that we campaign against them. Head teachers have recently agreed they are not fit for purpose and action needs to be taken.
Teachers also believe this, and now with the backing of parents this gives the schools confidence to take actions such as not publishing the results and a possible boycott.
Along with thousands of other children, my daughter went on strike on 3 May, she had a lovely day with her father at the museum, sketching art work and reading in the park in the sunshine. She was aware she was on strike and why, and this in itself is a valuable lesson in standing up for what you believe in.
I am not aware of any other children on strike from my daughter's school, so the continued campaign by Let Kids Be Kids to make parents more aware is important. We must continue to show our support to schools in their endeavour to make education appropriate for children.
The government is supposedly trying to drive up standards but the current year two standards are inappropriate for children six or seven years old. All they are actually doing is putting children off enjoying their education and creating unnecessary anxiety in such young children.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999