in similar news another tale of heartbreak
The point must be that parents aren't encouraging their kids to brush. The idea isn't to tell a kid how to use a toothbrush - it's to get them to do it on a regular basis.I imagine a lifetime of brushing your own teeth should be training enough to pass onto your kids.
Is there something I’m missing here? Is brushing your teeth really that complicated or difficult that a mum or dad can’t show the way?
We all have a responsibility as parents. If said parents are failing their kids on such a fundamental issue as dental hygiene or health and hygiene in general then there should be a safety net and schools seem like the natural solution. If it’s such a big issue then surely taking the time in the classroom (and let’s face it, it shouldn’t take that much time) to teach young kids the rights and wrongs will be beneficial for all in the future.well thats clearly not happening is it though? We can either seek to do something to stop kids having bad teeth and clogging hospital admissions because they need treatment or we can pontificate on football fan sites and do nothing.
Pretty sure they can cope. Kids get taught so much about healthy eating, with multiple projects throughout primary school. Their school dinners are healthy, and they have rules about what they can take in for packed lunches.Teachers' unions have likely come out against it because they can already see where it'll end up.
"My little Billy had to have a tooth taken out last week. What are we paying you teachers for? I'm going to sue the school."
Yeah, I suppose it’s easy to forget how lazy and uninterested some parents are these days.The point must be that parents aren't encouraging their kids to brush. The idea isn't to tell a kid how to use a toothbrush - it's to get them to do it on a regular basis.
It's a hell of a lot easier to do that via schools, with the hope that the kids then take that habit back into the home, than to get to millions of random parents directly.
I take it you've never taught a class full of 4 or 5 year-olds before.It also takes about 5 minutes. No idea how this has become such a big deal.
The best way to feel rich is to avoid lifestyle creep. Almost everyone who makes more money instantly increases their outgoings to the point that they're living month-to-month again. Bigger house, fancier car (on lease, probably), more holidays, private education for the kids, etc. I remember during the financial crash, there were stories about middle class people stealing expensive ham and cheese from the supermarkets, because they couldn't handle the reduction in living standards.There's some crazy research that shows rich people don't think they're rich. Unless they're super wealthy multi-millionaires, they often put themselves in the average bracket.
That guy from Bury, on Question Time, who thought he was in the bottom half of incomes, despite earning £80k+ sums it up.
Whilst I agree with all of that I was referring to it only taking 5 mins a day for parents to show their kids, not teachers with a classroom of 30.I take it you've never taught a class full of 4 or 5 year-olds before.
"Right everyone, get your toothbrushes out."
"You didn't bring yours? No, you can't borrow his."
"Line up at the sink. One at a time."
"Make sure you brush for two minutes. Top, bottom, front, back, behind the teeth."
"Spit, rinse your mouth out with water. Wipe it with a paper towel."
"Right, now the next two."
I'm just imagining a class of 30. I reckon you've probably got two sinks in a reception classroom. For any other year, they'd probably have to go down the hall. You could probably have two around each sink at a time. Each one takes 2 minutes of actual brushing, plus drying, plus the time putting the toothpaste on the brush, and the natural fannying around of a little kid. 5 minutes is probably right. Five minutes multiplied by the amount of students you have to get through and the number of sinks you have, and you're looking at more like 40 minutes for everyone to brush their teeth. Now you could obviously have some of them doing an activity at the same time, but then you're not going to be able to properly supervise the activity and the teeth brushing at the same time. You might have a teaching assistant who could do it, but then any autistic, dyslexic or other SEN student will have to just struggle in the meantime. And of course during that time, the kids can't be doing anything that requires the teacher to address the whole class.
And then there's the question of stuff and hygiene. Is the school supplying the toothpaste/brush or are they bringing them from home? It's not like the school can have spares for kids to forget like they can with a pencil, unless they're going to be single-use.
The best way to feel rich is to avoid lifestyle creep. Almost everyone who makes more money instantly increases their outgoings to the point that they're living month-to-month again. Bigger house, fancier car (on lease, probably), more holidays, private education for the kids, etc. I remember during the financial crash, there were stories about middle class people stealing expensive ham and cheese from the supermarkets, because they couldn't handle the reduction in living standards.
Ah okay. I thought you were on about the plans to have teachers do it. Oops.Whilst I agree with all of that I was referring to it only taking 5 mins a day for parents to show their kids, not teachers with a classroom of 30.