Interview Your Teacher

Found at the Education Wonks:

Pupils at a school in east London are so involved in the running of their school, that they interview all prospective teachers - even the head.

What a fascinating concept! I don't have any problem with this, either.

The 70 pupils involved in the "Making Learning Better" (MLB) scheme regularly observe teachers' lessons and make suggestions about how classroom displays, teaching styles and discipline can be improved.

"We know how we want to be taught as pupils," says Casey, 12, a "lead consultant", or senior pupil adviser, for art.

"Teachers are only teaching, we're the ones being taught. Lessons have to be fun and every person has to learn something - the lesson has to have a purpose to it."

Well, sure... but what do the observers say when one of their fellows is falling asleep or misbehaving - a disruption of the fun learning environment for all? I am sure this is more a generalization, and the pupil advisors are realistic. Oh, wait...

The management also hopes to roll out a student disciplinary committee next year, where disruptive pupils will have to explain themselves directly to their peers.

If done well, this could be very interesting and productive. I don't see it catching on, however. You know, resistance to change and all. Full BBC article here.