tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post7104752974418883771..comments2023-09-21T14:20:02.343+01:00Comments on Biscuits & Blisters: #talktoteens talking no moreLouise Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07942543130083841567noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-48789233876751183712011-10-24T19:18:56.526+01:002011-10-24T19:18:56.526+01:00Can I just say well done Jones for a brilliant and...Can I just say well done Jones for a brilliant and passionate post. Charlotte is a damn fine lady and teacher and you've done her proud.<br /><br />Dave.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-20857026902013791742011-10-24T18:59:28.543+01:002011-10-24T18:59:28.543+01:00What a brilliantly written post - you have a talen...What a brilliantly written post - you have a talent! And what you have said is the most any teacher could ask for - not many would get this level of support. Good luck with your campaign, and best wishes to Mrs Berry.Sarahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-19897646870294762652011-10-24T14:19:53.566+01:002011-10-24T14:19:53.566+01:00Thank you for bringing this to the attention of a ...Thank you for bringing this to the attention of a wider community. As a result I've contacted the newspaper to tell them they are a disgrace (not something that they'll publish obviously) and I've also written to the school in support of Mrs Berry. Many thanks again.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775794008612865058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-57660098017635842872011-10-23T19:33:06.552+01:002011-10-23T19:33:06.552+01:00Thank you Louise for a very sensible response in y...Thank you Louise for a very sensible response in your last message here, I am one of the ones that complained about her ACTUAL tweets and I can totally see where you are coming from about the journalist but you do also agree the tweets were abit personnal for an open forum. You have understood what some of us were trying to say instead of just shouting us down like some of the other posters. You have really come across as a open minded, mature, intelligent women and I will recommend your blog to others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-79023937683681439122011-10-23T18:12:26.759+01:002011-10-23T18:12:26.759+01:00I always feel that being a teacher must be the har...I always feel that being a teacher must be the hardest job. The teachers on Educating Essex were getting slated for swearing at each other in the staff room but I think it's so unfair.<br /><br />There's certainly a degree of truth in the fact that teachers have to be careful - especially somewhere like Twitter if you don't protect your tweets, where your students could follow you without you being aware of it.<br /><br />My best teachers were always the ones who had character, but you have to balance it with someone who's too chummy. I see that here she wasn't interacting with students directly... it's such a difficult issue in my mind. <br /><br />This is why I'd be a university lecturer but never a secondary school teacher. At least you can be an actual person when you teach older children.<br /><br />(I'm from Billericay by the way, strange as I already read your blog without knowing that.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-66106480066292513072011-10-23T10:31:45.390+01:002011-10-23T10:31:45.390+01:00Hi. I just want to say thank you for all your comm...Hi. I just want to say thank you for all your comments, it's made for a really interesting read and debate from afar. I never expected all this attention at all, I usually only get 10 comments max on blog posts. This is a bit mental. <br /><br />I only really wrote this to show Charlotte how much she's loved and to pick her back up. YES, I'm biased. Of course I am. I'm a local student who knows her. But I would like to reiterate that the point of this post was to express my anger that it was a NON-STORY from the start, as the school knew about it and had no complaints over it. There have been lots of comments about the actual tweets, and okay, maybe she shouldn't have tweeted them with a public account, but this personal post is on my love for amazing teachers like her, why we need more of them, and how this is, in my opinion, a stupid piece of journalism that should never have gone to print. I would also like to say that I am not out to attack and bring down my local newspaper, but bring to their attention the disappointment of many. <br /><br />Thank you again for your views, I appreciate and respect them all, as I'm sure does Charlotte.Louise Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07942543130083841567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-62303882865204743352011-10-23T08:09:46.682+01:002011-10-23T08:09:46.682+01:00As I understand NOBODY is crisitising her teaching...As I understand NOBODY is crisitising her teaching methods, how jokey she is, how easy she is to talk to, how she relates so well to her students. This is not bashing a teacher on how she conducts her lessons. This isnt stopping her freedom to EDUCATE. This is about her crossing a line...in her tweets when she talked about wanking and blow jobs. Her students did follow her and In my opinion is not acceptable as a teacher. If a male teacher talked about having a wank and wanting to lick somebody out, Wouldnt you all be shocked?? Is that how most people talk on twitter to realitive strangers?? I dont agree with how the journalist dealt with this but turning it into journalist bashing is not the answer. I think Ms Berry should of said sorry for any offence caused and then locked her account/sent DM's and carried on....but maybe watching what she tweeted in an OPEN forum.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-1758295191322219222011-10-22T22:32:09.286+01:002011-10-22T22:32:09.286+01:00This is absolutely ridiculous. Teachers have so mu...This is absolutely ridiculous. Teachers have so much condemnation from over-protective, hypocritical parents and a hysterical, vicious smut-press. I was considering teaching as a career a few years ago at university, but have since decided against it because of this very reason - instead, I'm now a graduate student hoping to get a lecturing position at a university, where educators still have a modicum of freedom with which to actually EDUCATE.<br /><br />Teachers aren't allowed to actually get on with their jobs and make a difference in people's lives anymore - they're subjected to so much criticism from all directions. I had so many inspirational, incredible teachers at school and college - and they were the ones who weren't afraid to go against the rules and do things their way. I'm actually afraid of sharing some anecdotes regarding their methods on the internet, as I'm putting my real name on this and some awful person (AKA rat-faced journalist) could easily track down who I'm talking about. <br /><br />The level of hysteria and teacher-bashing in this country has reached disgusting levels. Bravo for speaking out! I hope everything works out very well for Ms Berry and she keeps influencing students' lives for the better.AliceStamatakihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283563603687804061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-73125912654538680982011-10-22T21:02:29.488+01:002011-10-22T21:02:29.488+01:00Way to go, Louise. It's important to acknowled...Way to go, Louise. It's important to acknowledge such support, or things might turn on her. Reading the comments above, it's sad that overzealous self-apointed 'Moral Guardians' are so uptight and overreacting. <br /><br />Yes, innocent 'jokey' banter made public shows that she is in the clear and has nothing to hide, while there are a buttload of hidden teacher-student relationships, including pedophily which won't ever be discovered because, guess what, we're too busy stalking people online in search of whatever.<br /><br />It's plain sad. Hope things unfold well.<br /><br />Best regards from Brazil.João Dinizhttp://www.flickr.com/jaodiniznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-88052235959509205702011-10-22T21:00:18.580+01:002011-10-22T21:00:18.580+01:00And let's not forget this nitwit's part in...And let's not forget this nitwit's part in positioning a non-story and excercise in low level hackery and sensationalist twittle-tattle with the nationals. Alan Geere...editor of the Essex Chronicle and editorial director of Northcliffe South East. Who, on 20th October tweeted....<br /><br />@alangeere Here's our Twitter teacher story that I shared with #NCTJdigital seminar. http://bit.ly/o4efGr Discuss.<br /><br />Hang your sorry head in shame...Mondohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11199468951602465556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-20200160967286639072011-10-22T19:56:05.837+01:002011-10-22T19:56:05.837+01:00Unless you are sending a Twitter message as a Let ...Unless you are sending a Twitter message as a Let me start by saying that I totally agree that teachers - assistant head teachers even - have the right to a private life.<br /><br />However, Twitter is not a private domain for voicing your opinions.<br /><br />Unless you send your tweets as DMs (direct messages) or you have 'locked' your account so that only people who follow you see your tweets, ALL OF YOUR MESSAGES are viewable by the global public, EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE A TWITTER ACCOUNT. All you have to do is go to twitter.com/[username]. Try if you don't believe me.<br /><br />This means that anyone - even minors who have access to the web - can find these tweets. And what do all students love to do? Get the goss' on their teachers and friends. <br /><br />I would like to hope that a teacher who specialises in 'media' would know this. If you need to have 'jokey' banter, then do it as a DM or as a text or in an email - then it's private correspondence and the paper, students, colleagues, parents would know nothing of it.<br /><br />But when an Assistant Head Teacher tweets about:<br /><br />"@username...Oh, I told everyone obviously. It made a change from putting the male members of staff in shagging order" <br /><br />or <br /><br />"@username @username @username @username Make sure you're all vajazzled otherwise I disown you as my pupils" <br /><br />or <br /><br />"@username I bought tins so I'd have more time for blow jobs...<br /><br />[all of which were publicly viewable messages, BTW, and not taken out of context as even Twitter now shows 'conversations' so that you easily follow threads]<br /><br />then I think she's overstepped the mark and undermined her own authority both in terms of how her colleagues see her, much less how the students and their parents will view her actions.<br /><br />This is certainly a disciplinary action - any company would take steps towards reprimanding a staff member who is talking sexually explicitly about colleagues in a public context. I don't know that Charlotte should be fired, but if you are going to say these things in public and you are in a position of public responsibility, then you have to expect consequences.<br /><br />I am very sorry that Charlotte has been caught out, but I do think she should have thought very carefully about what she was saying in an VERY public forum.Laurienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-22592165188087472002011-10-22T19:03:47.391+01:002011-10-22T19:03:47.391+01:00Maybe I'm different but as 30 odd year old, I ...Maybe I'm different but as 30 odd year old, I dont get 'drunk' take my clothes off, talk about blow jobs or wanking infront of people I dont know. I can talk to teenagers at their level but it doesnt mean I have to talk like them. The arguement seems to be here, that the only way of engaging with teenagers is to use the language they use, which of course is ridiculous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-86457356128216419722011-10-22T18:22:21.102+01:002011-10-22T18:22:21.102+01:00As a teacher from France, I fully support the poin...As a teacher from France, I fully support the points defended by Louise. Here, the situation is a bit different (it's very hard to get a teacher sacked, so we don't have much to fear), but it's not that common to have teachers talk on the same level as students (at least the 18- yo). I made the choice of seperating my private life/opinions from the school life, so I'm not friending any of my students on facebook, but it doesn't stop me from having colleagues in my friend list. And sometimes we swear, bitch, gossip and badmouth students, colleagues and administration alike.<br />That said, it doesn't stop me from sometimes putting myself on their level *in class*. Students know that I will use the occasional swear word, especially when they really deserve it (and colleagues will back me, too). I guess it makes me a bad teacher, but sometimes, hearing what they'd hear from their friends/brothers/parents has a bigger impact than polite words that mostly makes them giggle because it's so out-of-context from their lives (suburbs where poverty is high).<br />I know of some colleagues that "befriend" students on facebook, and use it to cheer them, wish them birthdays, give last minute info, share music... I know I wouldn't do it, but I certainly won't tell him to stop. I know his students really liked him and his brotherly attitude and respected him, but they had enough maturity to still see that even if he was at their level, in school he was the teacher. I fear my students don't have that maturity and would see me as a buddy rather than a teacher, which is why I won't do it.<br /><br />But yeah, I hope she can resume being the great out-of-box teacher she seemed to be, not everyone can be good at it, we need people like that.RLhttp://airelle.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-73044494820431692292011-10-22T18:21:29.176+01:002011-10-22T18:21:29.176+01:00You are right. And it is very important, that peop...You are right. And it is very important, that people like you are here, people who are not afraid to stand up for the truth, who are willing to speak for those who were silenced. And it is very important you don't get intimidated, some people might say you're making a mountain out of a molehill. Don't believe them, right now, you are making huge difference in lives of many people, mainly Ms Berry and that is very important.<br />Demons run when good man goes to war. Or woman, for that matter. :)Delltarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11359087676371960846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-43141395545553724152011-10-22T18:14:55.543+01:002011-10-22T18:14:55.543+01:00I'm here via @neilhimself's retweet. What...I'm here via @neilhimself's retweet. What an outrageous thing to have happen! I'm not even in your country and I'm shaking with rage. Teachers that students can relate to are a rarity, and should be treasured. I had an English teacher in high school--rest in peace!--who encouraged my writing in a way I'd never been encouraged to do before. Because of him, I grew less afraid to write and submit what I've written for publication. He also treated me like an equal, which was a huge deal in small-town America.<br /><br />The other teacher who saved my sanity was my band director. He wouldn't put up with our crap, but he also knew that we were still regular high school students who happened to play an instrument. Band camp with him was always a really fun place to be, even the year he had surgery and was struggling to get through the day without collapsing in pain. He was gruff, sure, but he was like the dad I never had. I miss him.<br /><br />It's teachers like those, and your Ms Berry, who make students want to get up and go to class in the morning. It's a little bright spot in a day of drudgery (at best!). I wish more teachers would take the time to relate to students instead of treating them like prisoners.<br /><br />Thank you for taking the time to write this blog--I hope the attention it brings helps Ms Berry regain her confidence, and allows her to stand up and say "this is who I am, and talking about guys I think are handsome, or swearing, does not impact the way I do my job".Nicole Whitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-7589839222886791742011-10-22T18:08:44.272+01:002011-10-22T18:08:44.272+01:00I agree that it is unworthy of an entire article i...I agree that it is unworthy of an entire article in the Gazette, and she certainly doesn't deserve to be sacked. I agree that teachers are entitled to a personal life, and it looks like she's a great teacher.<br /><br />Surely though she has done some wrong here. To post that sort of thing on a public account to be potentially read by her pupils or their parents is careless to say the least. Apparently these tweets are out of context, but I don't see what context could possibly justify them. Perhaps somebody could enlighten me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-12007602291109605312011-10-22T18:06:28.888+01:002011-10-22T18:06:28.888+01:00I find that all these holier-than-thou attitudes s...I find that all these holier-than-thou attitudes slightly amusing. <br /><br />When you leave your job, do you take off your uniform/suit/workclothes? Do you get in to a nice pair of jammies? Do you maybe sometimes head out for a couple of drinks with friends? Do you swear at somebody doing a dangerous manoeuvre on the road?<br /><br />Then you must be TERRIBLE parents! You get naked, you wear inappropriate clothes, you get drunk, you are a rage driver!<br /><br />A teacher is a human being at the end of the day, and it is not THEIR place to provide the moral upbringing of your children. That, my dear parents, horrifying as it may sound, is up to YOU. <br /><br />The only responsibility a teacher has is to give your children an education. Nothing more, nothing less. How your children behave, is solely the responsibility of the parent.<br /><br />Perhaps all these outraged parents should spend more time looking into what their children do on the internet and less on throwing stones at good teachers.<br /><br />Glass houses and all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-18411836119238225982011-10-22T18:04:21.485+01:002011-10-22T18:04:21.485+01:00For the people who are worried about their teen se...For the people who are worried about their teen seeing language like blowjob or cunt on Twitter... WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING ALLOWING YOUR CHILD ON TWITTER if you don't think they're mature enough to deal with language like that?<br /><br />Think of Twitter as being like a big city. If you wander around for a while you'll see mostly banal and benign things, a few amazing or inspiring things, possibly some horrible and shocking things, and maybe encounter some unpleasant people. If your offspring aren't old enough to cope with the sights and sounds of a city without parental supervision, you probably shouldn't let them on Twitter just yet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-4078476534973927032011-10-22T17:42:44.712+01:002011-10-22T17:42:44.712+01:00I would just like to say I did follow @talktoteens...I would just like to say I did follow @talktoteens and it was an open account, so ANYONE could see what she was posting. Many followers are not close friends, they are followers with who you banter and exchange information, also she actually tweeted the journalist in question to thank him on a previous newspaper report that praised her, they obviously came across her tweets she sent. I do DISAGREE how the newspaper handled this BUT..I agree with the 'critical' poster, yes we all swear but talking about 'wa**king and Bl** jobs and using the word c**t is not acceptable from from an assistant headteacher however a fantasic teacher she is....Imagine if John Prescott or Ed miliband etc tweeted like this, they would loose all credibilty. I agree that she naively crossed a line, maybe she should of had a locked account or had a separate account for 'friends'. I work in a school and would have alot less respect and be astonished if the Head 'spoke' in this manner. This is just my opinion and I'm entitled to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-10319923875996903332011-10-22T17:38:54.453+01:002011-10-22T17:38:54.453+01:00I'm sorry but this argument does not stand up,...I'm sorry but this argument does not stand up, you are potentially too biased by your foreknowledge of the teacher in question to form a point of view which would see the situation objectively, I feel.<br /><br />If you are a teacher, you know better than to behave in this way on a public forum with someone who you barely know, whether set up or not. You are a role model, you are in a position of trust. You may vouch for her from prior experience but that is not enough of an argument to defend her actions as far as I am concerned. People who disagree you with you, disagree with you, it's not necessarily 'failing to see the bigger picture'. I feel her language is inappropriate language to use as a person who deals with minors, whether chat based or open forum based. Most people not personally affected by the situation would agree that objectively, it is a step too far. She should know better.Tanskiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00505930500486875814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-46801062081278125302011-10-22T17:03:51.689+01:002011-10-22T17:03:51.689+01:00Great post, but one small correction - the Daily M...Great post, but one small correction - the Daily Mail wrote and article moaning about Educating Essex. Which is just as stupid as all this.<br /><br />I think part of the problem here is that if teachers are talking to teenagers on a teenager's level (which is precisely what they should be doing, as it's the most effective way of helping them), adults who aren't capable of that won't understand it - because it's not on their level. It's a bit of a catch 22. Let's hope she rejoins Twitter when all the fuss has died down.Charleshttp://twitter.com/charleswritesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-19933602728453190802011-10-22T16:25:59.330+01:002011-10-22T16:25:59.330+01:00The anonymous poster above possibly doesn't un...The anonymous poster above possibly doesn't understand what Charlotte Berry did. The quotes used were from conversations, not open tweets, and the journalist in fact contacted her, started a conversation with her and then used the tweets to invent a story. It is disgusting, underhand behaviour from a journalist who had previously reported on the fantastic work she had done. Teachers do swear, drink and even (when they're not too knackered) have sex. They are entitled to a private life.Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02536038271600515021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-57224801987812834472011-10-22T16:22:27.026+01:002011-10-22T16:22:27.026+01:00Teachers have a right to a social life as well, wh...Teachers have a right to a social life as well, whether it's out in the real world or online social network sites like Twitter. As long as she isn't slagging off her bosses or any of the pupils on the site, then I don't see why the newspaper has a problem with her. <br /><br />People swear in the real world - big deal. As long as she's a model teacher during school time (which it sounds like she is), then that's all that matters. The paper has undermined all her good work and for that, I think she deserves an apology.Kentynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-236508615930954342011-10-22T16:13:10.693+01:002011-10-22T16:13:10.693+01:00I'm from Essex too and I wasn't taught by ...I'm from Essex too and I wasn't taught by your Mrs Berry but I did have one or two exceptional out of the box teachers who helped me hugely become the man I am today. What this newspaper have done is nothing short of foul bullying. They know full well they're in the wrong and would be aware running with this could only have negative impacts on the Teacher and those whom she is now more cautious to help. This is some small local press wanting to play dirty like the big boys at News International rather that aknowledge the Community part of a community newspaper. A cheap shot from some cheap sh1ts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5682614115630015882.post-86609370443655145802011-10-22T16:10:58.209+01:002011-10-22T16:10:58.209+01:00To an earlier anonymous poster- are you really ass...To an earlier anonymous poster- are you really asserting that children don't use strong language amonst themselves, and that they need to be protected from the same? What a very strange world you think you live in.<br /><br />Don't be a funt (a word from a children's comic, as it happens.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com