Engaging+the+Disengaged

== =Are their views the same? These are comments from five boys from five different classes.=

“We should have more sports tournaments.” “Computers make learning better. We should all have them.” “We should get to go on trips.” “Teachers tell you off for little things.” “Teachers talk too long.” “We should start later, like on Wednesdays.” “I just like worksheets because they tell you what to do instead of listening. Teachers take too long explaining. It gets boring, people start talking and you forget about what she’s saying.” “We need more computer time. I go on the net, and Google Earth. I look up places and I found a beach I’d never been to near my place.” “Teachers need to be nicer – not angry.” “We need more technology challenges. I want to make stuff, like something to do with electricity.” “Teachers who give you praise are the best.” “We should have computers as much as possible and do more school work on computers.” “We need more sport – two teams of rugby.” “Hands-on – making stuff, like woodwork, cooking.” “It’s fun writing stories – better doing it on computers.” “Nice teachers don’t tell you off for things you didn’t actually do.” “Teachers talk and talk for ages. They need to shorten it and put it in your language that everyone will understand.” “We need a bigger playground.” "We should play more games." "It was fun when we studied the rugby world cup because we played games and because it was rugby and that's what I like." "We should listen to ipods. Sometimes when people listen to music they work better. They concentrate and they're not talking to other people." "I like Youtubes and games on the computer." "We do too much sitting down and writing. We should go to other areas in the school to work so we can move around." "We should be able to go to the playground if we've been working really hard." "Teachers need to know that we get bored sometimes, so they might say, 'A couple more minutes work and we'll go out for a game.'" "I like working with friends." "We should go on trips, like to the pools, and my friends went to the Police College and did a forensic thing." "There should be more things to do, especially at lunchtimes."