Schools

Hola,

I was shocked to hear from my daughter that even though they have allotments backing onto their school they never had any lessons in growing their own food. Are there any programmes/projects in schools that you're aware of, are they any good?

I think it's important.

Cheers. Simon

The RHS have had a Campaign for School Gardening running for quite a few years. It is free to join and there is lots of advice and help for teachers/parents/TAs who help with gardening clubs. There is also the opportunity to take part in simple growing trials, receive seeds, gain awards etc. - well, that was the case when I finished teaching two years ago.

I agree that it's very important, in fact I've always claimed that almost the entire National Curriculum could be taught through gardening and its related activities - and what's more, it's much more fun that way!! I found the work I did, although small, often engaged children who were turned off by the 'sitting down stuff' as well as showing the more academically inclined that there was life beyond a desk or a screen

I run a gardening club at my local primary school, am part of the RHS School Campaign - we are on level 3 and have received seeds, info packs, have entered competitions and got garden vouchers etc through the scheme. I  have also got the school involved with the local park and we have planted bulbs, plants, collected leaves etc and bird watched in the park. We take part in the Big Bird Watch at school  and have entered the local council's in bloom competition - anything is possible with someone with time, interest and enthusiasm. Grandparents are usually more able to help out than parents but the more varied the input the better informed we all are...there are lots of schemes out there if you have time to look - we have just received a free apple tree through the capitalgrowth, a London based scheme. Why don't you volunteer Simon....you have know idea where it will take you - I had no idea I would be in the local paper, meet the mayor, exhibit a scarecrow at the Hampton Court flower show and who knows where our club will go next but our seeds are ready and our daffs are up!!

I took Greenhouse Studies as a subject at school and loved it. (although this was age 13 until leaving school). My sister is a school teacher (ages 3-6) and has regular classes with several kids in their school allotment. I have to say though, I think that this subject is the responsibility of a parent not a school. To get into the garden with your children yourself and learn together is both rewarding and inspiring. Talk to the schools to see if they can set up a gardening club etc..

I am shocked too, most veg is harvested after schools break up for their really long summer hols, we should make teachers use this valuable time to teach pupils about growing and cooking food. It would be really cheap childcare for those that need to work, so a win win solution.

Hello, mayby you would like look at my small project, we created. I hope it will successful...greetings, ThaiGer.

my food project

joslow,

You want to 'make' teachers work as childminders during their school holiday breaks?

And what makes you think it would be cheap?

the best thing ,since you like gardening parents and grandparents is to teach the children your self,its a pleasure to share your knowledge with children teaching them about the flowers and veg alongside teaching about wildlife.you  will gain and so will your children,don't leave it to others and miss out.Getting them to help  water ,sow,dig,and Identify plants.

I know virtually nothing about how the National Curriculum works (things have changed a lot since I went to school). But, according to an article in my local newspaper, Horticulture may form part of the National Curriculum, from September...

"a draft version of the National Curriculum includes horticulture as a key activity in design and technology....The new draft National Curriculum states that in key stages one to three (ages five to 14) the design and technology curriculum should teach practical knowledge, skills and crafts in fields such as horticulture: to cultivate plants for practical purposes, such as for food or for decorative displays...”

Full article:

http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2013/02/18/ryton-charity-gets-gardening-added-to-the-national-curriculum-92746-32830298/

Hmmm. Cookery was added to Design and Technology way back and the children seemed to spend an awful lot of time designing packaging! Not sure there's any evidence that it has improved the nation's cooking skills

Two problems that I see with these 'solutions' are i) that there may not be people with the appropriate knowledge and enthusiasm to teach the subject , ii) with pressure to teach to tests that have to be passed the subject will drop off the end of the timetable, iii) did I say two? I meant three! Gardening/growing isn't something that can be done effectively in one lesson a week for half a term or so, iv) I could go on but I will spare you, dear reader.

Picks up soap box and wanders off muttering  

why leave everything to teachers ,if you are a family learn together its not difficult and people might just find it fun with youngsters.leave schools to do what they do best .