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Teacher’s Pet

August 6th, 2009

"Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?" by Martha K

"Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?" by Martha K

Yes, this post’s title was part of a cheesy song lyric from way back when and has been the subject of at least one creepy pop tune by Sting, but it’s also the subject of recent research at Birmingham University who, according to Guardian education writer Michele Hanson, “found that teachers’ pets are more common in England than in other countries.”

I think, more accurately, it showed more English students felt that way, but maybe their’s a convincing reason why they should that’s worth exploring.

Having attended all my schooling thus far (Psych classes start in October) in the U.S., I found this assertion a little dubious. But not having yet seen the actual research, I’m also a little sceptical of how it might be portrayed in this article. I’ve also been a newsroom staffer and remember how frustratingly the news industry almost by its very nature over-simplifies academic research in order to make intriguing headlines. Read the rest of this entry »