Story Archive

This is Getting Out of Hand

Students at Burlington Junior School in Bridlington, England, have been told to stop raising their hands. Instead, when they want to volunteer to answer a question, they must give a “thumbs-up.” One parent says the gesture could embarrass students when they move on to secondary school — and besides, “it is going to make the class look like they are all imitating the Fonz from Happy Days.” But headteacher Cheryle Adams argues that the traditional hand-raising leads to too much excitement. “Some children put their hands up at every opportunity,” Adams says, “while others won’t, even if they know the answers.” (AC/London Telegraph) ...So she’s giving a thumbs-down to excited students who participate the most in class.