Available online
Description
This programme looks at the application of talk reform techniques as propounded by the Gahagans on socially deprived schoolchildren.
This programme looks at the application of talk reform techniques as propounded by the Gahagans on socially deprived schoolchildren.
| Module code and title: | E262, Language and learning |
|---|---|
| Item code: | E262; 03 |
| First transmission date: | 17-03-1973 |
| Published: | 1973 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:23:47 |
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| Producer: | Gwynn Pritchard |
| Contributors: | Denis Gahagan; Georgina Gahagan; Victor Lee |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Bessemer Grange Infants School; Classroom games; Elaborated/restricted codes; 'I am the teacher' game; 'Listening in the dark' game; 'O'Grady says' game; 'Picture story' game; Socially deprived children; Talk reform techniques |
| Footage description: | Bessemer Grange Infants School, London. Shot of a teacher with a group of infant school children in a classroom. Some of the children are seen explaining how to play the game called "O'Grady Says". Victor Lee explains the objective of the last sequence and the attempt by the teacher to use on a group of largely working class children with exclusively restricted code usage, a common children's game to make possible the use of the elaborated code. The originators of this type of talk reform are introduced. Victor Lee looks ahead to what will be discussed and shown in the programme, and explains the intentions behind such speech reform programmes for children from homes where restricted code usage is dominant. He introduces the O'Grady game again pointing to how it is structured to fit into the daily infant school activity. The 'O'Grady Says 'game continues with a series of variations. The teacher tries to distract the children from doing the correct things by making deliberate mistakes. Later one from the group assumes the teacher's role and takes control of the game. Victor Lee introduces another game called 'listening in the dark' and explains the essence of it. The teacher tells a story to the children who put on masks. She makes deliberate logical mistakes while story telling and they in turn point out the errors as they occur. At one point the teacher helps a child who is unable to express himself sufficiently. Victor Lee assesses the last sequence pointing out the need for hardly any special equipment for engaging in the exercise and introduces the next act which is called 'I am the teacher'. Shot of two boys playing the game with a commentary to describe it. Victor Lee assesses the last three game sequences and their usefulness for the children. He also says what results are arrived at in the next two activities. The first 'Picture Story' is shown after which the teacher asks her pupils what they have seen. Victor Lee summarises one of the differences between elaborated and restricted codes, and then states how well the picture stories encourage the children to bring this out. He then explains how the final activity bears similarity to the 'Picture Story' game. Victor Lee and the Gahagans discuss the extent to which the teacher in the five previous sequences she featured has been successful in relation to the ideas in their book. Denis Gahagan points out the relevance of each activity to Bernstein's ideas of elaborated and restricted codes. Georgina Gahagan explains how what is aimed at is linguistic flexibility especially for the socially deprived. She points out too the social dangers that such class of children could face when exposed to these games. Also discussed by Denis Gahagan was the measure of success their programme has achieved. Victor Lee summarises the programme. He points out the three major questions which feature in the course of the programme, and how the educational system, as it stands, makes success possible only when children are familiar with the elaborated code. |
| Master spool number: | 6HT70713 |
| Production number: | 00525_6003 |
| Videofinder number: | 830 |
| Available to public: | no |
