21st February 2014 9:00
By Blue Tutors
As private tutors we are usually brought in by parents to help their children with particular subjects. If a student is struggling with English, for example, a parent may arrange lessons with a tutor and ask that they focus on grammar, language skills and exam techniques. As tutors we do our best to accommodate these requests and teach that which is required. Responsible tutors will also look for weakness in other areas of the subject, and address these where possible. However, whenever we give a lesson, we are teaching more than just the subject; tutors bring their own ideas, views and approaches into their sessions, and this is bound to have an impact on their students.
The ideas that are imparted to students that are not part of official teaching are known as the hidden curriculum. In schools, the teacher’s attitudes towards race, class and gender can teach students to think a certain way about themselves and others. School rules, school bells and detention, whilst not officially part of the curriculum, teach students to act a certain way and to follow the prescribed routine. In tutoring sessions there are no school rules or detention, but in a one-one session it is likely that a tutor’s views will be taken on board by their student.
Teaching grammar may seem like an uncontroversial topic, but all it takes is for a student to ask why it is important, why they are being testing on it, or who decides what the rules are, to open up a discussion about class and the history of language, power and the current government’s plans to introduce standardised grammar tests for primary school children. Similarly, many of the texts taught at English Key stage 3 or GCSE have themes surrounding social justice and politics, and it is likely that a tutor’s own views will come through during their discussions of the text with their students. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the trick for tutors is to recognise the presence of the hidden curriculum, and ensure that all aspects of their lesson are meeting their students’ needs.