The Fonz praises UK primary school teachers

While attending The Children’s Media Conference 2010 in Sheffield I managed to grab two minutes with actor-turned-children’s author Henry Winkler.

The Fonz, as he is better known, has co-written 17 best-selling novels based on the character of Hank Zipzer – The World’s Greatest Under-Achiever.

Just like his creator, who was diagnosed with dyslexia, Hank tries his best in school but can’t quite seem to get anything right.

I asked Henry what message he has for UK primary school teachers.

“I’ve met a lot of primary school teachers across the nation and I think they are unbelievably sensational. There are so many creative things that are being done now by teachers.

“But here it is – the student who is disruptive is probably not doing it on purpose, the student didn’t wake up in the morning and say ‘Wow, I think I’m going to disrupt the class today’, the student whose knee is bouncing up and down is probably not going to be able to stop doing that, it’s probably in the wiring and the fact is that all children learn differently – they learn their way.

“I think it is Herculean that England and America expect teachers to teach the same amount of material to the fastest students and the slowest student at the same time – almost impossible.

“I would not give advice to them, I would say thank you to them for they are the second, sometimes the primary most important human being in the childrens’ lives.”