Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Current Events 7: September 2016-September 2022

[iceflower]

Here's an article and the video:

** dm article: Kate Middleton left visibly moved as she hears about the horrors of the Holocaust during..**

 

[REAL COUNTESS]

A sad day in History. Let us never forget, because if we do we may be damned to repeat it again. This at that time was the shame of a Nation. Remember History the good and the bad and learn from it. God bless them all.

 

[TLLK]

I am so pleased that Manfred and Zigi have remained friends for decades. It was wonderful to listen to their accounts even though the details can be so difficult to hear. Glad that Catherine has remained in contact with them over the years.

 

[Alison H]

https://news.sky.com/story/kate-exh...re-horrified-when-she-cut-their-hair-12201841


Kate's been speaking out about the challenges of lockdown and homeschooling. I do think she's doing a great job in encouraging people to admit if they're finding it hard. A lot of people are struggling, especially those who are trying to do their own work from home and supervise their children's work at the same time, but feel awkward about speaking out about their own problems at a time of national/international crisis.

 

[Denville]

https://news.sky.com/story/kate-exh...re-horrified-when-she-cut-their-hair-12201841


Kate's been speaking out about the challenges of lockdown and homeschooling. I do think she's doing a great job in encouraging people to admit if they're finding it hard. A lot of people are struggling, especially those who are trying to do their own work from home and supervise their children's work at the same time, but feel awkward about speaking out about their own problems at a time of national/international crisis.

I think she's believable as I think she and Will have a much more "normal" household than his father had or the queen. They do have staff and nannies but I think they also do take care of the children themselves as much as is reasonably possible.

 

[Heavs]

I do think it's tricky to come off as authentic when people know that you have a highly trained nanny, staff and a school with a lot of resources and I think she was aware of that. However I do believe her when she talks about trying to homeschool her kids herself and causing them horrified faces when trying to cut their hair.

Even if you have the resources and help, getting the kids to learn in such a different environment can be difficult as Lady Fredrick Windsor has also said. Even though they're also very lucky.

They certainly don't operate a "see the kids for an hour a day at tea time" house, which is sometimes the image that comes up when talking about the royals.

 

[Denville]

I do think it's tricky to come off as authentic when people know that you have a highly trained nanny, staff and a school with a lot of resources and I think she was aware of that. However I do believe her when she talks about trying to homeschool her kids herself and causing them horrified faces when trying to cut their hair.

Even if you have the resources and help, getting the kids to learn in such a different environment can be difficult as Lady Fredrick Windsor has also said. Even though they're also very lucky.

They certainly don't operate a "see the kids for an hour a day at tea time" house, which is sometimes the image that comes up when talking about the royals.

Of course she has help but so do most career working mothers.. They have nannies or nursery schools, and send kids to private school.. however I think that Kate is as much of a hands on mother as is possible in her particular situation.. that she does help the kids with their homework and take them to school herself if she can.. whereas Charles's home was more formal.. and I tink the queen did mostly leave her kids to nannies and boarding school....

 

[Alisa]

I think she was trying her best to come off as funny, down to earth and relatable.

Everyone knows she lives a very privilege life compared to the average parent. Neither she nor William lost jobs because of the pandemic, they have multiple homes, servants, housekeepers, a personal hairdresser, a full-time nanny, their children attend a fancy expensive school...etc etc

So for ex. When asked how homeschooling has been since lockdown- she could've truthfully answered that it "ok" since she has a full-time highly trained nanny and tutors for the children.

However, bringing that up would not have endeared her to the public/audience or made her seem relatable.

 

[Alison H]

What tutors? We are in lockdown. I assume that the children get some online contact with their schoolteachers, but I'm certainly not aware that they've got live-in tutors, and visiting tutors wouldn't be allowed. Visiting hairdressers are not allowed either. Someone can visit your home if e.g. you've got a burst pipe and need a plumber to repair it, but not to do your hair. If only they could - mine's a right mess!

 

[Denville]

Of course she's not going to stress the ways in which she's different to most people..It would be very insensitive....
but i agree I don't know where she would get tutors.. or if her Nanny was going to be much help with home schooling... Odds are that she and Will try and keep the kids up to their studies and help with their homework...
Besides which if everything in her life she says is "OK", how can she talk to people at all? She may be better off than most mothers, but she has the same experience of bieng a mother, worrying about keeping kids learning when they can't go to school, worrying that they are frustrtated at home.. worrying about elderly relatives who may be vulnerable.. and whom they can't see.

 

[AC21091968]

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Current Events 7: September 2016

What tutors? We are in lockdown. I assume that the children get some online contact with their schoolteachers, but I'm certainly not aware that they've got live-in tutors, and visiting tutors wouldn't be allowed. Visiting hairdressers are not allowed either. Someone can visit your home if e.g. you've got a burst pipe and need a plumber to repair it, but not to do your hair. If only they could - mine's a right mess!

I assume the one-to-one or one-to-two tutoring could happen online (Zoom and Microsoft Teams). Well, that’s what happened to my closed family member who finished the end of year exam in 2020 (In Australia. He’s the class of 2020). He had face to face tutoring with the same tutor in 2019 and early 2020 before COVID-19 hits. A lot of students in his year did receive private tutoring or group coaching outside the help of their teachers.

But then again, I don’t know if this applies to the Cambridge children, given that they are very young. Or is everything in school becoming competitive in the UK? (In some aspect here in NSW, Australia if you want your child to get into Opportunity Classes in Year 3 (apparently) or scholarship to private school)

 

[Denville]

I assume the one-to-one or one-to-two tutoring could happen online (Zoom and Microsoft Teams). Well, that’s what happened to my closed family member who finished the end of year exam in 2020 (In Australia. He’s the class of 2020). He had face to face tutoring with the same tutor in 2019 and early 2020 before COVID-19 hits. A lot

But then again, I don’t know if this applies to the Cambridge children, given that they are very young. Or is everything in school becoming competitive in the UK? (In some aspect here in NSW, Australia if you want your child to get into Opportunity Classes in Year 3 (apparently) or scholarship to private school)

I think that George and Charlotte are a bit young to need zoom tutors.. but just keeping up lessons on line, doing homework without the stimulus of playmates and being in school, is probably difficult for them

 

[Alison H]

Yes, some people employ tutors, to get kids through entrance exams for private secondary schools, or to give them a better chance with GCSEs or A-levels, but I doubt the Cambridges have got tutors when their children are so young.


It must be so hard with little ones - at least older kids can be left to get on with their work by themselves (hopefully!), but not at George and Charlotte's ages.

 

[Pranter]

Here schools give parents the option of virtual schooling (all grades) and even the elementary kids have zoom meetings with teachers and tutors if needed. So I wold not assume the Cambridge kids have tutors in person.

Not sure why ppl think the kids are suffering from lack of playmates...they have each other.

LaRae

 

[Heavs]

From my own experience of family littles around the same age the schools (private and suburban state ones) have provided a lot of online lessons and a zoom/phone call with teachers every few days to check they're doing ok.

The biggest issue does seem to be that it's difficult to learn at that age by staring at a screen all the time and having no "real" interaction with their friends.

Besides which if everything in her life she says is "OK", how can she talk to people at all? She may be better off than most mothers, but she has the same experience of bieng a mother, worrying about keeping kids learning when they can't go to school, worrying that they are frustrtated at home.. worrying about elderly relatives who may be vulnerable.. and whom they can't see.

True and the point of the engagement was to encourage parents to open up about their struggles and frustrations.

 

[Denville]

Here schools give parents the option of virtual schooling (all grades) and even the elementary kids have zoom meetings with teachers and tutors if needed. So I wold not assume the Cambridge kids have tutors in person.

Not sure why ppl think the kids are suffering from lack of playmates...they have each other.

LaRae

They wont have playmates in their own form at school, who will give them some stimulus for learning. There are probably only the 3 of them, and Louis is only a toddler.. so while they're lucky enough to have a big place to play in, they may well be getting on each other's nerves after months of lockdown.

 

[TLLK]

Here schools give parents the option of virtual schooling (all grades) and even the elementary kids have zoom meetings with teachers and tutors if needed. So I wold not assume the Cambridge kids have tutors in person.

Not sure why ppl think the kids are suffering from lack of playmates...they have each other.

LaRae

As much as you can enjoy the company of your siblings, it's important for socialization to interact with your peers. Keep in mind that George and Charlotte very likely have daily required synchronous time with their classes via Zoom or Google Classroom etc.., so that leaves Louis with only an adult(s) to interact with during certain hours of the day. At his age I believe that both George and Charlotte had already begun going to nursery school a couple of days a week, but that isn't possible now.

 

[Osipi]

Whether or not they have nannies or tutors or whatever, the point really is that both William and Catherine are active parents in their kid's lives. We've seen examples of that such as the art project with finger paints making signs for standing outside and clapping. We've seen the Cambridge children involved in Catherine's garden project for the Chelsea Flower Show (I think it was) and quite a few more examples I'm just not thinking of. They're a very "hands on" family together during a lock down coping the same way that a lot of other parents are trying to cope. We've read stories on how they all make a dinner together in the kitchen. Sometimes education is not just book learning and homework.

Having had three little ones spaced apart much like the Cambridge children are, I do think they're capable of amusing each other. One thing that does come out of a lock down is that they're spending a lot of time together as a family. They even have a new puppy. No. The Cambridges are not your everyday family but they *are* a close family.

 

[Hallo girl]

Maybe they want to spend time with their children doing the school work, yes they have staff to support in the home but they maybe just want to do it. They may be don't want to send them to the nursery with nanny.

 

[Somebody]

Yes, some people employ tutors, to get kids through entrance exams for private secondary schools, or to give them a better chance with GCSEs or A-levels, but I doubt the Cambridges have got tutors when their children are so young.

It must be so hard with little ones - at least older kids can be left to get on with their work by themselves (hopefully!), but not at George and Charlotte's ages.

George can probably work relatively independent. Both my eldest niece and nephew are a few months younger than he is and they don't need much supervision while doing online classes (this might of course differ from one child to another). Their younger kindergarten-aged brother/sister (cf. Charlotte), however, do.

 

[Sandy345]

Distance learning means the children have teachers giving them assignments to complete online. HOme schooling means the parents take charge of all the teaching and assignments which certainly can be more challenging. There is a push here in the US to get students back into the classroom as soon as possible as some are falling behind in schoolwork. The Cambridge children are young yet and hopefully things get back to normal soon and they can go back to the classroom, Maybe George and Charlotte made friends with some of their classmates when they attended "live" classes and they could be phoning them or meeting them on Zoom for social time.

 

[Denville]

I doubt schools will be open here for some time, it will be months before life is anything like normal again

 

[Osipi]

I agree with this but I also think that people are finding out they're far more resilient than they thought they were. Will things ever go back to the way they were? I seriously doubt it. There's going to be a "before pandemic" and an "after pandemic" difference. ?

 

[TLLK]

Maybe they want to spend time with their children doing the school work, yes they have staff to support in the home but they maybe just want to do it. They may be don't want to send them to the nursery with nanny.

I agree. Also I tend to believe that Nanny Maria's role is to spend time with Louis while his parent(s) are assisting George and Charlotte with their school work. After all the parents and guardians would be the ones who would have been informed by the various teachers at St. Thomas Battersea as to what the expectations are for their student(s)' academic work. While there is usually going to be an age/skill appropriate independent work time after instruction, primary aged students are going to require some support from adults. Hopefully the parents and guardians are receiving some online support/tutorial from the school faculty and/or specialists ie:Math curriculum especially if it's undergone a significant change since parents/guardians were in school.

Distance learning means the children have teachers giving them assignments to complete online. HOme schooling means the parents take charge of all the teaching and assignments which certainly can be more challenging. There is a push here in the US to get students back into the classroom as soon as possible as some are falling behind in schoolwork

Thank you Sandy345 for pointing out this important distinction between distance learning and true homeschooling. This is why I hope that parents/guardians are receiving some solid support from school faculty and/or specialists when it comes to their student(s)' curriculum and clear expectations as to how best provide instruction where needed and when to allow for independent work.

 

[SLV]

My older girls are 8 and 10 years old and I have a 15 month old little girl walking around. Husband and I alternate days for helping the girls with homework. Eldest has three video-call-moments of 30 min and can do much on her own (if she feels like it [emoji6]), our 8 year old has 30 min per day in which her teacher goes through the different subjects. And she needs constant supervision to keep her at work (dreaming away otherwise)
So for us it is a lot of walking to and fro, while keeping our little girl happy too.
I can imagine a similar situation for the Cambridges (one works, other helps the children), with the exception of the Nanny keeping Louis occupied.
Maria was educated for childcaring, not teaching. And while I do not doubt she can easily solve 537-248. It doesn't mean she would be good at explaining it to the children as a teacher would. Same goes for W&C, and for my husband and myself too.
Apart from that contact with other children (other than siblings) is really important for children, the fact that none of us are actual teachers and just try to do the best we can, the children *need* real, properly educated teachers to really learn.
My girls do fine at home, they get their work done and understand our explanations, they play together all days, but ask every week when school starts again.

 

[tommy100]

I can imagine George and Charlotte's school will be sending a lot of online learning which at their age will likely need a lot of adult input. Part of it will likely be printing off worksheets etc to be completed at home. I mean the children are not old enough to be on Zoom for all their lessons. Having Maria around at this point will be a godsend but will still mean they'll have someone with the older two, one with Louis and one working. I'm sure both are doing wok behind scenes we don't see, speaking to their staff, planning ahead etc. Even on downtimes there will be one adult for each child add on the times W&K are both doing something and Maria needs to have all 3. For sure W&K have it easier than some but I can see why its hard going and all of this doesn't get around the children not seeing their friends, having low days and days they refuse to do work.

 

[Pranter]

[.....]

Both Cambridge parents are educated life experienced adults. There is no reason to think their children (or others) are being short changed educationally,.


LaRae

 

[tommy100]

Without getting too off topic I'd also point out, as a teacher, that the work I'm setting my students (who are the same age as Charlotte) is not the same as the work I would be doing in school with them. That is for a huge variety of reasons including how stressed out parents might get having to do it. Of course any well educated adult will know enough to impart knowledge to young children but the work being done at home is not the same nor to the same level as what would be happening in schools.

 

[TLLK]

[.....]

[.....]. However the difference is still that your grandchildren's parents/guardians have chosen to homeschool and the Cambridge kids and many millons are in currently required to be on distance learning due to Covid-19. The latter was always meant to have in person instruction in a school with a curriculum designed for that setting. The distance learning families were not expecting to be the instructors.

 

[Pranter]

[.....] However the difference is still that your grandchildren's parents/guardians have chosen to homeschool and the Cambridge kids and many millons are in currently required to be on distance learning due to Covid-19. The latter was always meant to have in person instruction in a school with a curriculum designed for that setting. The distance learning families were not expecting to be the instructors.

Certainly they were not expecting it, however now parents/grandparents have step things up. What other option do they have? Were parents not stepping in to help with schoolwork/class projects already? This is just another level. I realize it is not easy, you just do what you need to do until schools get back on course. Just as The Cambridges are presumably doing.




LaRae