Teachers’ leaders have warned that the cult of celebrity among children can damage their education. According to teachers, pupil’s obsessions with footballers, pop stars and actors are affecting their progress in school as well as limiting their career aspirations.
In a survey for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), some 60% of the 304 teachers quizzed said their pupils most aspired to be David Beckham. More than a third said pupils motivation to become famous is only the sake of being famous. And 32% of teachers said their pupils modelled themselves on heiress Paris Hilton (photo).
The results of that survey were released ahead of the ATL conference in Torquay, that started on Monday. Teacher delegates will debate a motion that argues the “decline in this country into the cult of celebrity” is “perverting children’s aspirations”.
If the motion passes, the teaching union will call on the government and other agencies in order to promote positive role models of “ordinary people across the media.”
Mary Bousted, ATL general secretary said celebrities could raise pupils’ aspirations and ambitions for the future. But she also warned: “We are deeply concerned that many pupils believe celebrity status is available to everyone.” “They do not understand the hard work it takes to achieve such status and do not think it is important to be actively engaged in school work as education is not needed for a celebrity status.”
Positive and negative effect
Elizabeth Farrar, from a primary school near Scunthorpe, said too many pupils believed academic success was “unnecessary”, because they thought they would be able to make their fame and fortune quite easily on a reality TV show. “They believe that they are much more likely to achieve financial well-being through celebrity than through progression to higher education and a ‘proper’ career.”
For a secondary teacher from Colchester, Essex, quizzed in the survey, the media focus on celebrities’ “negative behaviour”, encouraging underage drinking and anti-social behaviour.
But nearly three-quarters of teachers said they thought a focus on celebrity culture could have a positive effect, as well as a negative one. “The racism issue raised by celebrity Big Brother created a useful platform for class discussion”, said Julie Gilligan, from a primary school in Salford.
But she added : “on the other hand, I have seen and heard negative emulation of celebrity footballer/pop star language and behaviour in the playground and in school – including disturbingly age-inappropriate ‘acts’ by young girls in school talent shows.”
According to a spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families, schools already promoted positive professions such as nursing and teaching. “While the worst excesses of celebrity culture may lend themselves to lurid headlines, it is worth remembering that there are many more celebrities who set a good example on a local and national level.”
“They help in schools and community projects, promote sport and healthy lifestyles, take part in anti drug campaigns and encourage children to stay on in education and to stay safe.”
Then the problem could partly come from the medias, as they put the emphasis on celebrities who misbehave, giving a terrible example to children, easy to influence.
Nice Blog. I like the layout you used. Did you make that yourself?
– Randy Nichols.
i was wondering if you could fill in this questionnaire, it would be really useful for my media work which is on the topic of celebrities influencing children 🙂
Gender: female male
Age:
Have you ever been influenced by celebrities in the media?
Yes No
If so, who and why?
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Do you see how people are influenced by celebrities in the media?
Yes No
If so why,
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
Do you think celebrities glamorise drugs, alcohol and eating disorders?
Yes No
Do you think that younger audiences are being sucked into the whole ‘image of perfection’?
Yes No
What gender do you think is more influenced by what the media portrays?
Yes No
Have you ever been attracted to anything that a celebrity has done?
Yes No
Are you always on top of what celebrities have done in the media?
Yes No
thank you
Gender: male
Age:14
Have you ever been influenced by celebrities in the media?
No
Do you see how people are influenced by celebrities in the media?
No
Do you think celebrities glamorise drugs, alcohol and eating disorders?
yes
Do you think that younger audiences are being sucked into the whole ‘image of perfection’?
Yes
What gender do you think is more influenced by what the media portrays?
(Yes No)?? you mean male/FEMALE
Have you ever been attracted to anything that a celebrity has done?
minorly
Are you always on top of what celebrities have done in the media?
No
nice questionare
i think this is a bad picture and she should wear mopre CLOTHS!
Hi, I am doing an opinion essay in school about how celebrities have effected children in a bad way and i think this article helped me a lot. When I was younger, I used to be concerned about my weight because I would see pictures of people like Paris Hilton, and Ashley Tisdale, but I finally recognized that the way I am is perfect. But I wish that more people in my grade would recognize that as well. I realized that being curvy is more attractive than having your bones popping out of your skin. I am going to tell all my friends to read this article. Thank you very, very much for recognizing the problem.
I’m doing a research paper on how celebrities influence kids and this has helped me a lot!!!
I noticed that this is not the first time at all that you mention this topic. Why have you chosen it again?
I think this is great.
I am so excited that people care so much.
I too am doind an essay on How Celebrities effect Teen Girls.
I am so sickened by what i found out.
The only celebrity that i “idolize” is Tyra Banks, I believe she has a good head on her shoulders. 🙂
Bookmarked
im doing a feature article about how celebrities are influencing kids to do bad things anyone got info??????????
I believe that celebrities can have a good or bad effect on todays generation, as much as the media encourages negative behavour it is still up to the parents to step in and change unrealistic beliefs created by celebrities.
We all need to have some form of competition in our lives to encourage youngsters to aspire to be like someone else, this is a positive attribute that can encourage teens to work hard to gain the lifesyle of their dreams.
Drawing the line betweeen parents influences and celebrities iinfluence is key. It does not really matter what celebrities do but what your children decide to do.
Celebrities have a positive effect on our lives, they value success,relationships,seeking to find your talents,looking good,giving to the poor and a high self esteem.
Big ups celebs!
4rm Mpho
i,m just getting info on celebs. need one positive+1 negative celeb, but this is WAY better!
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