VIDEO: Staff at Accrington school delight pupils with Gangnam Style film
5:00pm Monday 31st December 2012 in News
STAFF at a leading East Lancashire secondary school have delighted Accrington young people with their dancing YouTube version of the global hit Gangnam Style.
The video - which features Mount Carmel RC High head Xavier Bowers in his office and includes several male teachers in the changing rooms clad in towels - has been watched more than 3,000 times.
But it has also left one leading councillor concerned about the message it sends out.
While the school staff’s take on the Korean pop song has been a hit with pupils and their friends, former Tory Hyndburn council leader Peter Britcliffe said he was not impressed.
His concerns about the video undermining respect for teachers however have been dismissed by Mr Bowers and governor Monsignor John Daly.
Teachers, cleaners and receptionists at the Accrington school were filmed dancing PSY’s trademark gallop throughout the corridors. Staff also stop staged teachers’ meetings and surprise children in classrooms.
Staff can be seen dancing in the school minibus, in the sports changing rooms wearing strategically-placed towels, and in the school’s reception galloping while throwing imaginary lassoes into the air.
Even a biology class skeleton is seen to try the Gangnam moves.
The YouTube video, named Gangnam Final, carries the message: “You will never see our staff in the same light again!”.
The climax of the video sees staff gathering to dance together in the school gym.
Peter Britcliffe said: “I am not a killjoy but I have looked at the piece, which is being discussed all over Accrington. It is the talk of the town’s young people.
“Having viewed it myself, while most of it is just good fun, there are parts of it certainly that might not improve the respect there should be between teachers and pupils.”
Mr Bowers said: “As far as Mr Britcliffe’s comment, I can assure him that this kind of thing strengthens the relationship between teachers, pupils and parents who have given us an overwhelmingly good response. This is a spoof, like the one done by soldiers serving in Afghanistan.”
Monsignor Daly said: “It is just a harmless bit of fun.”
To watch the school’s version of Gangnam Style visit www.youtube.com and search for Gangnam Final
Comments(19)
Graham Hartley
says...
5:42pm Mon 31 Dec 12
Popery is alive and dancing in Accrington.
2 for 5p
says...
6:20pm Mon 31 Dec 12
If they were that's stealing a wage.
Watchkeeper
says...
6:38pm Mon 31 Dec 12
«... a serious error given the unfortunate relationship between Galileo and the Catholic church. He was held under house arrest for the remainder of his life after describing the true motion of planets ...»
Oh dear - yet another in need of a history lesson.
The Church was acting on the best scientific advice of the day. Galilei was rubbing the scientific establishment up the wrong way as much as the Church. Anyone trying to portray this as "ignorant Church v enlightened Science" is rewriting history to suit their agenda.
The Church had not learned (and has yet to learn) that to marry the science of today is to be a widow tomorrow.
Graham Hartley
says...
10:02pm Mon 31 Dec 12
Watchkeeper wrote:Be of that school, Watchy. I am of another, having read other books. I am not among those you claim are trying to portray this as ignorant Church v enlightened Science. Fun it is for me and perhaps so for you, but I suspect that our attacks upon other views will send the rest straight to sleep.
Graham Hartley said:
«... a serious error given the unfortunate relationship between Galileo and the Catholic church. He was held under house arrest for the remainder of his life after describing the true motion of planets ...»
Oh dear - yet another in need of a history lesson.
The Church was acting on the best scientific advice of the day. Galilei was rubbing the scientific establishment up the wrong way as much as the Church. Anyone trying to portray this as "ignorant Church v enlightened Science" is rewriting history to suit their agenda.
The Church had not learned (and has yet to learn) that to marry the science of today is to be a widow tomorrow.
Have a happy new year; they're free for as long as they come.
Graham Hartley
says...
10:42pm Mon 31 Dec 12
2 for 5p wrote:Well, yes; and one can consider other evidence at
I take it these teachers and other staff all came to the school on a Saturday or Sunday when the school is closed. They wouldn't of been doing this horse play during teaching time whilst getting paid by the LEA.
If they were that's stealing a wage.
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=QJXsqNdAW
Fs
which is a record of Accrington Moorhead's adventure in the same territory. There is support for the view expressed by Monsignor Daly that 'it is just a harmless bit of fun'. I consider it harmful for at least three reasons; first, the objection that you raise on the ground of cost is likely to arise in these times; second, news of the activity which appears during the festive season is evidence for the case that pupils attend school for fun rather than learning and so may as well stay at home; third, the release of material to a wide audience without careful examination (the material, not the audience) leads to the risk that others will find errors of the sort I describe above.
ToffeeGuy
says...
1:22am Tue 1 Jan 13
darwenTower
says...
2:41am Tue 1 Jan 13
The teachers will earn all the respect they deserve by teaching well not falling over themselves to appear personable.
davidinburnley
says...
5:28pm Tue 1 Jan 13
ToffeeGuy
says...
5:41pm Tue 1 Jan 13
davidinburnley wrote:Two massive general election defeats since then probably haven't improved his sense of humour either.
Hilarious! Mr Britcliffe, get a life - you never did have a sense of humour even back in the 80s!
VicLou
says...
7:11pm Tue 1 Jan 13
davidinburnley
says...
7:21pm Tue 1 Jan 13
ToffeeGuy wrote:I've no problems with his party politics - but he does need to realise we are in the 21st century and stop being such a prude.
davidinburnley wrote:Two massive general election defeats since then probably haven't improved his sense of humour either.
Hilarious! Mr Britcliffe, get a life - you never did have a sense of humour even back in the 80s!
Tim O'Kane
says...
10:33pm Tue 1 Jan 13
Venomp
says...
11:56pm Tue 1 Jan 13
kate11
says...
9:18am Wed 2 Jan 13
katey h
says...
10:32am Wed 2 Jan 13
volvowoman
says...
6:00pm Wed 2 Jan 13
I can assure you mr britcliffe that the majority of folk in the borough are not impressed with you either, we aint boverd that your not impressed, god i hate it when your smarmy face is in the local rags and reading through the drivel.
Hope you have to get a proper job in the new year.
Think the video was brilliant and as for Britcliffe the above comment and the one by Tim O'Kane says it all. It is refreshing to see that in these bleak times us northerners till have their sense of fun...Crack on!
liddle 'un
says...
8:27pm Wed 2 Jan 13
Graham Hartley
says...
9:50pm Wed 2 Jan 13
darwenTower wrote:Thanks, darwen, for that. I was 'with Britcliffe' at (grammar) school and so will be associated with him on those slender grounds. I am with you in your remark about teachers, and wonder if they bothered to read Socrates (Plato).
I'm with Britcliffe.
The teachers will earn all the respect they deserve by teaching well not falling over themselves to appear personable.
Steve4x4 says...
5:19pm Mon 31 Dec 12
I can assure you mr britcliffe that the majority of folk in the borough are not impressed with you either, we aint boverd that your not impressed, god i hate it when your smarmy face is in the local rags and reading through the drivel.
Hope you have to get a proper job in the new year.