Adolescence - surely not

[Whateverfloatsyourgoat]

Surely our secondary schools are not like the one depicted in Netflix’s Adolescence? I certainly don’t recognise it in my child’s one. The teachers are all pathetic and pupils running riot!

I did some TA work at a couple of state schools last year, they were worse than on Adolescence. I had kids throwing things around the classroom, pushing each other down the stairs, shouting out stupid things when the teacher was talking, pupils “pretend” stealing things from other pupils. It was horrendous. I thought the school in Adolescence looked pretty good in comparison!

Those parents saying it's not their child's experience of school. Take a look through their group chats, their social media. If they've escaped without getting dragged into any of it then consider them in the minority. Children's online lives would horrify most parents and we're so disconnected we can't even imagine the extent of what they've been subjected to since we all bought them mobiles "to be safe walking home from school in Yr6".

In DS's secondary he is bound by their particular discipline protocol, as I would guess are all teachers these days. Most days he feels he is in a zoo or circus rather than a classroom, kids constantly disrupting and being rude. All they can give them is a warning but they have a 3 warnings (at least 3, might be 4) before they have to leave the room. Simple maths then tells you if even 'only' two children play up then that's at least 6 or 8 times the class is disrupted and he has to stop his flow of teaching. In answer to your question I've not seen this programme, neither do I want to but yes, life in some schools in pretty dire and from what I read on here it's quite widespread.

Accurate where I am

I would hope that although the behaviour my be typical, that teachers in most schools have a better handle on things. But perhaps I'm hopelessly naive.

I dont think DC's school is like that but they are super strict. They never dare to look at their phones during school time for starters.

I would say it's not inaccurate.

In my experience there are pockets of that kind of behaviour among a minority of students and it happens repeatedly, rather than large number of feral kids.

And thankfully most staff give a shit are are far more clued up than those in the programme.

Maybe this is right cos I was just thinking that my state secondary was like the one in the show when I went in the 90s

I would say fairly good representation of an average Secondary School.
The 'gentle'approach again typical. Especially, with the girl who lashed out at the boy in the playground

Watching the behaviour of some of the individuals I could quiet easily give them names of former pupils.

Points against: building and infrastructure were much better than average school. Many are falling apart and downright unsafe.

I don't think there are many teachers like the training or NQT chap. Most are on the ball and caring.
I would find it hard to believe said teacher handover heard of Andrew Tate. Last time I did supply there was a whole assembly with follow up work on treating each other with respect. Misogyny and Tate came up. Schools have inservice training on how to approach the subject.

Teachers are not in the students' bedroom monitoring their online behaviour. They don't control their phones out of school. When schools try to ban phones Mummy usually tries a letter why Chloe or Theo should be exempt.

I had my children in the 90s. We didn't allow TVs, computer or games consoles in bedrooms. Phones were charged downstairs

Sitting in Costa waiting on a friend the local outstanding school students are walking past. All have phones in their hands.

Although, this is a drama it should be a wake up call for society, schools and parents.

I think if you have a child in Secondary school you are living in cloud cuckoo land if you think your children aren't exposed to bullying, sexual explicit material or misogynistic material online.

No, my dc said their school is nothing like that.