to desperately want to leave my job (on verge of walking out) because of this?

[woodlandfairycreature]

Help.

I do hang around here, mainly on the weight loss chat boards, but I've had to name-change due to the content.

I am a teacher and I am hugely struggling with one of my classes, to the extent that I am going home crying whenever I have them (three times a week.)

It is a GCSE class. For some reason they have no respect for me and treat me like i'm a big joke. It's very hard to put into words - constant smirks, shaking with laughter, covering mouths, looking away (as clearly looking at me would be so hilarious they just wouldn't be able to cope.) Shouting across the room, then when I follow the school system arguments ensue - "OH MY GOD, I was only TELLING x that I wanted to lend his pen off him!" then discussions with other students about the unfairness of it "She just gave me DETENTION for asking x to lend his pen!" which leads, sometimes, to arguments from others - "You're being unfair!" I do follow the system we have (two warnings/detention) but we can only remove a child in extreme cases and I'd have to go out, phone for help and fill in a referral form and to be honest it's difficult (impossible, really) to do that with four/five kids.

Have contacted home, to no avail. It worked temporarily - most things have a temporary effect - but while I can deal with the more obvious disruption (shouting out) it is the more insidious forms of behaviour that are really upsetting me just now - the constant laughing at me, the mocking of my voice, the accusations that I don't teach them well.

I have them twice tomorrow - I hate Wednesdays.

I will have them this year and next unless they all leave or I do and I just don't know, I have had the most awful year and came close to just walking out Monday. I cannot cope with it any more. Please help me

Ilovesooty, thank you. I have already been told off because one lesson was dull, in all honesty I don't plan for much group work anyway as they can't cope with it very well. We're reading a text. I usually consider my planning very good but finding stuff they can do is a challenge - they don't want to think for themselves at all, if I give them stuff they can cope with it would be deemed boring, if not, that's when the behaviour is poor and so it's lose-lose really.

Plus, they are immature but its a nasty sort of immaturity. Something was described as 'gay" in the book we are reading the other day and they laughed which is fine - I understand the word gay is funny when you're 14. But it's nasty laughing, I'm explaining it badly as I don't know how else to put it, but it isn't the giggling typically you'd get with another group. It's as if there's always an undertone.

They would sprinkle, they come in.

I couldn't possibly ask someone else to take this group - it would be completely hypocritical, 'Hey, I can't cope, but I expect you to be able to!' My department are known to be difficult at the best of times!

It sounds like you need some time out to get stronger. Please go to your doctor and get signed off. Tell them everything and do not go back for at least a month. You need to confide in someone just how desperate you are feeling as you really have nothing to lose. Please please please be kind to yourself. X

I'm just gobsmacked that smt are sufficiently on top of things so that they know what is being taught in every single lesson. Sounds oppressive and unsupportive in the extreme.

Oh god, OP, I'm a teacher and I know exactly what you mean.

First of all, NEVER EVER walk out. Never. There will be all sorts of repercussions. If you feel so bad that you think you're going to have to go home, tell your line manager you are feeling ill and you have to go home. Don't just walk out.

Secondly, have tomorrow off. Really, don't go in. The trouble with these bastard classes are that they are so frequent, but for now, in your position, I would stay off work for the rest of the week. Perhaps really go for it with job applications, though I imagine there aren't many at the moment. Are you willing to move to go to a different job? How much further would you travel?

When you are off, I think you should write an email to your line manager and copy it to Personnel (if you have a Personnel Officer) and to the union. I, and others on here, can help you write that. In it you have to say that you love your other classes. You don't have any trouble with them. You have to say that you are being bullied by a class and that it is making you ill. Tell them you REFUSE to teach this class. It doesn't matter what they do, you are not going to teach them. However, for tonight, don't think about this. Think "fuck you, you bunch of inadequate bastards" and phone in sick first thing.

Go to your doctor's, then. I know when I had problems at home I went onto anti depressants just to allow me to cope. The idea of medicating myself to cope with everyday life was awful, but it really helped. It enabled me to kind of lift the pressure and move it away from me. It was a weird sensation but very, very useful.

Regardless of doctor's visits etc, I think you should be clear that you have no intention of returning if it means teaching that class. When you think about it, they can either pay you six months' full sick pay followed by six months' half pay, or they can have you back in on Thursday. It's their decision. If they argue, contact the governors.

Everyone knows a group of kids together can be awful. Enough to make you do desperate things.

Stand your ground. (And hope they fail everything they take )

I was going to suggest a class detention like fortydoors - if you can't pinpoint who was doing what.

I was in a "naughty" tutor group and used to get these quite regularly. Eventually the pressure from those of us who'd done nothing wrong and were still losing our lunchtime stopped the group that were playing up. No-one wanted to be the one that caused everyone else aggro.

I think you're going to have to go hardline to regain respect. As Mamma TJ I remember being in classes where the teacher had lost control and it wasn't pretty. The difference needs to be that you're going to take it back. If they think you've given up it'll just fuel them. Haul their arses in for detention for every transgression and they'll give in.

If SLT come in, they already know how poor the behaviour is. What can you lose by actually showing that you are employing strategies to change it? If your GCSE results are poor you will be in the shit anyway.

No, you cannot ask someone else to teach the class as a whole, but you can reorganise the classes to distribute the troublemakers, or swap naughties for different naughties from other classes to break up the dynamic.

You CAN ask someone else to deal with the class. You can.

It's likely they would be different with someone else. It's not personal in that way. They've decided to bully you. If you stop teaching them, they may decide to bully another teacher, in which case maybe something will happen. The chances are, though, they'll be OK for them. Not because of any logical reasons. Just because they are randomly vile.

Thank you.

Sprinkle, they don't. However, this class is being 'watched' (with me) because I got told off the other week for setting them unsuitable work, that's how I know they will come in. That makes me 'jittery' - I might be being unfair but I do feel very pressurised just now.

I'm a teacher; we would definitely stand in for someone else who was being bullied.

Reorganisation of classes just isn't possible at this time of year.

If you send any emails on the matter, blind copy them to your home address.

Sounds like smt are as big a problem as these unpleasant teenagers. Am furious that this bullying culture can go on.

I really can't change them all around, or get someone else to teach the class, partly because of the structure of the course but mainly because the other classes are settled and they are working, it is just mine that are foul.

I do appreciate people's replies, I don't want it to sound defeatist or negative but I have been battling with this for three months - most things people have suggested I have tried and it just is not working, or if something DOES work the effect is only temporary.

That's why I feel so desperate.

I'm also a teacher, a HOD, we reorganise our GCSE classes all the time based on attainment and behaviour.

If you are HOD of a difficult department you can ask someone else to take your bad class. They probably will. The long-term consequences are not worth it though.

You sound at the end of your tether but you must find the strength and take control of this. Get angry op. You are an experienced teacher and your other classes need you!

So tomorrow...

Deep breath. Go in head high. Tactical ignoring. Praise the good ones and give them ALL your attention.

Broken record technique and icy calm for the ones who won't stop. Do the flow chart to the removal from class. Stay very calm. Keep doing it. It's the only way. You are in charge, not them.

Persevere. Be stronger than they are. Find your power. They know nothing, they're 14. You are fucking good at your job.

2 weeks til christmas...

Your two warnings/ detention system sounds like it might be unworkable in a class like this. Because basically if you have 4/5 ringleaders, then you're going to get 10 instances of poor, rude behaviour which are effectively going to go unchecked. This must be really undermining.

As you are HOD, could you alter this? Maybe go in to senior management with an action plan rather than asking for support. Explain the behaviour you are experiencing and say how you would like to address it. Which could be speaking to the class/ listing the behaviour that is unacceptable and tell them that going through it is counting as their warning. Maybe say that as they do not seem to understand that their behaviour is unacceptable following the current system that you are changing it.

Consequences would be more effective if they were immediate/ difficult. I don't have experience of secondary - what consequences would bother them most? - could they miss a break time and complete work for you/ take home extra work to complete as they have wasted time in the lesson which if not completed would result in detention?/ have immediate detention? (no warnings apart from your whole class one).

I think your key is to decide on a consequence and pull them up on the behaviour every time. It will be hard at first but they'll start to realise you mean it.

How about getting a couple of the non-ringleaders to stay behind after class. Having a friendly chat with them about how disappointed you are that they've been led astray by others, that they could do so much better and achieve good grades if they stopped messing about. Remind them that they're ruining their chances of good grades, college, etc. ask them if they really want to let others in the class potentially affect the rest of their lives so negatively? Finish off by been all motivational again.

If you can turn the non ringleaders back onto side a few at a time then things will be a lot better.

I'm not a teacher btw so could be talking bollocks though I have done college lecturing of 16plus in the past.

Spikey, it really isn't possible. We've taught different texts, and besides, even if we hadn't, eyebrows would definitely be raised - 'the HOD had to ask X to take that class as she couldn't cope with them.'

They would probably do so gleefully, but the point is, it would reflect so badly on me as a leader, teacher, person.

I'm screwed.

Sorry have not read the full message, but read a few and knew I had to comment.
After several years of teaching I had a year 8 class (yes I know being broken down by 13 year old girls sounds pathetic!) which sound like your horrors.
Management were no good as they would only remove one at a time, after several phone calls made. I asked for help I hot spotted it ect but due to the timings of the day I no one would help.
I spent a lot of time just standing at the front of the room and wishing I was else where.
As long as they are/ where safe i did not care what was learnt.
Take the ones that are nice around a group of tables and do some small group teaching. Blank the others.

Wish I could give better advice as I understand the hell you are going through. But in the end class from hell and a few other issues managment did not support me on made me leave secondary teaching. So much happier teaching younger children now!

GCSE past papers are a must for revision. It's worth a try, surely?
You sound at the end of your tether OP, don't talk yourself out of potential solutions. There are good pupils in this class? Can you focus your efforts on them, quiet fairness whilst you ignore the others. Divide and rule.

I honestly have tried the suggestions you make holly. That isn't that they aren't good suggestions - they are, just don't make any difference with this lot!

Blackdaisies, I can't change the whole school system and nor would I want to really - I can see consistency matters. It's just any sanctions seem to make little difference!q

Viva, again, have tried that. Usually they are shamefaced for about 10 minutes before getting sucked into sniggering and laughing and stupid stuff, it isn't even anything that bad but does give the impression it's me against them. And there are 30 of them.

Loony, they're in year 10. We aren't at past paper stage yet.

I've had to ignore some behaviour as I don't know who the perpetrators are. It just spurs them on.

OP, why don't you take the rest of the week off? Can you see that if you go in tomorrow you could end up making their day by crying in class?

One thing you could do if you go in, which I've done.

Say to them: "I've been considering your predicted grades, in the light of the way some of you are behaving." Put up a spreadsheet on the board and say, "Now I know some of you will be disappointed with these grades, because the knock on effect will mean that you might not be accepted into sixth form. It's time, though, to grow up and think about what's happening. Some of you are stopping everyone else from learning. Everyone knows that. The result of that is that all of you stand a 90% chance of failing this course. Of course when it comes to a reference for sixth form or an apprenticeship, we have to be honest and mention behaviour as well as grades." Give them a few minutes to find their fail grade, then, when they all start hollering, say, "Oh for god's sake don't blame me! I'm not the one stopping you from learning!"

Then, every time one of them does anything out of line, put the spreadsheet up on the board and say, "At what point are you going to accept that because of X, you are failing this course? I know you are young, but that is spectacularly immature behaviour."

I'm sorry, OP, I mustn't have been clear. I don't think you should get someone else to take the class, it will make you look weak.

I think you are in a terrible position, but I wouldn't go off sick as you will still have to face the problem only they will be worse having had cover supervisors or supply.

Get them doing exam questions in silence. If SLT query this then they really are not very good teachers themselves. I'm a HOD and lead practitioner and would advise any of the teachers I support to do this.

It is a long and not particularly pleasant road, but a don't think the status quo is an option for any of you. An unsupportive SLT will be on your back for one thing or another, but the poor behaviour will ring a lot more alarm bells than a couple of lessons of working in silence as you pick them off one by one.

I really feel for you, I've been there.

Hey woodland
You need a break; you need the chad holidays to rest and get someone perspective on this. I'm not intending to minimise the issues here but I think you may be do close to the matter seeing the solution is