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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Does this seem rude from staff?

28 replies

Tatiana30 · 01/04/2021 10:12

I'm a supply teacher who's recently started, doing day to day work.
Was at a school yesterday for the first time and naturally many children play up for supply teachers.
I said they could discuss their work quietly with their shoulder partner as this was the instruction left by the teacher.

It was getting a bit rowdy at times so kept stopping them and then issuing C1s.

A teacher came in, she must have had a free, not sure if she was asked to or just wanted to help but she didn't address me, just came in and sat with 1-2 students.
I'd seen her do a lesson before so she's not a TA.

About 10 minutes later a man came in who must have been head of year or some sort of middle leader. He didn't look at or address me either, just said to the teacher there, "Doing shoulder pair work are they miss?" With a smirk, she said, "Yeah, a little".
Then he said, "Oh well I'll let Mr X know, I love sharing successes."

Just seemed a bit weird and rude from both, what do others think?
I know as a supply you need to be very firm as they will try it on.

OP posts:
SnarkyBag · 01/04/2021 10:16

Yes I think that’s rude but schools can be really weird environments so I’m not surprised!

Original poster
Tatiana30 · 01/04/2021 10:18

Yeah I agree, I'm very glad to not be doing this full time anymore, it's my 2nd job.

Schools can be cliquey and competitive, teachers want to seem the best, obviously not all are like that though.

OP posts:
Liverbird77 · 01/04/2021 10:19

Absolutely rude.

Original poster
Tatiana30 · 01/04/2021 10:21

I had it in my old school where staff came in and just totally ignored you. I have no issue with people coming in but to not even say hi miss mind if I speak to the class, or mind if I support etc.

OP posts:
SummerHouse · 01/04/2021 10:22

Rude to not address you but I have no idea what the exchange means. Is it bad to be doing shoulder pair work?

Original poster
Tatiana30 · 01/04/2021 10:24

They were told they could speak quietly with their shoulder partner but they took liberties with this. So it probably was a bit rowdy when he came in and I felt a bit like it was a dig, but it's not the end of the world.

OP posts:
JustSleepAlready · 01/04/2021 10:27

Bloody hell. What chance have the kids got if the teachers are behaving like 6 year olds?? Surely there are better ways for the adults we entrust our children’s welfare to, to behave around our kids? Can’t stand bullying

Original poster
Tatiana30 · 01/04/2021 10:32

Yeah it's something I dislike about the school environment, some teachers think they're the bee's knees and love the sound of their own voice. The way they speak to the kids is cringy. Anyway If they do it again or anyone else then I'll need to speak up.

OP posts:
IndecentFeminist · 01/04/2021 10:35

I'm pretty sure we have had this conversation a few times before haven't we?

Original poster
Tatiana30 · 01/04/2021 10:36

No I've never posted about this before? It's only happened now.

OP posts:
LaceyBetty · 01/04/2021 10:36

I'm not a teacher, so not sure how these things work, but it seems really rude.

IEat · 01/04/2021 10:37

Why didn’t you ask who they were when they came into your class ?

RichardMarxisinnocent · 01/04/2021 10:38

@SummerHouse

Rude to not address you but I have no idea what the exchange means. Is it bad to be doing shoulder pair work?
Me neither. I've just googled shoulder pair work and found lots of info about exercising the shoulder muscles.
eddiemairswife · 01/04/2021 10:41

Is a 'shoulder partner' the person sitting next to you?

starfishmummy · 01/04/2021 10:41

I think a polite "Hello, can I help you" when they barged in would have been in order.

TulipsTwoLips · 01/04/2021 10:42

Sounds like they were having a dig at whoever suggesting the shoulder pair work. Is it a common thing?

PhillipPhillop · 01/04/2021 10:43

Maybe they didn't want to interrupt your flow and to check you out, see how you were managing (or not).

ArosGartref · 01/04/2021 10:51

If they objected to students doing work with their shoulder partner within a collaborative learning area then they're not capable facilitators of education.

(It's not like when we were in school, is it?)

starfish88 · 01/04/2021 10:55

I'm not surprised either. I was TA in a class and when the normal teacher was on PPA and a supply covered the class got a bit noisy so the teacher came back, shouted at everyone and sent the supply to sharpen pencils for her in the staff room. I had never seen anything like it. I wish I had spoken up but it was usually me getting told off. The head just shrugged it off, it's easier to replace TAs and supply than it is teachers.

SnarkyBag · 01/04/2021 11:56

I don’t think this attitude is reserved solely for supply teachers though. I think it can be that way for any outside visiting professional. I find it takes at least two years to fully embed yourself into a school if you are anything other than teacher/Ta staff

LadyHedgehog · 01/04/2021 11:59

This is one of the reasons I quit teaching! I worked in some lovely schools, but even in the nicest their were bitchy undertones if you weren't one of the 'in-crowd'.

Original poster
Tatiana30 · 01/04/2021 12:34

It happened again, was in the middle of covering a lesson and another in love with herself one burst in to tell the class they needed to sort out all the board pens, whiteboards etc. No apologies for disturbing the lesson, said 1 thing to me at the end. It is rude but fortunately they aren't my full time colleagues.

OP posts:
Liverbird77 · 01/04/2021 12:48

So glad I am out of teaching. I just can't imagine going back ever at this point.

PhillipPhillop · 01/04/2021 12:56

Hopefully you said something at the later interruption.

Wellpark · 01/04/2021 12:56

Former teacher here. I would never have come into a room without knocking and greeting the teacher before I said why I was there. Totally undermines the teacher in charge of the lesson if you dont do this and at the very least it's a professional courtesy.

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