To be this pissed off about something so minor

[Teacherwiththerage]

I am a PT teacher, working three days a week.

I have clear plastic boxes for my exercise books with my name and the class name clearly marked, so Mrs Jones Year 7 Set 2.

Every time I come to work they are all in complete disarray, mixed up with my partner teachers books, strewn everywhere.

Believe me I have tried many things but we are now halfway through June and it is still happening and I want to scream. AIBU and completely anal or would this drive you mad too?

That would drive me crazy!

Take them in/out of work with you. Don't leave them for others to use

I don’t mean this to sound horrible but do you realise how long that would take me? It’s not practical for me to move seven or eight boxes twice a week every week!

You can get plastic boxes that have slots for a padlock. Lock your stuff away.

This would drive me crazy and I would absolutely have to invest in lockable boxes. You shouldn't have to of course but it may be the only way to save your sanity. I'm guessing since you said you've tried many things, that you've already spoken to them about it. Locking them out might be your only option.

If you can't afford to replace all the boxes, can you get inexpensive luggage straps with combination lock on?

Or drill into the boxes and pop a cable tie at the back (creating a hinged lid effectively) and at the other side of the "hinge" add a padlock?

Why is anyone touching them at all? If they are neatly out of the way in boxes they must be going into there for a reason?

It would drive me round the bend. I can't stand other people meddling with my stuff and leaving it in disarray. I'd have to tackle them about it.

My youngest DD is very prone to doing this and is now totally forbidden from removing stuff from my desk because she doesn't just borrow it, it disappears. She and I have had many heated discussions about it and if she needs to use anything of mine she can do so at my desk and absolutely nowhere else.

DH isn't great either, but much better than he was. He now very rarely touches my stuff unless I watch him like a hawk. Mostly he just jumbles up and loses his own.

Ask your partner teacher why they need to get them out of the boxes and then come up with a better system between you.

I’m not sure a better system exists! It does seem locking them away is the answer but then I run the risk of losing the key myself. Complete pain in the bloody arse and I am so sick of it by now.

Keep one copy of the key on the same ring as you keep your house/car keys, then you're very unlikely to lose it.

Combi lock is the answer. I use these for my sewing scissors!

Loads of legitimate reasons why people may need to access them
have you found out why?

They are not her stuff
They are pupils books. Loads of reasons why they may need to be accessed by other people

I’d be so annoyed.
I hate anyone touching my books 🙊

Apologies. I was thinking there were only 1 or 2 boxes, not 7 or 8.

There should be a place you can leave them securely between times when you're in the school. I'd approach the head teacher to find out about security of items left in the school from a general point of view. What happens with the stuff the other teachers use? Does their stuff get messed about? If it does, then it's a teacher or teachers that are unprepared and are dipping in to your stuff instead of sourcing their own. If it's just you, then it is a more singular issue and the head teacher should take either situation on their own merit. They may be able to find space for you in a storage cupboard or room so that you can stack your boxes there and lock the door between times when you're in the school. Maybe?

Lockboxes? With a padlock?

This is genius 😅I'll be trying that one.

Big note on the top: PLEASE DO NOT USE MY BOXES. I’d this does not get boxes with locks.

VERY CHEEKY TO OTHER PEOPLES EQUIPMENT