I, too, was astonished at just how disruptive and disrespectful some of the pupils were tonight. I just wanted them to be quiet. Also, what's this about them being able to leave and enter the lessons just when they want to? Is Jamie saying that he wants pupils to be able to smoke, argue, etc at his Dream School?
Also, I agree with some other posters above about the head. I spoke to my 16 yo DS about it and he said the HT should have dressed more smartly, should have spoken a bit better and, especially last week, should not have backed down in front of Harlem. He is giving the pupils too much leeway, I think and not enforcing the rules enough. I didn't realise he was the bag finder as well as the HT!
I do understand why he was emotional, though. He has no other trained teachers there to discuss anything with, does he? It's just him on his own, admittedly with only a class of students, but with some very aggressive ones. He is not encouraging them to give him their respect, I don't think.
I wish I knew the answer to the bad misbehaviour by some pupils that stops everyone else learning. I think it really is a great problem.