WWYD when a class is determined to hate you?

[Glittermud]

I'm on maternity cover for an exemplary teacher (truly) and I have taken on her yr10s who spend every lesson undermining me because they resent losing her. I have sympathy with their concerns - and began my expressing this and being supportive - but it's now feeling utterly personal and exhausting.

It's mostly a group of 5 boys who are doing it. They spend lessons openly attacking my methods ('Miss xxx never did it like that'; 'we're going to fail our mocks to show everyone what a bad teacher you are'; 'this is pointless - you should be doing it differntly like Miss xxx' and so on).

I am not a bad teacher. At all. But I'm beginning to feel like one and they're destroying my confidence daily. It's getting to the point where I'm feeling anxious on the days when I have them and I am #dreading# going back in September.

Any advice about how to best deal with them?

Oh I've had similar and it's horrible.

Please don't let it get to you though; I did I am ashamed to say.

I would say that you have talked to Mrs X about them and she was very upset. I'd go on about the fact she's on maternity leave and they are ruining it for her. Say she wants to see their mock results and they should make her proud, not disappoint her.

It's a horrible situation for you.

Thanks to you both. What happened to you badgers, if it's okay to ask...?

Imperial, yeah, I did that early on but it had no effect. It's a whole new level of vindictiveness which I haven't seen before in a class. One boy used to make really personal comments about me smelling in stage whispers too - which I don't.

There seems to be a general air of entitlement in the room and a complete skewing of the meaning of 'responsibility'.

I haven't been teaching for 5 yrs. Is this what teenagers are like now? Are teachers a product that they think that they can buy?

Glitter, my class was Y10 too. Most were just lovely but there were a hardcore group of about five or six students who were just horrible and for some reason it used to really upset me. This was compounded by the fact I was HOD at the time - I made the mistake of mentioning to my line manager that I was struggling and I ended up hauled into the head teachers office! I wish I could say there was more to it ...

I left!

They are bullying you. Ideally you want the HOD to haul all five of them into his office to bollock them and tell them that he is completely confident in your teaching and they should start treating you with respect. Any undermining comment after that should result in sanctions.

Is that possible?

It's really hard taking over a class partway through GCSEs, especially if the previous teacher was good.

Yes, exactly that. It is pure and simple bullying.

I would be prepared to tell them that if you went off sick due to their behaviour they wouldn't even pass their exam.

What kind of support do you get from managers?

The HOD is lovely but over worked. I had some help from a deputy head who have me an escalated sanction programme to follow but I think it's just bred more resentment. Now they have two reasons to resent me.

But doesn't it sound a bit pathetic to say they're bullying me? I wrote a really honest and damming report for one of the kids and was told that it would reflect badly on me.

It's really hard taking over a gcse class partway through, they would have undermined you and tested you even if the previous teacher hadn't been great.

But instead of sympathising with the loss of a good teacher, you should stamp your ownership on the class. "Miss X might do it like this but Miss X isn't here and so this is my classrooms and we're going to do it my way. When you have got a degree and a teaching qualification like I have, then perhaps I will start taking teaching advice from you. But until then I would appreciate it if you would stop messing around, listen and learn"

Yep, I've said and done that too. Nothing seems to have sunk in. But it is at least encouraging to hear that you're making suggestions that I've already attempted. I feel so insecure with them.

I suspect my solution is not going to be universally admired, but this sort of group-based bullying makes me respond in kind. If an appeal to their better natures has failed, then I'm afraid "Hate you right back" is as professional as I get.

I couch it in more acceptable terms, but I publicly announce in front of the rest of the class that I know what their game is; that they are an embarrassment to their more mature and courteous peers; that they must be insane if they think their childish games are getting them anywhere other than detention; bottom line: do I look like I CARE if you like me or not? But I'll be outa here in six months and you'll still be here failing your exams. Mrs Perfect will be proud of you.
In the words of Alan Bleasdale: "You get nowhere being pleasant to shite."

This is why I love Lily

I have had the same thing and agree with other posters. I would also treat it like a normal behaviour/interfering with learning issue. Make phone calls home, get parents in etc. Stress to the pupil and parents that their inability to cope with change is effecting their learning and will affect their grades.
Keep focus try not to let it get to you and if at all possible imply this is an embarrassing school boy crush on their last teacher

When o was at school...ten years ago...people in my year treated teachers HURREDOUS. Pulled one guys pants down, locked someone else in a cupboard. One form teacher we had got that stressed with the class once that he had a melt down in front of us all. Jumped up and down on the spot screaming for everyone to SHUT UPPPP SHUTTT UPPPP SHUT UPPP!! Banged his fists in the table and left. Never saw him again.

I never played any part of this. I was always the quiet one sat at the front in horror!

You couldnt pay me a million pounds a day to be a secondary school teacher...that's why I'm training to be a primary one instead

1. Get super-organised - plan out lessons to nth degree with timers etc.

if anyone starts whimpering that the previous teacher was better, explain how you'd love to discuss their thoughts at 3:30 but right now you don't have time because you're focussed on learning. (They really don't care that much)

1. Fake it till you make it. Act breezy, smiley but no-nonsense.

1. Get individuals at the start of lunchtime. They will be ravenous and will agree to anything. Say how you've noticed he's a bit negative. Ask if he's feeling worried about the work and would like to discuss it? No? Ok well then we will be expecting much more next lesson.

1. Does your school have an academic review day at the start of the year? Can you join in a parent meeting briefly to say something positive? They hate the school-home link being strengthened.

1. Be pleasant and kind but play them at their game. Do not look downhearted or like a victim. Ooze confidence.

In the words of Alan Bleasdale, 'You get nothing being pleasant to shite.'

This is my favourite quote ever. Thank you Lily.

Am going from y1 to y6 and on changeover day was told I look horrible and mean. Also told I am too strict.

Sorry, i meant to come back and thank you. I'll definitely need to keep my wits about me....