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The teacher who is so disgusted at the behaviour of your class ...

112 replies

justlikekatycarr · 13/02/2017 16:27

Seriously, how do you deal with them?

The teachers who are DISGUSTED at the noise levels. The work rate is APPALLING. They haven't got some pointless sheet at the front of their books, the date isn't underlined and on and on.

Obviously, it clearly isn't aimed at the kids at all but how do you politely tell them to fuck off, they aren't helpful ...

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TheLivingAsheth · 18/02/2017 09:31

I remember at primary school we were doing a history lesson in the hall, which involved pretending to be medieval peasants bartering our goods. It was a kind of game where you had to find someone who would take your pies for their chicken or what have you, and was noisy. I remember the head, who modelled herself on Thatcher, sweeping in and telling us all off, in front of the teacher. It is so unfair both to the kids, who were just doing what they had been asked to Do, and the teacher - I was very aware of their embarrassment/ humiliation and I was only eight.

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RandomDent · 18/02/2017 09:14

She sounds terrible. OP you have my sympathy. If she tries it again and you don't feel up to politely telling her to do one, try changing the subject. "Oh I'm glad you're here, Miss Irritating. I wanted to ask you " as you steer her out of the room...

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whatsthepointofmorgan · 16/02/2017 21:35

I get where you're coming from.
OP she's undermining you.
She's not trying to help you at all. She's doing it because, by making you look small, it makes her look superior.
The fact she's using the children to do this is doubly disgusting.

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HardToDeal · 16/02/2017 06:46

Also a 13-year teacher who has ended up signed off with stress from a similar situation so I totally get it. Add into the mix people "just popping in" at the end of every day "to see if I'd noticed...(xyz infraction of school policy)" and to let them know if I needed them to go over anything - I felt hounded, picked on and over scrutinised. And at some point I have to go back 🙁

It isn't about standards, it's about the fact if someone constantly watches you they WILL find things to have a go about, and then they watch you more because you're apparently "struggling". In my case I made the mistake of asking for one, tiny, tangible bit of support and ended up feeling like a failure and a hair's breadth from capability. This is teaching today and if you're not in a school like that, lucky you.

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sashh · 16/02/2017 06:16

Recently qualified teacher smile teaching really is the land of endless acronyms!

You mean initialization. Sorry, had to do that.

I do know what you are going through, I have had it too.

I was incredible childish, when the teacher flounced out the door I pulled my tongue out at them - yes totally unprofessional.

Told the kids that they had not seen me do it and it got them back to the lesson.

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kaitlinktm · 15/02/2017 13:20

I know exactly what you mean OP. I have known other RQTs as well as other non-SLT staff who try to raise their profiles by undermining other staff. This bit says it all:

She is conspicuously absent when there actually IS a problem: chatty year 7s are fair game, year 10s telling each other to fuck off, not so much!

She only takes on easy battles she can win - basically well-behaved and well-intentioned - or possible vulnerable - children. She won't go near any real challenges (bolshy KS4s) which she may well lose. I viewed it when it happened to me as someone stamping all over me in order to climb to the top.

I don't know the answer really. With the rqt I did speak to her and said something like I know you mean to be helpful but actually it undermines me and causes problems which weren't there before you came in. She was quite offended and I have to say our relationship remained civil but frosty until she left at the end of the year.

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JenniferYellowHat1980 · 14/02/2017 14:49

OP this happened to me once as a NQT. I wasn't having it then (my class were doing group practice for a drama piece when a very long serving food tech teacher barged in and laid down the law) and I certainly wouldn't be having it from a RQT with a superiority complex. Tell her that if you need her input in future you'll ask for it.

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winewolfhowls · 13/02/2017 20:59

I know exactly what you mean. It's so disruptive.

In my experience the person in question is often quite insecure, but that doesn't make it any less difficult. I had an awful class one year but after a visit from Mrs x they would be super for me for about ten blissful minutes because they disliked her so much!

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justlikekatycarr · 13/02/2017 19:51

I know what you mean Flying, and it is always the vulnerable children who they know will get upset ... never the kids who'd tell them to fuck off.

Funny, isn't it Confused

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derxa · 13/02/2017 19:49

Could you try breezily smiling and saying "Thanks Miss, we're fine here. We've had a room-change and are just getting settled. Bruce is just asking a question and Deborah hasn't had time to finish writing the date yet. I'd let you know if I needed you." And then just go back to teaching your lesson/ignoring her. She has no business screaming at your class. I would stop the whole class talking or doing anything. Complete control. Then I would say, 'Yes, Miss Interfering Cow or whatever her name is?' No need to explain yourself.

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Flyingprettycretonnecurtains · 13/02/2017 19:49

I had a classroom once which had windows onto the corridor (great...not). I was teaching my bottom set year 11 who were all behaving. A challenging bunch but some lovelies in there and a wide ability range from E up to B. The Deputy Head walks in. Rather portly with a loud voice and announces, in the middle of my flow on some poem or other, that 'That Boy'. (Dramatic pointing at the weakest, most vulnerable lad in the room' ,That Boy was Smirking! Smirking when you were talking...!' It was like something out of dickens. He didn't tell another lad off whose method of entering my class was to climb through the window. Or the usual disruptive pupils but picked on this poor lad who was always impeccably behaved. I told him this but it sounded so pathetic 'well Sir...xyz is always good and works very hard. He's very respectful'. Poor kid was nearly in tears and trying really hard not to blub in front of the toughies. Give the class their due they were all a bit non plussed and didn't rip the lad (and they were given the death stare by me).

In my current school, we have one teacher who will do exactly what you said. Completely undermining. She's also the sort to tell a pupil off for some minor infringement like not having their blazer on when they are in front of you and all they are doing is nipping out of the classroom to get a laptop and come back.

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DumbledoresApprentice · 13/02/2017 19:48

In that case I'd definitely raise it with her line manager. If she's still interfering when you've made it clear her help isn't welcome then I think someone more senior needs to have a word. The fact that so few people have encountered this shows how weird her behaviour is. I've never come across this before. I've only encountered people doing it when they are genuinely being helpful and a teacher is genuinely being given a hard time.

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ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 13/02/2017 19:45

I'm shattered... I'm about ready for half term, I think.

Now THAT I can understand!

I love @bruce's idea!

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justlikekatycarr · 13/02/2017 19:44

That's pretty much how I have been dealing with it, but she Does Not Take The Hint!

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DumbledoresApprentice · 13/02/2017 19:44

Could you try breezily smiling and saying "Thanks Miss, we're fine here. We've had a room-change and are just getting settled. Bruce is just asking a question and Deborah hasn't had time to finish writing the date yet. I'd let you know if I needed you." And then just go back to teaching your lesson/ignoring her.

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justlikekatycarr · 13/02/2017 19:38

She's either free or teaching in an interconnected classroom.

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derxa · 13/02/2017 19:35

Can you explain your 'colleague's' class/work? How is she able to leave a class and come into yours?

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justlikekatycarr · 13/02/2017 19:35

I'm shattered, ATruth :)

I'm about ready for half term, I think.

Thanks, bruce, I think a few knew what I meant but 'annoy the OP' is a well established MN game!

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DumbledoresApprentice · 13/02/2017 19:34

If you find it unhelpful and think it's unwarranted then I'd raise it with her or her line manager. Just say that you appreciate her trying to help but it's actually having the opposite effect and you'd prefer she didn't. People occasionally do this in my school when classes are very loud but if that isn't the case and it's just a little bit of fussing then she needs to be told to butt out.

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brucebogtrotter · 13/02/2017 19:33

OP, I just came on to say despite all the flak you've had on here, I know precisely what you mean.
Perhaps repay her the favour by "helping" with her noisy classes when you've a free? Wink We're all in it together, don't you know?

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Blueemeraldagain · 13/02/2017 19:31

You're right, it might but sometimes you have to play the game. If she's smart she will read between the lines.

Surely we all did/said/thought things as NQT+1/2s that we regret now? I have no doubt she will look back and cringe.

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ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged · 13/02/2017 19:31

I think @GallivantingWildebeest has it spot on. Your opening post was confusing and the replies you've got might have been different if you'd explained better.

Having said that, you're clearly quite emotional about it, which explains the posting style.

Honestly, if there really are no issues in your classroom I think you need to talk to your hod or line manager and make the interruptions stop.

Teachers supporting each other = great
Teachers storming into other rooms to interfere = terrible

Do think really carefully about how you explain the problem though - you'll need to be clearer than you were here Grin

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MaisyPops · 13/02/2017 19:27

PossumInAPearTree
There are situations where it's entirely appropriate.
Thinking back to my lesson it wasnt chaos, just a bit more fussy than usual. No shouting required just a daft passive agressive teacher chat between me and my colleague about children who like to fuss. 😂

(And this next comment is not related to the OP) Sometimes, there are staff who have different expectations of what ok behaviour is. It's much easier to support someone who accepts help than those who deny there is an issue/suggest its just low level.

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justlikekatycarr · 13/02/2017 19:25

I do know what you mean Blue but in all honesty I think that would give her an inflated sense of her own importance.

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Blueemeraldagain · 13/02/2017 19:22

Speaking to her doesn't have to mean directly challenging her behaviour. I would go with something like "thanks for popping into 8C the other day/this morning. They can be such buggers, can't they? Have you taught them before, any ideas that worked well?"
Then she knows you've noticed her behaviour and you've given her a chance to make any genuine suggestions.
If she keeps visiting then I would bite the bullet and say that as a new member of staff her behaviour is undermining.

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