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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

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Final straw

32 replies

CuckooCuckooClock · 08/12/2017 13:08

This week I've been called names, had things thrown at my head, had a parent yell at me and yesterday a group of year 10 boys threatened me with serious physical violence.

Slt do nothing. My hod does nothing. Union rep can't do anything.

All I want to do is help some kids pass their exams. I really don't think I deserve this. I feel sick when I think about work (don't work Friday's thank goodness). I used to be a nice person but I really find myself having dark thoughts about some kids and colleagues.

I just don't know how i can manage until Easter.

I don't expect replies just needed to complain about the nightmare.

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Trailedanderror · 09/12/2017 10:45

💞 ex teacher here and a close relative does constant supply as the stress was untenable.
as an aside I clicked on this as I wondered whether it was someone at DD's school. Supervising Saturday morning detention 2 weeks before Christmas.

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CuckooCuckooClock · 09/12/2017 10:53

Thanks for the suggestions.
We don't have enough IT suites so that's not an option and I'd be worried about damage to the limited facilities we do have.
I will try getting ted ed to do the teaching and use textbooks. At least there's a chance for some kids to learn something.

I do revision and mentoring in my classroom at lunchtime so I can't go anywhere else for that or lock the door.

It all feels a bit hopeless. I feel so sick when I think about it.

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noblegiraffe · 09/12/2017 10:54

You don't have to do revision and mentoring at lunchtime. If things are that bad, pack it in. It's your school's fault for not supporting you properly so make sure they know why.

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CuckooCuckooClock · 09/12/2017 11:04

I know if don't have to but i feel sorry for the kids.
It's mostly a year 11 class who had supply all last year so I really want to catch them up for their exams. I'm a physics teacher so there's lots to of practicals they need to have completed that they haven't done and if I ditch them at Easter we need to get through it by then.

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noblegiraffe · 09/12/2017 11:14

Look at your mental health. Of course you want the kids to do well and you feel some responsibility for that, but you can't take it all on yourself. It's not your fault they had supply all last year and it's not your fault that SLT are useless and allowing kids to run riot. You don't have to put up with it and you don't have to push through to the detriment of your mental health for the benefit of those students.

Go to your HOD. 'I want to catch these kids up on their physics experiments but I cannot while my lunchtime sessions are being disturbed by these kids. Either SLT sort out someone on duty for that corridor, or I'll have to stop the lessons and you'll have to find some other way to get these kids to do their practicals'. Put it back onto them. If they don't get their shit together, then you have to protect yourself.

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CuckooCuckooClock · 09/12/2017 11:45

You are right of course. Thank you.

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noblegiraffe · 09/12/2017 12:03

It's hard, I know. Teachers are the kinds of people used to putting others' needs above their own. But it can only go so far. You're a physics teacher! You're gold dust and you're working in your own lunch hour to get these kids up to speed and they're not supporting you. Some schools are so badly run it's untrue.