http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-40014265
I am aware of some members of this forum, currently employed as secondary school teachers, who are disillusioned with the way things are going and considering a different career path, though I am not sure they'd want to post this on the forum.
Unfortunately the rights of bullies appear to be considered more important than the rights of victims. This may not be intentional but is effectively is the reality in some schools.
I know of at least one forum member who wants to become a secondary school teacher. Sure, the actual teaching would mostly be an enjoyable challenge, but the stress that goes with it, and the frustration of knowing that the worst bullies and persistently disruptive students are unlikely to be adequately punished, will be difficult to take. I can understand why people want to go into teaching but I wouldn't do it and I would urge anyone considering it, to get plenty of experience first, as you may not realise what you are letting yourselves in for.
Does anyone here have any experiences they can share with us?
OK so this school is an extreme example, and it will vary massively by school, however the entire education system seems to be based around ensuring that the rights of disruptive students to remain in mainstream school 'trumps' and over-rides what should be the rights of students who want to learn to be able to learn in a safe and positive learning environment.key extracts from the BBC article said:Pupils had been repeatedly trying to sneak into the building during lunch time and were becoming more brazen.
Eventually it became more about winding staff up and exulting in defiance than actually entering the building. They were running from entrance to entrance trying to force their way in, while teams of staff manned doorways, physically barricading them - sometimes while the pupils pushed them....
There was a near full-scale riot one day when pupils tried to force their way in. This meant staff spending their lunch break attempting to prevent doors being shoved open - and being physically pushed...
... A number of students were given fixed term exclusions but it had little impact.
Attempts to intimidate staff were fairly common.
A considerable portion of pupils would routinely truant and walk around the school building avoiding their lessons. These pupils would bang on windows, shout, get into fights and disrupt lessons continually. When challenged, they would be threatening and verbally abusive.
...the disruptive pupils' behaviour would have a big impact on class time and there were lessons in which nothing was done, literally nothing.
Bullying was rife. I had a very sobering day when a fantastic, hard-working, bright, polite, ambitious and witty girl was obviously distraught...
.... the more able pupils were scared, and bored, as they saw their lesson time disappear as teachers wasted their time on fire-fighting poor behaviour rather than helping them improve and reach their goals...
.... I was diagnosed with depression and an anxiety disorder and went on anti-depressants.
A sobering moment in my teaching career was discussing this in the staff room only to have six of the seven teachers present explain that they too were on some form of medication for stress, anxiety, depression or related mental illness.
I am aware of some members of this forum, currently employed as secondary school teachers, who are disillusioned with the way things are going and considering a different career path, though I am not sure they'd want to post this on the forum.
Unfortunately the rights of bullies appear to be considered more important than the rights of victims. This may not be intentional but is effectively is the reality in some schools.
I know of at least one forum member who wants to become a secondary school teacher. Sure, the actual teaching would mostly be an enjoyable challenge, but the stress that goes with it, and the frustration of knowing that the worst bullies and persistently disruptive students are unlikely to be adequately punished, will be difficult to take. I can understand why people want to go into teaching but I wouldn't do it and I would urge anyone considering it, to get plenty of experience first, as you may not realise what you are letting yourselves in for.
Does anyone here have any experiences they can share with us?