reflective thoughts from an old lag

still here · #1 (**permalink**) 28-11-2008, 12:41 PM

I've been having a mull over things, and some recent experiences have
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e these thoughts clear to me and I thought I'd share them (no one else wants to hear - maybe even you don't - but here goes). Apologies for more of the same. I've not read all the posts.

As a supply teacher we are handicapped by thousands of years of children playing up the adult replacing the one they regularly have loo
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after them. Generations pass this on saying 'I was a little sh*t at school - I really played up the teachers, especially supply teachers'. The only comfort is that some of these little sh*ts have become very good teachers and head teachers! I have met one HT who admitted this.

As a supply teacher we also have to wade through the experiences the school staff may have had of other supplies they didn't like; of those who let the side down by not mar
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or committed some other crime the school had invented for its self after the teacher had left. Schools are often stressed, under funded, under staffed, under pressure and see you as the huge fee they pay your agency rather than see you as the person sweating your all to do the best you can in very difficult circumstances and ta
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home a fraction of that money.

As a supply teacher, I have been told this by a school counsellor, you represent the missing adult in a child's life. You are the boyfriend/girlfriend replacing dad or mum,the step parent or foster carer they'd rather not have. Or simply a woman replacing the male teacher all the boys really like and respect.

There are huge numbers of variables you will never be able to control or prepare for. All you can do is attempt to manage situations as calmly and safely as possible and be resourceful. I wish more schools, the government, GTC, OfSTED, unions, parents, supply agencies the media and the World realised this.

When it comes to children's behaviour I have observed this after four years full time, a career change and return after six years to now be on my 51st school and 5 years part-time supply. The behaviour of children en masse is like that of a flock of
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lings - you know it's up there flowing magnificently through the sky, you've seen it for years but you will never be able to predict exactly where the flock will move next or land. The variables are too many. You just need to know where to duck.

With that realisation in mind I've worked out a few tips:

- The ONLY behaviour you can ever truly control is your own.
- You cannot, whatever govt or books say, control children - all you can do is manage them, there's a subtle difference but try telling that to a minister for edu
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ion, reporter or parent...
- Some classes contain children you just won't gel with. They have issues they project onto you. You can do nothing about this. Accept it and move on. This may mean not going back to that class or school.
- Some schools contain adults who you just won't gel with. They have issues they project on to you, will ring your supply agency and complain about something you thought was fine, gossip about you at the school gate. Join a union. Use your union. Give your agency your side of things and move on to another school. Use your freedom.
- Try to remember the times when you found wonderful schools, great staff, happy children - sing their praises, tell them you love them and tell them what they are doing so right!! You see more of schools in your area than a head teacher. You have insight -
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ly it isn't used.

Lastly, remember you are '
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ing chaos'. Take a long hot
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at the end of the day rather than slip into a bottle of wine. We will probably be joined by many more 'redundees' from careers they loved, who like me are struggling to keep their careers going freelance and returning to teaching using a supply teaching wage to pay the bills.

When you get the chance, look after each other. I think that if we supply teachers got together we'd have such a powerful insight into edu
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ion. We aren't in competition with each other - we are all in the same boat and can learn from each other. We do lose the wonderful supplys to schools who just won't let them go but at least they are teachers who know what its like. I've met teachers who've done their time and are realistic about what I can do and how their children will react. I think every teacher should do at least a years sabbatical as a day to day emergency call-out supply teacher mid career.

That's it. I've got to write and essay on community archaeology now.

xxStill Here

NuttySupplier · #2 (**permalink**) 28-11-2008, 06:06 PM

I've
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e this a sticky, hope you don't mind, but I think anyone browsing the site will really appreciate reading it, and I'd hate for it to get lost amongst the chocolate chit-chat! There's another one I wanted to do this with, just learned how so will have to go hunting now...

A wonderful, insightful piece of writing, really saying what a lot of us can't put into words! I hope the archaeology paper is going as well!
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ruby_tuesday · #3 (**permalink**) 28-11-2008, 09:03 PM

A very thought provoking piece!

I prefer prefer permananent to supply, but I wanted to experience supply, I'm glad I did, and I agree, I think it would do permanent teachers good to try it and see just how difficult it is.

audrey · #4 (**permalink**) 20-04-2009, 08:26 PM

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Gosh I've just read this post and agree with it totally, it would be a really useful exercise to get permanent teachers out there to experience supply Grrrgh-especially those who are not sympathetic and stereotype us!! An excellent post, you could write a book I reckon.

Mister · #5 (**permalink**) 23-04-2009, 04:26 PM

Well written words of wisdom & re-assurance. Thankyou for putting into words things I knew subconsciously but which helps to see written down, and things which may help me to address my own thoughts when times are hard & I ask myself why I'm still here.

jennyfleur · #6 (**permalink**) 28-04-2009, 07:13 AM

This is very well put. Everyone has their own stresses and strains; and supply teaching is not the easy option! Going for several weeks at a time without much income, or living on a variable salary on top of dealing with the problems outlined above. And not allowing your personal life to get in the way of your job.

You're right, all we can do is celebrate good experiences and try to put bad experiences behind us!

still here · #7 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 06:24 PM

hello all,

tis me and my now diminished high frequency hearing and frayed nerves...but never mind..Its a job and there are few of them out there...I'm loo
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forwards for the redundees of the 'outside world' to join us and a return to eccentrics in the profession.

[ Belated thanks for the birthday message Nutty. One dosen't get many messages as such at my age and my 5 year old nephew thinks I'm 81. ]

NuttySupplier · #8 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 07:17 PM

I thought that a while ago too... it's eccentrics who leave industry/the forces to teach isn't it?! I was taught by a few myself!

[You're welcome!]

audrey · #9 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 10:59 AM

I've just read this thread again and I'm glad I did, I had a tough day yesterday. For the first time ever I had 2 chn removed from the class, I don't like doing this as I usually
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e but this is a nightmare of a class and because I've only worked in there for an hour (PPA cover) twice they are never going to respect me. One child was not listening and I tried everything so after his 3rd warning I thought bugger this for a game of soldiers. But as I was dealing with him I looked up to realise that a child who was only recently back in class due to being suspended for violent behaviour to a teacher, had returned and he was involved in a fight at the back of the class. I hadn't even taken register yet
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So after sorting out the fracas at the back I telephoned for support and both chn were removed. Thank heavens the school run a system of support like that eh. It is a very difficult school and most year groups have at least one child who is on a suspension. The child that had returned should have had a linkworker with him but she was ill I discovered
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Oh the joy of supply

janeb · #10 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 12:10 PM

OMG - a day (and children!) from Hell
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I remember as a child (many years ago now!) that we had a horrible supply teacher - he was called Hazeldean (a name imprinted on my memory, obviously) although, being 10 year old children, we called him Mr Hazelnut!
He couldn't
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e with our class at all - and we were actually a nice class. On one day, he managed to hit 3 children on the head with wooden metre rulers and even managed to break one on Andrew Smith's head!!
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