Vinnie I can sympathise, as my wife works in the local secondary school (the same one my two eldest go to). She used to work in primary education, but the last school she worked at was incredibly demanding (they even expected teachers to work on a Sunday when they had a special event on), the level of paperwork was awesome! Now she teaches in a small unit, which is a sort of "half-way house" for school refusers & the other students who can't cope with full time schooling. Her experience with younger children comes in useful as in many ways these teenagers are still on that level! She does have one deeply disturbed & potentially dangerous pupil who is currently suspended, who has threatened & attempted to intimidate other members of staff. It's not unusual for pupils to attend drunk, stoned, or still hungover from the previous night! Smoking is not allowed, but they go outside & do it anyway! She cheers herself up by focusing on the ones who are achieving well in the unit despite previous poor performance in main school - with these kids the unit is doing great things. Some parents are supportive but struggling to cope. I'm sure that many teachers have experienced what you've been through, if it's any consolation you are not on your own, although it may feel that way a lot of the time!

Tried that! Lol. The thing that would scare most of them is ending up in the same postion as their parents, i.e. inner city, jobless or menial positions, or in a lot of cases even worse, the trouble is, we're not allowed to refer to this as it would somehow be seen to be insulting their parents. PC gone mad.

Vinnie

I couldn't agree more. I got the cane at school for "ragging" & I deserved it, & it hasn't done me any harm (he says with fingers crossed). There are three simple ways to resolve the problems we have in my opinion:-

1) Bring back hanging - it won't reform anyone, but they won't murder anyone else/plant any more bombs/traffic any more drugs.

2) Bring back corporal punishment - some of the little s***s nowadays just NEED taking down a peg or two.

3) Bring back a form of National Service - they obviously don't get discipline anywhere else, this would teach self-discipline & the fact that they're not as important as they think they are.

Of course I can't see any government of any hue having the guts to ever do this, we have gone far too far down the road of political correctness!
Gosh, that felt good! Rant over, I'll go back & lie down in my cage again now!! :-)

Hi Vinnie
You can only do what you can do. It's not your fault the "father" is a complete blind idiot (I cleaned that up).

In spite of a very few teachers abusing the use of the cane, I would'nt mind seeing it brought back....for parents too if they are like the man in question.

I don't think it did me any lasting harm. And if I got wacked at school and complained when I got home I got wacked again....and 99 times out of 100 I deserved it.
I don't envy you one bit in today's environment.

Don't get down hearted Vinnie, just help the kids that you can.

Cheers
Peter

Hi guys,

Sorry for saying this but i am a bit 'disturbed' when some of you guys said "Concentrate on the good kids, ignore the bad kids" or something like that.

Why?

I was a 'bad' kid once, yes, a juvenile delinquent. I fought with people instead of for knowledge, smoked, spat on teachers etc. Every teacher in the school hated me, even those who have not met me knew who i was. I'm not proud of these things, looking back, it was plain silly. Lucky i did not do drugs back then.

Then one year when it was time to sit for the 'O' levels. I suddenly 'woke' up and realised the importance of a certificate, i tried to study hard. A few teachers noticed the change in me and give me extra tuitions but a lot doesnt give a 'hoot' even though i've changed. These few good teachers totally changed my life.

I passed the 'O' levels, without flying colours but at least i got promoted and can continue on to a better tertiary institution.

Vinnie, i'm sure you're like those good teachers i've met. So please, PLEASE do not give up on those 'bad' kids...

Thanking dedicated teachers is like thanking you Vinnie, so thank you!

Well I have been on vacation for a week and have just now seen this thread. Let me begin by saying "Thank you" to all of you who teach. My daughter has always been an "A" student and my wife and I have always been involved in her education. I do know first hand the difference a teacher can make in a student's life. My daughter hates social studies. She despises maps and history. She's always done well, but hated the course.

This past year she had a social studies teacher who loves his job and loves his students. He was excited every day about his subject; and as a result, guess who loved social studies this year? So for all of the days you wish you could walk away, think about the student who's life will be positiviely affected by your love of teaching. Once again, thank you to all of you who teach.

Patrick