Two looks

that sum up my interactions with children today...

pointedly being ignored

and

being scowled at.

My problem is that after 16 years of working with teenagers, I still haven't figured out the best way to deal with them sometimes. Most times yes, but sometimes, absolutely not.

One particular individual today was mastering the art of work avoidance. From experience I know that the approach of a bloody good bollocking usually doesn't get the right result. So I tried rational explanation, logic and reasoning.

The result ...every instruction I gave, I was challenged with "Why"

"Log off please"
"Why?"
"Because I said so"
"Sit here please"
"Why?"
"Because I said so"
"Log on to this computer"
"Why?"
"Because I said so"
"Well, I'll log on but I am not doing any work"
"Go and stand outside the door"
"Why?"
"Because I said so"

Once outside the door (and I haven't raised my voice once to this point), I maintain my calm exterior when my internal dialogue is more about pure frustration and annoyance. I know that this student knows that they are in the wrong - his body language says so, despite his determination to demonstrate absolute defiance towards me. I explain (why do I explain? why do teachers have to explain to students that they just need to do as they are told sometimes?) - you're distracted, you're not making progress, it's my classroom, I am in charge, I wouldn't be doing my job properly if I allowed you to affect your learning....still nothing. Just point blank refusal to come in and work.

I asked another senior colleague who chanced along the corridor at that point to intervene. He did so - said the same things, but not with the same tone, and lo and behold, belligerence turns into acceptance that the classroom is the place to be.

Yet if I had adopted the same tone, it would have escalated quickly into something very different.

After the lesson, I spoke with the student and they accepted they were out of line, that I am never unreasonable with them, that I work hard to support them etc etc...ultimately, I was right and they knew it - but what a phenomenal waste of time and energy.

It frustrates me because I don't understand - because I can't recall ever seeing any of my peers behaving that way when I was at school and I don't have a child who behaves that way with me at home. Maybe I am naive, sheltered, cosseted? I know that I was priviliged to have had a quality education and a good childhood with parents who cared. That is why I wanted to go into teaching, to teach and to give children the same experience I had. It galls me to have it thrown back at me, and my colleagues, by a small number of youngsters, as though it isn't something to be cherished or grateful for.

TFIF

xxx