Help wanted

[_lochness_]

Principal took me to her office today.  T'was just like highschool.  Well, it is highschool, but I'm supposed to be on the other side of the fence now, no?  One way or the other, I get a week to kick my students' asses.  Three strikes and you're out, ya know?  This one's my last.

Maybe I should just quit.  No need to torture myself over this, right

Comments

[creamyjade]

Honey buns, don't quit. You can't get de l'assurance emploi si tu quittes ;_;
Appelle-moi ce soir/cette suit si t'as besoin, je vais travailler.

[_lochness_]

Thanks for your call yesterday~! It really helped. I'm still zen... The formation was cool today, though not entirely useful. Kosher food can also be truly delicious. ^_^

[acexkeikai]

I agree with Creamyjade. Stay, itÈs better to be fired than quitiing in your case. As for discipline. I guess you need to be firmer with your students. Yeah they probably are spoiled brats who don,t want to to study but it's your job to enlightened them and you can't do that until you earned their respect and the only way your are going to do that is by sanctionning them and stcking to your guns. Yes you have to remain fair and just but you have to draw a line to what is proper behavior from them. You're the sweetest person I know, and you probably have a hard time being strict... you need to put on a ticker skin =) And I am saying this because you are my friend and I want you to succeed. Stay and if it doesn't work out well you werenèt made to stay there and you'll have other opportunities. But I do wish you luck ((HUGS))

[_lochness_]

Convincing the students to do their schoolwork isn't really hard. The problem is all about stopping their incessant blabbering. They're nice and I think some of them actually like me... but they enjoy chatting with their friends much more than listening to whatever I have to say.

You're right: I should be strict. It's easy for me to be both fair and rigorous when I correct written stuff, but it's another game in class. I don't like the concept of making examples out of people... and that's what I'm expected to do.

I feel like I'm a vegetarian asked to work as a butcher. With enough good will, I *could* do it, but do I really *want* to?

I don't wanna make any hasty decision, though...

[acexkeikai]

I understand... one of my teacher who was a nice teacher had blabbering students... usually it was always a few individuals that would start talking. He would do this... Sit in front of them and wait, listening in to their conversation. They got the message quite fast. When that didn,t work, he would tell them to come to the front of the class and tell them to explain to the class what about their conversation was tied to the subject in school. You,re a history teacher ask them to find a parrallel between what they were discussing and a certain event in history.

You never know they might actually learn something.

[_lochness_]

The girls are most often quite happy to share their conversations with me. Asking them to link their topic to history would be a fun idea... It's punishment, in a constructive way.

[genvi]

Well nothing big to add, just wanted to say you have my support.

My boyfriend's experience has told me that's it's a little to late, they have already tried you out and backing down is gonna make you a bitch!! I you are not afraid of all of them suddenly hating you this might work, but for sure it will be more difficult in class for the mood, but they will listen and not blabber. Lotsa angry looks tough. Fred often gets the :" We all hated you so much because you were so severe but damn have we learned!"

don't despair keep swimming!

[_lochness_]

Thanks so much for your support!

Fred's experience reminds me exactly of what happens in my classes. Whenever I decide to be severe, everyone gets pissed and the general mood becomes extremely unpleasant. I then try to dose the warnings/punishments with some rewards... and I lose all my credibility as a royal bitch. I thought that by being really strict one day, I would be able to slack off a little the next day, and a little more the one after, until I get the right atmosphere. It failed miserably: it seems I have to be a pain in the ass every single day. I'm just too much of a hippy for that... it drains me.

I still decided I'd fight my last week! But I called in sick today, as 1) I really am sick, and 2) I needed some time think and get ready for the battle. I also sent out some resumes...