Educating Manchester, I Have To Admit,,,,

[trt]

I have been wrong in the past to judge teenagers who act like brats, rude, and with no respect for their elders etc, not all though..

But last night in E/M, I could understand how the girl who lost her mother, became so distant from everybody, but well done to her Grandad & teachers.

[MargoTester]

I felt the same trt but my son is a teacher and had a teenage girl in his form whose Mum died and he spend months supporting her through it, along with her aunt (mother's sister) He had wonderful letters from both when she left - after managing to get decent exam results. Some of the pupils have quite dreadful home lives it makes you want to cry.

[zebo]

One of the most awful moments I can recall was at the start of a new term and I gave out copies of their details, addresses, phone numbers, emergency contacts etc and asked them to indicate any changes. One boy, about 15, came to my desk and said My Dad died during the holidays, shall I cross him off? Poor lad, his father had died while on holiday but the school hadn't been informed, we had to give him a lot of support. It's one of the aspects of teaching that is very hard, being involved in family tragedies whilst trying to ensure that the child achieved their potential.

[Smowball]

Zebo that's very sad.

[jourdain2]

Teaching is not about 'Open your book at page 56 and continue the exercise' whilst you sit at your desk and correct homework. Some people still seem to think it's like that and with long holidays doing nothing. I'm very pleased that these programmes are showing the reality. Didn't see that episode, but dealing with bereavement (especially if you are not told about it) is a difficult thing. It sounds as if it was handled very well.

[Peter Pedant]

// One of the most awful moments I can recall was at the start of a new term...... //

it happens in adulthood as well
I had some middle manager saying to me " you are away for a few days at the end of this week and next week and it is so short notice and oh blimey yap yap yap...."
and I said when there was a gap whilst she drew breath "I am burying my mother."
and she went on yapping without a break ! People near started walking away.

a little later a line manager said - how am I meant to run the production line whilst you are away at short notice ?

I thought god I am working in a madhouse ....

sorry not really a school story

[jourdain2]

It's OK PP. It's called 'life' and school is trying to prepare kids for life - glossing-over stuff is pointless. 'You don't do them any favours by being too nice to them' was drilled in to me in the tough schools I taught in.