Armageddon?

Well today's lessons were going quite well....that was until the final period of the day. I see one of my first year classes 4 times a week, which is good, but unfortunately one of these times is last thing on a Tuesday afternoon. Needless to say, as I am sure all teachers and student teachers are all too aware, the last period of the day has a profound effect on pupil behaviour. Well today was no exception. The non-verbal, steely gaze to command silence, which worked so well yesterday with the same class, was utterly useless in this instance. However I was determined to stick to my threats of punishment for poor behaviour. I gave the pupils ample warning that their behaviour was not good enough and having told them to work in silence for the last ten minutes I added that anyone who speaks would receive a punishment exercise. Almost straight away two of the pupils had acquired a punishment...I sometimes wonder if any of these children ever actually sit in silence. They seem so hyped up and urging to move and talk that they live constantly in some caffiene-induced like state and cant help themselves. The final problem came in the last 5 minutes of the lesson. One pupil asked if he could go to the toilet...with five minutes left in the day I did what I would think most teachers would do and said to wait the five minutes. Unfortunately this pupil didnt agree with my sentiment and proceeded to pack up his belongings, put on his coat and head for the door. Being near the door already I told the pupil to sit down (already knowing that I wanted to speak to him at the end about his behaviour earlier in the lesson). Sadly I was ignored and then pushed against the filing cabinet as he threw open the door and ran down the corridor. Of course at this point it turns into another issue entirely. Although I suffered no injury whatsoever it still counts as a physical assault on the teacher. So when the rest of the class were dismissed my supervising teacher who had observed the entire lesson went and got the PT of Geography. From this point one of the DHTs was made aware of the incident. A referral was written for the permanent record and a phone call was placed to the parents.

I was pleasing to hear from my supervising teacher that I had done everything right that I possibly could in the situation...ample warning, calm voice and most importantly allowed myself to be moved. To be honest it wasnt really a concious decision. Knowing that there is absolutely no way to restrain a pupil, I had acted instinctively and later realised that I had fulfilled one of the key phrases from Moray House, "you don't have to win all the time". I suppose pupils are like injured animals and sometimes the worst thing to do is to back them into a corner. I still cant help but feel that the handing out of punishment exercises, and the rare events of today, indicate a failing by me in my capacity as a teacher; that punishments are indicative of a faliure to control the class as opposed to a method for controlling the class.

The saddest part is that this particular pupil had been one of the hardest-working pupils in a previous lesson. I hope he is able to learn from the events of today as much as I have. Oh well its not all doom and gloom I am giving them a test tomorrow! Sleep tight and please don't have nightmares.