Behaviour

The Grade Alchemist

Posted on 21-03-202414-03-2024by admin

Turning Water into Wine

At this time of year, teachers often find themselves in a modern-day parable akin to Jesus with his baguette and tin of Aldi sardines. Just as Jesus performed a miracle to feed the masses, teachers are expected to perform similarly, magically elevating students’ grades to meet the student’s target. Yet, behind this show of divine intervention lies the devil: the guilt-laden question that pursues teachers – “What can we do to get their grade up?” NEWSFLASH: if you have ever said this phrase, then 1. you are a fucking dick and 2. you are part of the fucking problem within education.

Behaviour Leadership Toxicity Transparency Well-Being

Weaponised Ignorance

Posted on 11-03-202411-03-2024by admin

Blindness and/or Bullshit

Behind the curtain, school leadership apparently wields wizard-like power, but their decisions more often resemble a game of drunken pin the tail on the donkey—aiming for ass but hitting fuck knows what. From ignoring critical issues like misogyny, harassment and toxic behaviours to treating valuable expertise like unwanted leftovers, the fallout is ionising. Don your hazmat suit as we wade through the toxic swamp of leadership ignorance that’s contaminating schools.

Behaviour Policies Support Well-Being

An excess of exit passes

Posted on 07-03-202411-03-2024by admin

Navigating the Passpocalypse

A seemingly benign practice has evolved into an issue that’s impacting education far more than perhaps we realise, and as a teacher, it is definitely grating on me. Here is a typical scenario: a student raises their hand, brandishing a brightly coloured, laminated pass like it’s a VIP ticket to meet Taylor Swift backstage, and proceeds to step out of class. Seems harmless, right? Wrong. It’s become a significant issue: the overabundance of time-out passes is threatening to derail learning and I can’t shake it off. But before I go absolutely postal, it’s crucial to acknowledge that I fully support the use of these passes for genuine reasons and to those kids, I’ve got your backs. However, I can’t help but feel that they’re sometimes distributed to students who may not need them as much as others.

Behaviour Expectations Leadership Policies Well-Being

The Business Dress Myth

Posted on 22-02-202421-02-2024by admin

How ‘smart dress’ is a red herring

In the classroom, innovation and student engagement should be paramount, but there is an alternate focus for some SLT because, let’s face it, they have fuck all better to do: the enforcement of “business dress” for teachers. While proponents argue that such attire fosters seriousness, it’s time to address the elephant in the room—this is a school, not a fucking bank from the 1920s. The impracticality of suits and ties in an educational setting is glaring, and the repercussions are profound.

Behaviour Communication Curiculum Engagement Leadership Motivation

Pen to Politeness

Posted on 15-02-202418-02-2024by admin

Basics in Decline

Step into a modern-day classroom and you might be forgiven for thinking you’ve wandered onto the set of a Kafkaesque sitcom: students, chauffeured to school like VIPs, lounging in their seats with an air of entitlement. But the laughter fades when you realise the punchline—their desks are barren, devoid of the most basic tools for learning. Pens? Pencils? F**k that! Welcome to the paradox of education in the 21st century, where chauffeur-driven arrivals collide with a distinct absence of independence and initiative. It’s a scene that’s both farcical and foreboding, underscoring a troubling trend in our schools.

Behaviour Communication Expectations Policies Time Management Workload

Parents can be dick-trees

Posted on 12-02-202418-02-2024by admin

Navigate the Minefield of Parental Behavior

In the world of education, teachers find themselves not only attempting to mould young minds but also facing growing pressure to participate in discussions about behaviour with parents. Regrettably, a growing number of parents are finding it challenging to demonstrate appropriate standards of behaviour themselves — to the point, they are grade-a dicks and it is often evident that the apple hasn’t fallen too far from the proverbial dick-tree! Let’s explore the complexities and implications of this relationship between educators and parents, without reaching for the axe or box of matches.

Behaviour Leadership Policies Support Toxicity

Misogyny

Posted on 19-01-202406-02-2024by admin

Of all the issues in our education system, this is one of the most concerning – an issue that demands our serious consideration. The problem at hand is the pervasive and unchecked aggression students direct towards female staff, creating an environment where toxic masculinity and misogyny flourish. This is not a subtle concern; it’s an infuriating reality that rightly stirs anger. Are our schools, and institutions entrusted with shaping minds, inadvertently fostering a culture that dismisses the principles of respect and equality? This isn’t a mere inconvenience; it’s an urgent matter that requires our scrutiny and immediate action.