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Posted by:
Kryss 17/04/2007 at
19:44
I have witnessed so many student teachers being bullied and talked down to by 'existing staff' and the mentors from the Universities. So many student teachers have been given the wrong impression about teaching and its a tough enough job without the added stress.
Has any other student teacher tried to complain without success and how many have withdrawn from the course because of the treatment?
It appears that even when a student teacher tries to complain they are 'shot down' and their lives are made very difficult. I am doing research on the subject and was wondering if anyone else has experienced such a situation?
Cheers
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I have been in a school where the teachers (and office staff!!!) made it very clear that they didnt like student teachers and didnt want them in their class.
Then, I was left in their classes on my own to do full lessons while the teachers disappeared. When I ordered equipment from technicians I didnt get what I needed. When I tried to use the photocopier the office staff were very rude to me.
The whole experience had me in tears and questioning teaching as a career.
Then the school had to grade me and write a report on me. I would like to know how they could comment on my teaching skills when noone saw me teaching a class!
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Posted by:
mossop 17/04/2007 at
21:45
I had the exact same experience as you, 2Bteacher, it was horrible. I was regularly in tears during the placement, the more senior members of my department were constantly putting me down, saying I wasn't putting enough effort in and that my work wasn't of a high enough standard. I persevered though, got through the placement and I'm now working in a brilliant department in a school where I really enjoy working, and they are very very positive about my work. It makes me wonder what the teachers and other staff were talking about on that placement.
FWIW, I think their teaching methods were/are terrible and I think that they just didn't like me trying to do my own thing, which of course, I do now and the kids enjoy my lessons. I did it their way whilst on that placement basically so that they didn't fail me, which was what got me down the most.
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Posted by:
kenl 18/04/2007 at
18:31
I know it is tough in these situations, but this can part of any job - things don't always go your way. There are also people who are so miserable in themselves the only pleasure in life is seeing others suffer!
Try to thicken your skin and prove the doubters wrong :-)
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Well I didnt gget any comments - positive or negative. I just wish someone acknowledged the fact that I was there and doing more than was expected of a student at that stage.
Lets hope for probation I land lucky!
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Hi there everyone, I am sorry to hear of your troubles with small-minded and arrogant staff in your placements. I have just been awarded a place at Glasgow for secondary History and I was quite concerned when reading your thread. I am a fairly attractive blonde who had struggled and battled since high school for people to take me seriously. Without blowing my own trumpet, I believe I have proved myself to be intelligent and capable therefore news like this is making me very apprehensive.
When tackling this did any of you confront either the university or the Head of school? Were you taken seriously?
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My friends and I only moaned to each other.
I think that at this stage, its best to appear eager and pleased at all times. We should just be so greatful that we are being allowed to do these teachers jobs for them - unpaid!
Seriously though, I am at Glasgow too and I love it! Staff are great and made some fab friends.
My first placement was a dream - its all down to luck
You will be fine x
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8
Posted by:
adsa 18/04/2007 at
23:30
I experienced bullying from a class teacher whilst on placement.
Prior to THAT placement I had 3 fantastic placements with teachers who were very supportive. I received all grade A's from both my class teachers and Uni tutors.
From day one the class teacher was unsupportive and gave me hugely critical lesson observations - on one there was 34 "shared ideas" lol! I can laugh now but at the time I lost over a stone in weight, cried most days, felt like quitting my course... She finally notified my Uni that I was a 'cause for concern' and I found notes she had made about me to give to him - each began 'The student...'and were not very complimentary! When my Uni tutor came out I genuinely thought I was going to fail but he saw straight through her and gave me 6 A's - lol - egg on her face then. However she promptly told me "you're not that ...is he on drugs! Yep she actually said that!
After this she couldn't really attack my folder, lesson plans etc so she began to attack my personality - typical bully eh? She said things like other students took over on the first day, they had more confident voices, showed more emotion?! She even said to the class 'just because .... isn't as tall as me doesn't mean she can't see you misbehaving, indicating that my height was an issue. I was terrified to say anything in her presence and was once told I was smug!! I felt absolutely powerless and was basically told by my Uni to grin and bear it - even though they knew all that had happened (I kept my Uni tutor up to date by e-mail and phonecalls ).
I am shaking even now at the thought of this teacher. If it wasn't for my parents encouragement I would have left the course - my dad still wants me to report her - to where I don't know lol.
Anyway, if you are going through something similar keep a diary of exactly what has been said/done etc -I didn't do this but was told afterwards that this is what I should have done.
I am now completing my probation at an excellent school with a fab mentor. I'm still shocked that such blatant bullies can be teachers though!
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I agree, how can the governmnet and society tackle childhood bullying if the pupils witness it by their own teachers? Children as young as six feeling suicidal over bullying yet the teachers and people of authority who are supposed to lead by example and eradicate this social menace are able to treat other people this way, even their peers.
I admire your courage for grinning and bearing it, I could not have kept my mouth shut, I would have gave the person in question a piece of my mind. Although this would be playing into their hands.
Well Done for getting through it and I am sure it has made you a stronger and better teacher for it.
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I also have experienced some limited bullying and a lot of putting me down during my final pgce placement. The way I look at it guys is simple- they are just small minded individuals who like to pick on the trainee. As long as I remain strong and calm I can get through anything. It is a learning curve at the end of the day and we now know how to not teach student teachers!! Chin up it will be ok!
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