Are supply teachers getting the help they need at school?
I read a fantastic article on TES website this week about a supply teacher who was threatening to push the ‘Panic Button’ on a somewhat nightmare class… the ‘panic button’ being a direct link to other teachers and helpers that can come into the class and intervene, and even remove children, when a class is being unbearable. The idea of the concept sounds great, but does it actually work?
I couldn’t help but compare it to a nursing home with the panic button being replaced by a ‘pull string’ alarm and the helping teachers being replaced by nurses. Unfortunately, if anyone pulled the alarm string at my Nan’s old care home (that’s Tallis House Waltham Abbey to name and shame!!!), nobody would come to help!
As supply teachers, there is always vulnerability. Firstly, a supply teacher conjures up images of a ‘Temp’ teacher, a teacher whom is only there temporarily or part time. Students can see this as an opportunity to take advantage. “She’s not gonna be here long, easy lessons!”
A good supply teacher can nip this straight away and set the standards, but there will always be students that will want to test.
If it wasn’t bad enough that the pupils have it in for you, then there is trying to settle in with the teachers and feeling like part of the team. One of my first posts was talking about male teachers in a female dominated world. But this is mild really, compared to being part of the ‘circle of trust’. If you are lost on where I am going with this, it literally translates as getting your feet under the metaphorical staff room table… being excepted. It is the difference between having teachers coming to help you when a class is being difficult, and not!
It’s a bit of a worrying thought, and yet it does happen in the workplace.
I will reveal some more secrets in ‘a day in the life of a supply teacher’ for a future post. I will leave you with the link to TES websites blog on supply teachers pushing the ‘Panic Button’.
https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-views/secret-diary-a-supply-teacher-i-press-panic-button-nobody-comes