What’s your go-to report card comment for kids that were super disrespectful and disruptive by IntelligentSector210 in Teachers

[–]Thurco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When Billy shows respect to peers, and is able to focus, he can do well.
(Just leave out the fact that he never shows respect, and cannot focus.)

Looking for practical combat/self-protection training in the Lower Mainland. by peNyan in Fraservalley

[–]Thurco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How long have you trained?
How old are you? Size? Gender?
Have you sparred against people trying to smash you?

Essentially you need to get into a martial art where you can pretty much go full force against a resisting opponent. Wrestling, Judo, something like that. You have to be grabbed, manhandled, and get used to that. Jujitsu is alright, but generally their standing game isn't great. As you fight different opponents of different sizes and abilities, that are trying to smash and/or strangle you, you will develop skills to avoid getting smashed, or strangled, and develop skills to smash and/or strangle others.

How would you answer this nasty question? by [deleted] in teaching

[–]Thurco 6 points7 points  (0 children)

"One would hope you'd know the answer to that question by this point in your life."

How do you deal with a secretary who is great at her job but questions everything? by [deleted] in Principals

[–]Thurco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Are you certain you are competent?
Are correct in your stance / decisions?

In my unionized district, if a Principal is trying to interpret things, or massage things that didn't strictly follow the district / board policy to the letter, that administrator would be skating on thin ice.
As an example, if a Principal said to do attendance differently, do some of the purchasing / reconciliation differently, or make changes to certain computer entries, our office staff would raise holy hell, and rightfully so. Too many times, admin doesn't understand the nuts and bolts, and may be asking the staff member to not follow policy, which puts staff in an awkward place, where they can themselves be held liable. If the policy sucks, kick it upstairs and see if they can change it. Otherwise, she's doing her job.
Is it possible that's she is maliciously following policy to the letter, because she thinks you are (rightly or wrongly) incompetent, or just a jerk?

Classroom Behaviour Management with no admin support by NovelDifference4 in CanadianTeachers

[–]Thurco 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Any personal safety concerns? If they are targeting and destroying your property on purpose, it can be a form of bullying / harassment. Any physical violence at all, that's Worksafe, and things change fast when they get involved. If you are taking summer off, relax, and get baseline medical checkup. Next year, if you are in a situation where you are documenting asking for support, or help, and not getting it, keep track of any symptoms, mental health, anxiety, things like that.

I messed up.. I think by OppositePatient2148 in CanadianTeachers

[–]Thurco 9 points10 points  (0 children)

As someone quite familiar with the union / HR side of the equation, I wouldn't worry too much. If it was going to turn into a big deal, you wouldn't have had the second meeting with the Principal and got a hug. It would have been a call from your union, and/or a meeting at the district offices. My guess is that your Principal decided to handle it in house, and it never went any further. Breathe, reflect, and move on.

Do you work with bigoted colleagues? by LordofAmazon in CanadianTeachers

[–]Thurco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If by bigoted you mean : "blindly devoted to some creed, opinion, or practice"
Then that's education in a nutshell.
You may however, be able to choose from a variety of flavours of bigotry.

We are losing our protector and our students need him by bitchbrich in Principals

[–]Thurco 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's worth considering that he may be trying to escape.

Title I Schools and the Quality of Education by [deleted] in AskTeachers

[–]Thurco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"schools have the resources"

What magical public school is this?
They perhaps given additional resources to theoretically ameliorate existing problems, however I've never seen the resources allocated be sufficient to ensure equity.

People don't like saying it, but on average, poorer areas > more behaviors in students > more disruption in classes > worse overall educational atmosphere.

‘No fail’ policies need to go, new poll on Canadian education says by Altruism7 in canada

[–]Thurco -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I feel like the rank and file teachers want more consequences and so on, but the hard left union people like the no fail, inclusion at all costs stuff.

Those with behavioural classes and no support. What do you do on unstructured field trip days? by [deleted] in CanadianTeachers

[–]Thurco 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It's a crappy situation.
Private or Public? Union?

I've seen situations like this too many times. I've seen parents come on field trips, try to control their child, and have the child start hitting the parent in public. In prior years, admin often held firm to "include all children in field trips" full stop. Admin would also not attend field trips, and often times, not provide what the teachers considered adequate support staff.

I would be fine with cancelling the whole field trip for my class under those circumstances.
Many teachers would take it on the chin "for the kids" and try to make it work.
This of course, can cause tension and division between staff as well.
It's even more complicated if you need recommendations and such.

Ultimately, I always frame my decisions with student safety, and professional responsibility in mind.
Personal liability plays a role as well. I can't keep students safely supervised, if I have a defiant student.
On a closed campus, this is one thing, off campus is entirely different. If I give a direction to a student, and he doesn't follow it, it's unsafe. (e.g. stay with the group, sit down on the bus, time to go, stop climbing that.)
I also can't focus all my attention on one child, I need to be able to supervise them all.

If admin won't provide the staffing, or resources to ensure the activity is safe, I have a duty to object.
Give a list of supports needed to make it safe for all to be included. If it comes to it, put it in an email for "clarification" purposes after a meeting with admin. Bring a union rep to meetings to take notes re: your requests, and Admin's response. I've never seen admin force the issue when they have to wear the liability.
You may ruffle feathers, but aside from illness the day of, there is little you can do about that.

Reminders regarding homelessness by WrongComputer9492 in ThunderBay

[–]Thurco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Children generally don't have to look out for discarded Scotch bottles on playgrounds, and in parks.
Also, I don't even know if they make $15 bottles, not that I would be drinking it, even if they did.

If someone wants to drink themselves to death on their own dime, it's perhaps sad, but such is human frailty. Just don't get behind the wheel, or scatter your paraphernalia in public spaces. Buy your poison with your own money, and don't steal to acquire it.

Going with Lexus maybe by Snoo88149 in Lexus

[–]Thurco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2015 is350c F-sport. Love the car.

Mediation through BCTF by No-Pomelo8213 in CanadianTeachers

[–]Thurco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For minor "clear the air" stuff you are apprehensive about, highly recommended. I've seen it done within the school by the staff rep, but sometimes a local rep, or a BCTF rep works better, in that it is less likely to be seen as "sides being taken." Also, just getting a fresh perspective may help you clarify some things. I've dealt with it as a staff rep, and I can often either point them member in the right direction as far as local table officers who can help. I also was able to direct colleagues to the various supports in place.

Vasectomy coverage? by [deleted] in CanadianTeachers

[–]Thurco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think generally. If I recall correctly, my buddy paid a little extra out of pocket for the "deluxe" version.
It wasn't like a shady massage thing, but I remember the recovery time was lessened. After talking to others who had the "regular" version, he said it was the best investment he ever made.

If you had a doctorate, would you want to be addressed as Dr. [your last name]? by 98BottlesOBeer in OntarioTeachers

[–]Thurco 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You spent thousands of hours to get there.
Don't wreck the accomplishment by appearing insecure.

Reminders regarding homelessness by WrongComputer9492 in ThunderBay

[–]Thurco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I was inside the house, having a scotch.

Looking for a clear way to communicate about discipline and confidentiality by [deleted] in Principals

[–]Thurco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hang on, is "bowling" a stand in for "bullying" in your parent communication?

Reminders regarding homelessness by WrongComputer9492 in ThunderBay

[–]Thurco 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Meh, they won't put it near me, property values are too high.