new level

Like every other day, I was given the list of classes to cover.

Nothing different or out of the ordinary,

6 lessons on and the usual breaks.

This did not prepare me for the events of the day.

Lesson one, a cover in drama.

Comfort comes with teaching something you are familiar with.

Wrong.

Year 9 certainly don't share the same enthusiasm that I share,

for anything it seems.

Unless it's me.

When silence riddles the classroom,

and you are up there doing your thing,

holding them in the palm of your hand...

you notice the one murmur.

I wish I had not said a thing.

'Did you want to share that with the class,

given I am teaching and you are talking.

Clearly it is more important'

I said with the confidence of the world.

The remark was beyond my thoughts,

derogatory on all levels.

If that wasn't bad enough,

his mate physically demonstrated the

sexual thoughts he was going to act out over me,

like we were discussing the lunch menu at the canteen.

It was one of those moments,

where as teacher you are being tested.

To kick them out or punch their heads in.

To cry in front of them or run out in shame.

I did neither.

I remained calm,

the rage brewing inside and

in the quietest teaching voice possible,

gave them a fair serve.

The class sat, once again in silence.

The boys were embarrassed,

and I was humiliated.

Who felt the biggest shame.

They stayed after class,

I told them again that they would never talk to a women again that way.

Permanent exclusion for one and a return for another,

was any punishment going to be just?

It was a new low in teaching in the UK,

but a character building strength in another.

I hold my head high,

and hope I taught both genders a lesson.

At what price,

the verdict is not yet in.

The question remains,

how much longer can one sustain this level of bullshit.