Dad tried teaching
He's a well built bloke-11 1/2 years in the army (part of that in Norn Iron during the 70's), then 16 years as a railway fitter. He did a degree, then went into teaching. Horrible time for the family. On qualification, he wound up doing semi-permenant supply teaching (term or two at a time) round Derby. He was assaulted countless times, and a lot of the time had bugger all support from senior management. He reckoned dealing with the NI paramilitaries was easier.
One tale that really shocked me was a young, female newly qualified teacher who wound up sobbing on his shoulder. Some early teens chav had put his hand up her skirt (proper skirt, not a wide belt thing) as she helped a girl in front. The headmasters response was "Perhaps you should wear trousers".
I was going through secondary school at the same time, and even a quiet backwater country school wasn't much better. Hated every minute. I was then very fortunate to get into welbeck (military 6th form college) for my A levels, and the difference was astonishing-with a class of kids who wanted to be there and knew they'd get kicked out for any trouble, I had the best teachers, topics and lessons I ever had.
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Greenbat, Fri 11 May 2012, 0:48,
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