Student 1: “Ahh, you have Jelly beans! Can I have one?”
Student 3: “I’m allergic to Jelly beans”
Student 2: “How can you be allergic to jelly beans…?” Whilst
passing around her sweets.
It’s just blatant cockiness. They know it. What I thought
might be happening, was that they were testing me. I’m a new member of staff,
maybe I don’t know the rules. Or seeing how badly I would react if I did know
the rules. CC often throws out students who are eating. Do I do this? I was
slightly concerned they wouldn’t leave if I asked them to, so I settled with
turning round with raised eyebrows, and telling them firmly that yes, I can see
the jelly beans and could you please put them away. To be fair to them, they
put them away – not even up their jumpers to munch on ‘discretely’ and looked
at least a bit sheepish. It’s not the biggest problem in the world – and I know
I’m lucky in that the school I work at is not at all bad. I’d be more scared if
I was working at my old high school to be sure. The level of misbehaviour would
be way worse and happen far more often. But I just need to establish a level
with the students. Yes, you can come and ask me questions, I’d like to remain
approachable, but I’m not taking any of your cheek (and that’s exactly what it
mainly is. These student’s aren’t really misbehaviours, they’re just a bit
cocky sometimes) and I’m not a pushover. Like Neil Gaiman says: Don’t f*ck with
librarians. Maybe there’s a good book on the subject…