Throw me a frikken bone already

[Colapop]

A good teacher is one who can control a whole classroom without having to be in the room, it's all about respect. If the class knows that when you are out of the room or are busy that they are expected to be still working or they will be kept in after class to finish their work, then they will continue doing their work. Consequences need to be put in place and carried out whenever needed, but I believe that they should be constructive, not destructive... but yeah that is just my opinion! And I know that a lot of people on the outside will disagree with me about this, but they are not the ones who would actually be the ones caining someone elses child

While there is validity in your assertion that a good teacher can control a classroom without being there, the statistics regarding new teachers' longevity in the proffesion would suggest that there are very few teachers who are taught to do this throughout their course of study. Good teachers gain the respect of their charges by being able to discipline a class as well as reward and this knowledge is gained over a relatively long period of time. To be learned in the art of teaching is not just what is taught in a class - that is only about 10% of the actual. The reality of teaching these days is that the children are not given appropriate boundaries in the home before they are sent to school. Consequently the notion that a teacher can control their behaviour or gain their respect is becoming more of a flight of fancy than that of reality. Teachers with their current and increasing workloads do not have the time that they once had to put into difficult kids.
I smacked my kids when they were younger, at the time of the discretion. Short, sharp and with meaning. I have never hit my kids out of anger or frustration nor have I ever given them I hiding such as I had growing up. In saying that, my kids have boundaries and I very rarely have to even speak to them harshly. I am not the best parent in the world and nor do I claim to be, but I do care for my kids and have a vested interest in their futures.

(How am I going retire and sponge off them if they're not succesful weel adjusted adults? )

[BuFfY]

The reality is going to come as a horrible shock, I think.
Unless you get a nice safe decile 1 school, but then you'll have a whole different set of issues to think about. Like parents suing you if you speak harshly to their little sweetheart.

Decile 1 is the lowest... so that would be the children in a low economic area. Whereas a decile 10 is all the rich kids, but I guess if they are real snobby they may do as you suggested but I hope not to work in a school like that.
During my first semister at uni we went into a school for 2 weeks, in the 2nd semister we went out for a month, in our second year we spent 1 month in the first semister and then 6 weeks in the 2nd. In our final year we spend 9 weeks in a school. We are required to teach in each of the decile groups and in each of the age groups before we leave university so that we are as experienced as possible. But it is like any job, no amount of training will ever be enough, but I am confident in my skills and I believe that I am going to be an amazing teacher, because I have the passion to do so!

[spudchucka]

I am confident in my skills and I believe that I am going to be an amazing teacher, because I have the passion to do so!

I agree somewhat with Lou, (that has got to stop) in so much as I think you will have to adjust your thinking a litle once you hit the coal face.

However, you can't beat self belief, determination and passion in a teacher. So don't let the bastards grind you down, keep your belief and your passion and you might make a difference in some kids otherwise rotten lives.