u/AnnualMaximum3822

Does anyone else who is not religious struggle at times with being in a religious school? I was raised Catholic but am very much not that anymore. I work in a Catholic school under Ceist patronage. I struggle with how at times it is shoved down our throats. Everything seems to revolve around mass and there’s a huge emphasis on religion as a subject as it is prioritised over the needs of students,i.e. at senior cycle resource is not allowed to take place during a religion class. It is not an exam subject. The students in my school have no choice as to whether they study it or not. Parents have complained and have been told that they can go somewhere else if they don’t like it. It’s not that easy for a teacher. I would love to teach in a non-denominational school but it took me so long to get a job that I would have bitten your hand off for any job I could get. It’s not like we can be picky about where we work. Is there any other workplace in which you have to go along with religious beliefs so that you don’t cause a fuss?

Is there any way of going down the route of principal or deputy principal without doing a masters? I have a masters in something related to my subject but not related to management. I would HATE to have to do another one. I also know I should be applying for AP posts but I honestly don’t know how I would fit it in with how busy I am with everything else. How do people do it??

I’m looking for some fun musical activities for returning to school. I will be teaching 12/13 year olds. I think I have exhausted all my usual ones, body percussion, action songs etc. I’m looking for literally anything to break up the class a bit so it’s not all theory. I have some topics that I have to cover but I’d like to make it more fun and interesting for them. I am open to anything. It doesn’t necessarily have to be very “active”, it could be a research project or something tech related or a quiz. Have been teaching a long time but I feel I’m getting stale! Thank you!

I really just need a rant and some validation for my feelings. We are having some family issues at the minute. My brother and his girlfriend have just had a baby. It hasn’t been easy for them with lots of complications and they have been in hospital for nearly three weeks. Everything will be fine and we are all trying to be really positive for them. However, my mother keeps telling everyone how worried she is to the point where I feel like she’s just looking for attention and sympathy. She has started randomly talking to her sister in law who she never talks to because this woman is indulging her. She suggested to my mother a few times that SHE should go to the doctor. For what reason I don’t know. There is nothing wrong with her apart from being worried and wanting attention. My mother is loving this! One of her favourite things is people thinking there’s something wrong with her. What annoys me the most is that when I was growing up I was a very sensitive child but I was always told to grow up,stop being a baby and I never ever got any empathy from my mother for anything I was going through. I felt I was never allowed to cry if I was upset. I hate that she is making this about her and not about my brother and his family. We are all supporting them and being super positive. I know she’s worried, we all are but sometimes we have to hide that and be strong. Rant over!

Would love to hear others unorthodox classroom management strategies. Things that actually work but are a bit different or outside of the box. I think every year first years are just getting worse in terms of their boundaries and respect for teachers. I can usually manage my classes with very few issues but found last year hard as I had huge numbers in a practical subject that I wouldn’t usually have. The constant talking and not being able to pinpoint who it is drove me crazy. Currently I use a seating plan to help and go over expectations but I don’t always follow through on my threats! I also find that the older I get the less patient I am. I used to be considered a young, fun teacher but those days are gone! 😂 I feel I can be very cross at times which is a new thing for me! Anyway, the more imaginative the better!

Would love to hear others unorthodox classroom management strategies. Things that actually work but are a bit different or outside of the box. I think every year first years are just getting worse in terms of their boundaries and respect for teachers. I can usually manage my classes with very few issues but found last year hard as I had huge numbers in a practical subject that I wouldn’t usually have. The constant talking and not being able to pinpoint who it is drove me crazy. Currently I use a seating plan to help and go over expectations but I don’t always follow through on my threats! I also find that the older I get the less patient I am. I used to be considered a young, fun teacher but those days are gone! 😂 I feel I can be very cross at times which is a new thing for me! Anyway, the more imaginative the better!

I feel bad but I feel very little love for my mother and have felt like this for a long time. We are a close knit family and I cannot go no contact. My siblings don’t feel the same way as me although they can see what she’s like. They tend to keep a distance and are civil when they are together. I think she knows she can’t get away with her behaviour around them so saves it for me and my dad.

She is especially horrible to him. She cannot have a normal conversation with him without berating him over everything he says. If he asks a simple question she will act like he has said the most stupid thing in the world. If other people are around she gives him dirty looks when they can’t see. He is a lovely man and does a lot around the house yet she never ever appreciates it and there’s always something wrong with what he’s done. If he’s sitting relaxing she berates him or if I’m talking to him she claims that she’s being left out.

The way she treats me is bizarre. She’s controlling. An example is not allowing me to have my bedroom windows open at night when I was really hot. I was in my 30s at the time. There are loads more examples like this. She thinks her way of doing things is the only way so if you try to do something around the house and it’s “wrong” then you will hear about it! She can’t let anything go. For example if you accidentally broke something like a plate she would make the biggest deal out of it,like you burned down the house. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Anyway, the other day she fell. She’s fine but it looked a lot worse than it was. My husband reacted in a very caring way but in all honesty I felt nothing. I didn’t feel bad for her. I wasn’t concerned that she was hurt. I know this is wrong but I can’t help how I feel. I’m not a psychopath I swear! I do feel concern for others. All I kept thinking was,she is going to milk this and want sympathy for the rest of her life. That’s another part of her personality,she loves attention and telling people about her ailments. She often makes out that she’s a lot worse than she is. This drives me crazy because my dad had cancer and you would never even have known. Does anyone else feel like me?

O.K a bit of minor issue but I would be interested to see people’s thoughts on it. My school (PP) is very strict on bringing classes outside during warm weather. A couple of years ago I had a large group with many needs in the class on a very hot day. My room was extremely stuffy so during the break of the double class I brought them outside just for a break,not even to teach them. My room is near the entrance to the school and unfortunately the principal saw this and demanded I take them inside. The reasoning was that people visiting the school would see them 🙈. I just find this completely bizarre. During warm weather we are regularly told that we must not go outside because it causes disruption. If teaching and learning are happening, the students are well behaved and there’s room around the school to accommodate everyone then I don’t see the problem. I personally wouldn’t take every class outside as I need to teach in my room for most topics. I really believe that taking a class outside is not disruptive to them or the school. Of course it depends on the class you have but as their teachers we know which classes can be trusted to behave. What is it like in other schools? What are people’s thoughts on this?

I started on 2.5mg last week. It was prescribed by my doctor and I found that it was as cheap to get it in a Chemist Warehouse as it would be up North. I also emailed a chemist in the North who told me that they weren’t taking new customers unless the doctor sent the prescription to them directly. At this stage I had physical copy so it was a no go. I imagine that for the next dose I will need to go up to 5mg. It is a lot more expensive in Chemist Warehouse for this dose. Can anyone please advise where to get it in the North that will accept a prescription from the South and at a cheaper price than CW. Thank you!

I (f) (42) am worried about my niece (15) and how her parents are raising her. I’m trying not to be judgemental but I have concerns. I don’t have children but I’m a teacher who deals with teenagers on a daily basis. I absolutely adore her and feel that mistakes being made now will impact her later on.

The backstory is that my brother and her mother broke up when she was three due to her mother cheating. There has been a lot of upheaval in her life with various partners on both sides. She mainly lives with her mother but sees her dad a lot. There is no animosity there. My main issue is that she is allowed to do whatever she wants and nothing is expected of her. I was visiting recently and was hoping to see her. I was told she would be with friends all day. I had travelled quite a distance and hadn’t seen her for a while. Her dad was telling me that she basically spends all day every day with her friends. He laughed it off and made a point that she’s young and that’s what young people do. I’m aware of that but she is never expected to make time to see family or spend time with her grandparents for example. She does not have to do any chores. I doubt she even knows how to do basic household tasks yet she is handed money or bought things without question. She has never been encouraged in school or with hobbies. She literally has no hobby except for being on her phone. She has started refusing to go to school as well and doesn’t care about doing well. She is bright but academia has never been encouraged. I don’t think she has ever read a book outside of school.

Don’t get me wrong. She is not a spoilt brat. She is nice and polite but also very quiet. It’s difficult to have a conversation with her as she has very little to say. I know… aren’t all teenagers like that? I see so many though that I know that there are a lot who are well adjusted and can converse with an adult.

Realistically I can’t say anything without causing drama but it’s difficult seeing how her life is going. Am I wrong to be concerned? I know people will probably say that it’s none of my business and I’m well aware of that but I care so deeply for her. I think some boundaries are important at that age but as I’ve said, she can do whatever she wants and I don’t think that’s normal. Am I wrong?

I would like to earn some extra money. I was thinking of offering grinds locally but as my subject is music I don’t feel it would be in demand. I have taught piano before but I don’t want to go down that route again. Has anyone experience with this? I have friends doing grinds in English and Maths and they seem to be doing well. Is there any point in advertising for my subject?