u/Solid-Individual-997

I am in my final placement right now. I don’t think I’m a bad teacher, but I feel like I definitely make mistakes. I always hear about my peers who just say they are ready to teach and I feel terrible that I don’t.

It’s usually things like time management, dragging out activities longer than they should go etc.

I’ve passed every placement so far and I’ve met all the requirements but my lessons feel so amateur. It’s hard to explain. I feel like I’m still learning, and I have a lot of it left to do.

I also have not taught my second teaching area due to circumstances outside of my control (being on prac when that subject is having exams etc).

I’m a PST soon doing their final placement. I’ve been lucky enough to go to a range of schools from private to public.

I’ve recently started casual teaching at a public school in a low socioeconomic area. The difference in the quality of the classrooms, resources was very jarring to me.

These students already have so many barriers to their learning. There’s a million reasons for them to not take their education seriously. It’s reflected in their behaviours and it’s been a new experience for me to deal with. These are things we cannot change. It’s a socioeconomic issue.

But the one thing the government has the power to change, (the school) is ultimately disregarded. No technology for students to use. Classrooms that are mouldy. Floors so uneven that an apple would roll from one side of the room to the other.

My time at this school has raised a dilemma for me:

I’ve gained a desire to work in an environment like this. My time casual teaching has made me feel like this is where the most impact could be made.

But it doesn’t feel sustainable. It’s been the most challenging thing I’ve ever done. I’ve dealt with so many difficult behaviours that have left me ruminating on what I could have done or if I had done anything wrong.

My time on prac at private/selective schools have shown me an environment where I get to actually focus on teaching. I feel valued for my work. Work is easy. I don’t ruminate and I feel better.

But it doesn’t feel impactful. There is such a large discrepancy and it feels unfair. I don’t want to contribute towards it.

So I don’t know where I would want to teach full time. I guess it will be circumstantial and depend on whatever opens up first.

But for me, teaching is a passion job. I need to feel like I am doing something for it to be worth it.

Hi all,

I’ve just started subbing at a new school. It’s been quite challenging and there’s alot of challenging students in each of the classes.

The only meaningful consequence I can administer is a demerit that goes on the students online profile.

In particular there are two students who I have to deal with that do not care about this.

I cannot contact the office or any admin, I do not have the number. I don’t have the ability for lunch or afternoon detentions. Yes I’ve asked.

My solution so far has been to disengage, and bargain with the two students. “You do x many questions and I will get off your back for the rest of the lesson” and usually that works.

I’ve resorted to this because it avoids a power struggle and it means that I can say that all students have completed work. I’ve also found it useful to give students autonomy in these situations, they will opt for the easiest option MOST of the time.

Any suggestions?

I’ve been casualing at a rough school for a week now. Most lessons go alright. But there is one class that is very challenging.

Sometimes the goal shifts from getting them to do work, to damage control where I’m trying to keep every child in the room and accounted for.

I can’t help but feel terrible when this happens. The teachers say they understand and that it’s a really challenging class. I can’t help but feel like a failure.

Edit; I’m at a secondary school

I’m a chronic overthinker so I thought I’d just ask here.

What is usually the protocols at these schools with class cover??

Do I just accept the shift, turn up to the front office and let them know I’m here via class cover??

Will they explain to me where to go, what I need to do? How will I know which classroom to turn up to? Or bell times?

How do they pay me? Do I need to turn up with all my details to fill out a form??

I just have no clue what to expect. I’m in my final year of uni.

That final hug at the airport. Watching their face as they look at you for the last time for months. Watching them walk off knowing that you won’t seen them again for a while.

It just keeps replaying in my mind over and over and over. Almost like a bad dream. Each time it replays it brings back the same feelings of sadness.

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The way it replays in my head is like a nightmare.

I would just like to present this perspective as someone who has studied how history is presented through film in my studies.

There is a general consensus among historians that films can never wholly satisfy audiences as the truth. They very rarely bid for true authenticity, but rather fit the purpose of appealing to the perspectives and motivations of their time period.

What does this mean in practice?

Gladiator (2000) serves as a representation of American anxieties surrounding the breakdown of the nuclear family - specifically relating to Maximus’ dysfunctional father/son relationship. These are themes that are emphasised within the studies of Ancient Rome, yet they take center stage anyway.

So how does this apply to the odyssey?

The odyssey will represent the Ancient Greek story through the lens of the 21st century. It will communicate messages and depict history in a manner that will say more about our time, rather than the time of Homer.

What this messaging will be is to be seen. But some general observations include a very diverse range of casting. Specifically Elliot Page cast as Achilles. I believe there will be some themes surrounding masculinity that will play a role in this film.

Ultimately though, I encourage everyone to view the film in this way. Don’t treat the film as a documentary. Don’t judge what it gets right and what it gets wrong. Because that is not the point of a historical film, and it isn’t even the point of the study of history.

History is more than the facts. It’s more than the “what happened, how did it happen and who was involved”. It’s a collection of many versions and interpretations of the past. The odyssey will present an interpretation that will be very historical valuable for the years to come, and will serve as a representation of our anxieties, motivations and perspectives of today.