...i am involved with a Behaviour Support group evry lunch time for KS2 children.

The idea is that for any bad behaviour etc they are given a 'red card' and have to report to the staff involved (me everyday and a different KS2 teacher on a rota basis)

That's fine. My role as a TA is seen to the children as being just as significant as that of the teachers - i that aspect anyway!

One child came in today for not listening in class whilst the (supply) teacher was talking.

The children fill in a form giving details of what they have done, what school rule they broke and what action they should have taken. And then the child discusses their form with either me or the teacher.

sorry this is a bit long winded...

So today said child comes in and duly fills in a form. i should say at this point that another KS2 teacher was in talking to the other teacher. when i went through the form with the child and we talked about his misdemeanour i then said that in future he needed to respect ALL adults working in his classroom. And then this other teacher who wandered in said 'All visiiting teachers really'.

and i just felt so so p* off. she had totally undermined what i was saying. like she had to get the last word in. as she always does! that she's the teacher and i am a TA so what do i know.

What is it with these ppl who have to have the last word. who have to put others down.

sorry for the moan. just makes me angry. in our school there is such a hierarchy - i suppose that's all about ppl's insecurities isnt it. We should be about being a team...sadly it isnt like that.

Catbells

They talk the talk but can't walk the walk catbells.Know how you feel it is happening less in our school but happens neverthe lass and surprisingly it can be from the younger staff just as much.You would think that being trained when Ta's were already about would make it happen less but not from the experience of TA's in our workplace.I can sympathise.

I worked with a teacher in my first year and the only thing she would let me do was laminate and listen to readers!! She was like this with every Ta, even the HLTA's. She said she never wanted to work with another HLTA because they just took over her classroom and she didn't like it lol!!

Okay so we haven't got the teaching qualification but most of us do alot of teaching and planning and should be given the same respect.

We have the same problem but mainly with other TA's, some of whom are as qualified as the teacher, and seem to think they should cherry pick what they do because of their qualifications, and in my view don't show the respect they should to the teachers.

They will stand there and say 'I am not doing that because I have ????' qualification.

Well my view is that they are employed to do a specific job irrelivant of their quals and should therefore do it.

We have one who thinks she is too qualified to photocopy!!! (by the way I am as qualified as her!)

I had a situation similar to yours Cat a couple of weeks ago, where a HLTA qualified TA (not working in that role) shouted me down and talked over me (in front of the kids). I reported her to my line manager. She's been very nice to me since LOL.

How rude! At our school the teachers are very big on children treating all adults the same and a few even make the effort not to call us teaching assistants but teachers instead to drive the idea home that we are as good as them. One teachr that I do PPA for tells her class that I am her when she is gone and any misbehaviour for me will be dealt with as if she had been there.
I am sorry that this point was made in front of a child, that teahcer obviously does not have a handle on the importantce of your lunchtime work!

Some of us have actually been referred to as helpers

I've had that one too!

domestics!?! Lovely
I know of teachers who take their ppa time at home because the TA's on their break make too much noise, and why should they have a break when teachers on duty don't get one..fair point but the TA's do duty everyday and most go straight onto lunch duty.

I really really respect the teachers (usually older ones who where there before the days of TAs) who refer to me as a "Teacher."

Today another teacher told me i couldnt take out the 2 i normally support on a Monday because she didnt want them to miss the numeracy lesson today because she has HER observation tom... So? i thought and wanted to say out loud but didnt!

So tht tells me in no uncertain terms how much she values what i do with them.

Does she want me to help them with their spellings or not!

Makes me really cross because that's it now for their slot and i wont support them again till next Monday.

Anyway, i've made a note of her comments on my files so that my time can be accounted for and the SENCO who looks at my records will be able to see for herself.

next time she mumbles on about poor spellings...

x

Well I've met allsorts over the years, the ones that grab you before you walk through the door, they are so pleased to have support and assistance in the classroom. The ones that role their eyes when you speak and then repeat your good ideas as their original thought. The ones that sideline you at every opportunity. The ones that only use you to take to the toilet, mop up sick etc.


My OH can't understand why I do it?

Its the children, always the children