Exactly

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Exactly
By Mariella

Your point - that the students didn't behave even when the principal was in the room - is totally on the mark. I always maintain (and have said so in replies to others here when they've been upset over class behaviour) that
we subs can't fix in one day a problem that isn't of our making. Heavens to Betsy, in classes like the one you describe, I bet the students are not much better for the classroom teacher than they were for you. I find, generally, that a well-behaved class will be well behaved for a sub (oh, sure, they may try a few tricks and be a bit silly and noisier than usual) and an out-of-control

class for you is probably out of control when their regular teacher is there. We're not magicians (though some, like that principal and some teachers too) seem to expect us to be. Were you able to add your comments to those on the report of the principal? If so, I'd have written that I was following the lesson plan left by the teacher and that while the students were talking, the noise level was one you found acceptable, the teacher did ask that the work be done in groups and that while the students were talking, they were also working. Sadly, in many places, you don't get to put your side of the story on record (how many subs even ask if they can do this, I wonder?). I'd write off that school and that principal if I were you! The guy was unprofessional and a jerk to act like that rather than support you. You will find other work in schools where things go more smoothly and that will restore your confidence. As others have said, middle school is very hard (I only teach in 2 middle schools in my city, which probably has 20 or more) because, to be honest, I don't need or appreciate the aggravation, the rudeness, etc. Just last week, I was asked to cover a gr. 9 Science class at the end of the day (I was in teaching English). Though the teacher knew she was going to be away, absolutely NOTHING was left in the way of work (not even busy work). The gr. 9's at this school (actually most of the gr. 9's this year) are appalling. I was lucky enough to find some wordsearches and get a student teacher from the next room to run them off for me. She also tipped me off that this class was out of control and the regular teacher had an awful time with them. The word searches held their interest but their behaviour was the worst I've seen in ages (swearing, rough-housing,noisy). I was glad to know that it wasn't just me because, to be honest, even after all my years of teaching, it shook me to have so little control over the classroom. But I figured "Heck, I got through the class, they didn't zoo the room and no one got hurt so that was good enough". But I was darned glad to be out of there.