DURING any given week, students ask my opinion on subjects ranging from the crisis in the Middle East to whether or not I like Ali G. Problem. A complaint has been made against me by a parent concerning something I have supposedly said to her daughter. Now management has told me to restrict my opinions to my subject area. I find all this unsettling and depressing.

GIVEN the importance of teachers, it should be accepted that they would be asked about issues outside their subject. As a rule, answer the question with a question. The student may already have a firm opinion and may not be looking for a counter argument at all. Remember, though, by supporting or refuting a viewpoint you may be exacerbating tensions at home. I do not believe that anyone has the right to gag you, but they would be correct in telling you to tread carefully.

NAUSEATING STUDENT

I AM all for social inclusion, but it has its downside. I speak of the malodorous. I am attempting good humour in this dilemma but I am often reduced to nausea by a particular student. It also affects the rest of the class, some of who have justifiably complained. Neither my line manager nor the personal tutor has done much to help.

IN a similar situation, I resorted to applying lavender oil beneath my nose. This was only temporarily effective and my close-quarter teaching was subsequently brief. I also got some odd comments about my choice of aftershave. I would tell the personal tutor to get on with their job and be just that, personal. Or do it yourself, but gently, ideally with the witness of another member of staff.

PROTECT YOURSELF

LAST year I was attacked by a student and after a four-month absence have only just returned to work. Although I have received assurances from the college, I am unconvinced that another incident like this would not happen again. I do not believe enough is being done to protect lecturers from violent students.

IT is important for teachers to be able to better predict violent behaviour as well as being able to take measures to defend themselves. I am suggesting that colleges consider introducing ‘injury prevention’ as part of staff development. It is also worth considering that many instances of violence might have been avoided had the lecturer adopted a safer strategy, even if that means running away. You must take heart from Education Secretary Estelle Morris’s recent call to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers to show zero tolerance to those who attack teachers.

‘GLASS-ROOM’ SPIES

THE doors in the college where I work now all have a window. In some cases solid office walls have been replaced with glass partitioning. A recent consequence of all this is an Intranet edict concerning the state of lecturer’s desks, which it was noted were not generally, and I quote, “in a condition commensurate with the high standards required of lecturers in terms of organisation and professional appearance”. Give me strength!

WE could all be more organised, but it is having the time and temperament to put it into effect. To suggest that there is a correlation between untidy desks and untidy teaching is not helpful. Nor is it to continually put lecturers under scrutiny, whether it be in creating goldfish-bowl offices or carrying out an audit on the state of their desks.

FUNERAL FAUX PAS

I HAVE been officially censured for ignoring a minute’s silence to mark the Queen Mother’s funeral. In fact, it was agreed as a class to continue after the college bell sounded, but one of my students had second thoughts and complained. As far as I am concerned, the management has no right to ask me to suspend teaching on these grounds.

ACTUALLY, as long you were paid for that minute I expect that they do. Whether they can require you to recognise “traditions” which you may be opposed to on the grounds of either religious or political convictions is another thing. That you involved others in your actions, some of who no doubt felt led, is a mistake.

PAY DELAY

I TEACH part time 0.4 (permanent full-year contract) in a small tertiary college and am usually asked to work extra hours over my permanent contract. The problem arises when it comes to being paid, because the college only wants to pay me at the end of the academic year. At first, I put in monthly pay claims, but these were discarded with the comment from my line manager: “You will be paid at the end of the year”.

THAT is clearly an unacceptable situation. Remind your line manager that it his duty to represent your grievance whether he supports it or not at the next managerial level. Get your union rep involved. Alternatively, you might consider insisting that additional hours are paid through a teaching agency. The rate may not be as good, but at least you will get a monthly pay cheque.

Questions to: shortbuttall@hotmail.com