[etni] Teachers' room

I read Batya's letter and tale of woe.
I teach in a school where the relationships between teachers and pupils are particularly good, we have 'chonchut' programs, kids phone teachers regularly etc.
It's a relatively new school, so till last year we didn't even possess a teachers' room, we ate in the corridors and did our preparations, meetings etc there. It was, as you can imagine, very stressful.
Last year I was put on the Vaad Morim. So I decided that when we get a teachers' room, it will be under strict regimentation. No pupils EVER. No taking of hot water/paper cups/drinks (for kids who don't 'feel well'), - those come out of our dues and why should we fund the pupils drinks? No use for moed bet exams, one-on-one conversations etc. If a pupils wants a teacher during break, he/she comes to the door and the teacher comes out.
I personally am the local 'bouncer', and the kids really run when they see me coming, although all the other teachers back me up.
The trick is
a. to decide between the teachers and show a united front (it takes just one teacher to tell a pupil to take tea from the teachers' room, to breach the dam)
b. to be sure that the kids have a hot water urn of their own. They really need it, especially in winter.
c. make sure it doesn't reflect on your relationship with the pupils in any other aspect. I think half the time we are too scared of our students to enforce rules. Well, tough!
OK We did it from the start;but is there no way you can reorganise, and make your room student free?
Good luck
Judy 


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