I WORK as a teacher in a school in a nice middle-class suburb, and is it easy? Not on your life.
I have pupils who swear at me. spit on the floor, throw things out of the window, put other pupils' bags into the toilet and blow up condoms in class. Some pupils talk through lessons, often about sex, parties and drugs.
But despite everything I remain motivated because every now and then I get a tear in my eye when I hear a pupil telling me what he or she has learned, and it seems there's a point to it all.
Name withheld
BRING BACK THE BELT AT OUR SCHOOLS OF SHAME
LETTERS SPECIAL
THE diary by an inner city teacher in last week's paper painted a vivid picture of an education system falling apart - and sparked a huge postbag. Here are a selection of your letters...
PUPILS singing about hard drugs and threatening to stab their teacher beggars belief.
What is the world coming to when a teacher is scared of the class? Kids are brought up too leniently these days and are not scared of anything by the time they attend school. Bring back the belt and teachers may then teach in peace.
Diane Mitchell,
Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
BRING BACK THE BELT AT OUR SCHOOLS OF SHAME
WE shouldn't be surprised at the shocking diary of a teacher. We are now reaping what we sowed 20-odd years ago when we stopped disciplining children. The parents of these little thugs are also to blame, but they too grew up ill- disciplined and with no respect for others or authority.
Ann Harris
Gravesend, Kent
HOW heartwarming to see that Caron Keating's husband Russ Lindsay and her mum Gloria Hunniford are to donate cash raised at her memorial service to breast cancer research. Although they must be terribly upset, it's good of them to try to help others who are suffering the same as Caron did.
David Cassidy, Motherwell
OUR KINDA PEOPLE - HANYA TRYKA
HANYA Tryka, 52, from Poland, deserves a bouquet after cheering up her aunt Anna Porter on a visit to Oxford.
-TELL us in 50 words who deserves a bouquet, with their photo and your phone number. Send to: Our Kinda People, The People, PO Box 6869, London E14 5BS.
BRING BACK THE BELT AT OUR SCHOOLS OF SHAME
IF this is typical of all comprehensives, I dread to think where society is heading.
The main problem appears to be lack of respect from the pupils towards their teachers coupled with the fact that schools are no longer allowed to discipline unruly behaviour.
V Clarke,
Stourbridge, West Mids
SUCH BEAR-FACED FILTH
I WAS shocked to read about Roger De Courcey's disgusting stage show with Nookie Bear (The People, last week). We pay good money to watch so called entertainers - De Courcey should show more respect to the audience who pay his wages.
Steve Fuller
Hove, East Sussex
BRING BACK THE BELT AT OUR SCHOOLS OF SHAME
HAVE things really changed so much? When I was at school there was always a certain amount of bad behaviour.
Perhaps modern teachers have lost the art of classroom control, which is important as being able to teach maths in my book.
Janice Graham,
Wigton, Cumbria
CORRIE WENDI PUTS OTHER STARS IN SHADE
ACTRESS Wendi Peters - Corrie's vile mum Cilla - talked honestly in last week's paper about her infertility problems and her joy at having daughter Gracie.
What a change from other stars who only chat about their careers.
Melanie Lodge
Mirfield, West Yorks
BRING BACK THE BELT AT OUR SCHOOLS OF SHAME
TEACHERS are now in a position where they are afraid to discipline children for fear of offending their human rights and ending up in jail. This once respected position has become a joke thanks to wishy-washy liberal laws.
E Farmer,
Towcester, Northants
BRING BACK THE BELT AT OUR SCHOOLS OF SHAME
IT sounds like this teacher is in the wrong job. Kids will get away with murder if you let them. They have to be told who is boss, or any sign of weakness will be pounced upon.
Mrs I Stimpson, via email
HUNKY WILLS IS A SPLASH HIT
YOUR pictures of sexy Prince William in his skimpy swimming costume last week really made my Sunday. Let's hope your photographers are on hand for the next time he plays water polo. Talk about causing ripples!
Jean Brew, Northampton
BRING BACK THE BELT AT OUR SCHOOLS OF SHAME
THE solution is simple: bring back corporal punishment for unruly pupils. It never did any harm, in fact it taught children to respect discipline rather than abuse it. Teachers are fighting a losing battle without a deterrent.
George Wagstaffe,
Preston, Lancs
MY heart bleeds for our overworked MPs. Fancy coping with all those holidays and a three-and-a-half-day week while earning £100,000 plus a hefty pension! If they can't handle it they should quit and get a proper job.
Ian Campbell
Hawick, Roxburghshire
I HAVE nothing but admiration for the runners in last week's London Marathon. Most were doing it for a charity rather than personal gain. These people are an inspiration to us all.
J David,
New Barnet, Herts
DONOR Richard Aaron has amazingly saved his brother Bob's life twice with vital transplants, (People, last week). I hope I would have the same courage. A truly heart-warming story.
Pat Martin, Southampton
BRING BACK THE BELT AT OUR SCHOOLS OF SHAME
MOBILE phones should be banned in the classroom, and if children complain about it then tough. They are there to learn, not text their friends.
Alan Keith,
Skipton, North Yorks