The key to controlling your class, is figuring out what each kid wants or needs and giving it to them. But at the same time, letting them know, depending on the choices they make, you have the power to take it away. For some kids it’s grades – that’s easy. For others it’s attention or approval – knowing that you give a shit, that you’re watching them. For others, it’s being a listener, an authority figure who’s safe, someone they know they can go to if they’ve really fucked up. And some of them will.

The key to controlling your class, is figuring out what each kid wants or needs and giving it to them. But at the same time, letting them kn...

All teachers are therapists… and social workers, friends, wardens… confessors. Just depends on the day.

All teachers are therapists… and social workers, friends, wardens… confessors. Just depends on the day.

These kids aren’t us; they’ll never be us. (…) They’ve never known a world without the internet. Email. Test messaging. Social media. Likes and views are king, bullying dickheads are inescapable, and genuine social interaction can be almost completely avoided. It makes them really fucking smart technologically and really fucking stupid emotionally.

These kids aren’t us; they’ll never be us. (…) They’ve never known a world without the internet. Email. Test messaging. Social media. Likes ...