I am a secondary school teacher, during one of my planning periods I could hear a trainee teacher struggling with the behaviour of a class. This particular class, GCSE age, boy heavy could be rowdy at times. My intention was to stand in the room and assist with behaviour while the trainee focussed on teaching the lesson. As I stood in the doorway to survey the situation a boy loudly wolf whistled at me. I was shocked, I was a member of staff, a person and yet this boy thought it was acceptable to further disrupt the learning and disrespect me. Thankfully, the schools response was brilliant. They launched an investigation straight away, found the culprit and suspended him. Before he returned to school I was reassured by senior members of staff including the headteacher that this wasn’t tolerated and my safety was paramount. When the boy returned to school he gave me a formal apology. I don’t blame him, in fact now when we pass in the corridor he always says hello and is polite. What I do blame is the lack of support and education our young people are given about everyday sexism. As an educator, I know individual teachers try their best to prevent and tackle sexism but there is no wider support from society. Sexism is still largely accepted and our young people are falling victim to it.
