Work / Diary of a Teacher in Poland [181]

I doubt anyone would care less in Poland. Different culture.

Anyway, it's been an interesting week. The kid that I mentioned as a potential bully is very much an outcast, though he's been immediately referred to the school psychologist and the local psychological observation service (however the hell it's actually called) for a full check. My quiet enquiries with the old school have hit a blank - the teacher doesn't want to discuss him for whatever reason. What I've observed is that he appears to have little to no understanding of boundaries and personal space, which could hint at several things - but I'll wait for the full report to see what they can find.

Other than that, my main focus this term is in setting up links between us and a new partner school abroad. I'm always trying to build cooperation between schools, and I decided this year to try and set up a partnership with a school in Sweden. I've got several schools found through the excellent eTwinning platform, and I've got Skype discussions with them lined up tomorrow.

Other than that, it's just the usual mountain of paperwork to deal with, including my new role this year in mentoring a new teacher for her probationary year. Nice girl, and she's already agreed to work a few extra hours so that we can prepare something big and special as a highlight of her year. It means extra work for me, but I think it's important to give new teachers the chance to shine in the way that I got a chance too.

UK, Ireland / Polish man jailed for using dog to attack Muslims leaving mosque [45]


Then don't post here. It's really that simple.


Not sure why the mods would be bothered by fresh content and plenty of replies, to be honest.

News / Polish couple brutally attacked by the Danish police. [46]

Never thought I'd see the day when a Pole openly supports the idea of Nazi thugs attacking people in Poland.

UK, Ireland / Polish man jailed for using dog to attack Muslims leaving mosque [45]


Not in the Polish papers they aren't.

UK, Ireland / Polish man jailed for using dog to attack Muslims leaving mosque [45]


Phew, at least you're able to admit it.

I mean, it must drive you insane to see these type of idiots in the UK doing all sorts of damage to the reputation of Polish people as a whole.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]


Of course it's all about the money. It's very easy to figure out why when you know who is processing the wood.

UK, Ireland / Polish man jailed for using dog to attack Muslims leaving mosque [45]


Not going to condemn the attacks on your fellow British citizens, WP?

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]

You know, it's sad to watch you support the Communist tradition of using natural resources for short term benefit, Ironside. You're always so anti-communist that you should be the first to recognise that Polish nature should be kept for future generations, rather than being destroyed for the sake of profits for the privileged few.

By the way, the Minister of the Environment now claims that it's being done for "public safety". One wonders why the forest can't simply be closed for humans if it's a public safety issue.

UK, Ireland / Polish man jailed for using dog to attack Muslims leaving mosque [45]


Who doesn't enjoy stories of Polish criminals and their aggressive behaviour towards religious temples abroad?

News / Polish couple brutally attacked by the Danish police. [46]


There's no right of admission to such events. As far as I remember, even the Polish law surrounding mass events makes that clear.

Either way, seems unlikely that Nazi thugs will go to Denmark anytime soon.

News / Two Polish Men on trial for brutally murdering German Pop Star in homophobic attack [53]


Strange? It's a very popular way of travelling, especially if you only need a place to crash for a few hours.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]


When even the Belarusians are criticising it, there's really something wrong.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]


Nothing much at all, just a growing tourist industry there that was on course to provide significantly more income than logging for locals.

Still, Ironside, we know your opinion on the matter: ideology matters far more than anything else.

Travel / Milk Bars in Warsaw's Old Town [18]


No. They attract a wide range of clientele, and you will almost certainly encounter people from all walks of life. If you want a sanitised, family friendly place, then Sphinx will be far more to your liking.

News / Two Polish Men on trial for brutally murdering German Pop Star in homophobic attack [53]


It's interesting that you think a natural response to being chatted up is to brutally violate someone to the point of death.


Nope, it's international news, as witnessed by the fact that they fled abroad.

News / Two Polish Men on trial for brutally murdering German Pop Star in homophobic attack [53]


The correct answer is c) gang rape and murder was committed by two Polish men in an act of homophobic aggression towards a German national.

Where's Patryk Jaki demanding the death sentence for them?

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


Sorry, but I don't find much balance in a drunken unlicenced driver murdering 8 people.

News / Two Polish Men on trial for brutally murdering German Pop Star in homophobic attack [53]


Unfortunately, because the murderers were Polish, they feel duty bound to attack the victim instead.

Work / Diary of a Teacher in Poland [181]


Actually, not often. Some enlightened parents do, but the majority are only heard from when there's an issue with grades. Fortunately, my "give them the answers to the test in advance" tactic does a lot to eliminate the moaning and whining - if their kid gets a bad grade after the parents were given the answers, then they failed to prepare the kid properly.

Unfortunately, in Poland, grades are everything in this culture. It's funny, because the huge focus on grades means that the pressure to cheat is enormous, though I make it clear at every single meeting with parents that I'd rather see a bad honest grade than a good grade where they've cheated.

I also had a situation once when a parent went off the deep end because I'd caught their kid cheating and given them a bad grade. After about 10 minutes of listening to how I was a terrible teacher, I asked the parent politely if they thought that their child cheating was the kind of thing that they wanted to encourage. The truth then came out, that the grades were the most important thing in school (bollocks) and that their kid was expected to get good grades (more bollocks) all the time. Clearly the kid was cheating under pressure from home, which was just so desperately unfair.


I'm suggesting that the cheating culture is rife and is learnt way before the kids take any tests in schools. They learn very quickly with me that cheating doesn't pay, and that any attempt to cheat is simply met with increased supervision, or if I'm feeling incredibly nasty, a re-take after school with their parents present while I conduct the test. I only have to do that once or twice a term and it's enough to send fear through the rest of them :)


Why? Plenty of teachers are also bloggers. There's nothing personally identifying here, after all.

UK, Ireland / 31 year old Polish man causes accident under influence of alcohol and kills 8 [198]


Why are you so determined to cover up the crimes of Poles?

News / Polish couple brutally attacked by the Danish police. [46]

Well yes, a thug with Nazi body art deserves all he gets.

Travel / Białowieża National Park in Poland [461]


It's not hard to figure out why Szyszko has this position. It's certainly not based on science, and his "religious" arguments don't hold up when you look at his personal history.


Tip of the iceberg, if you ask me.

News / Polish couple brutally attacked by the Danish police. [46]


Someone stupid enough to promote Nazism in Poland deserves all he gets. Unless of course, you are deliberately choosing to ignore the ideology that killed millions of Poles.

News / Two Polish Men on trial for brutally murdering German Pop Star in homophobic attack [53]


It's in court now, therefore relevant.

Still, nice of you not to condemn the crime.

News / Polish rock band 'Decapitated' accused of kidnapping and raping woman [16]


What's obscure about a rock band kidnapping and raping a woman?

It's all over the US news too. Hardly obscure.

News / Polish rock band 'Decapitated' accused of kidnapping and raping woman [16]


Of course they are. They know fine well that American prisons are tough places, and those pussies wouldn't survive a day inside them.

News / Polish couple brutally attacked by the Danish police. [46]


So you support violence, then. Why are you crying so much about this one getting what he deserved? He's self-declared Nazi scum, and deserved it.

News / Polish couple brutally attacked by the Danish police. [46]


Obviously Ironside doesn't like it when Polish "patriots" get a taste of their own medicine.

They certainly won't be in a hurry to go back to Denmark to cause trouble.