HOT!!!

For the last six years of my teaching I worked part time in a school near to where I lived.. I was on a three day contract, but sometimes worked  more if the school, needed a teacher. One year I worked full time as one teacher was off on long time sick. And after that year the Head Teacher asked me if I'd like to apply for the higher teacher award. I wasn't keen, what I was earning was enough to keep me going, it was my son who pushed me to apply. I did and I got it, and it was considerably more money than I thought!

But that school was a doodle compared to some schools, where I had worked. A well organised school with a good Head teacher and I had 20 years experience, the last 8 as a senior teacher and Deputy. Also the parents were very educational conscious and took a big interest in their children's learning, so worked with their children at home.

I never forgot I had been a senior teacher and still behaved like one, so never let a child get away with anything, down to telling them to tuck their tee shirts into their trousers or skirts, when I saw it was needed. I was treated with a great deal of respect by the children and the staff.

The one summer it was hot, as hot as some days now.. on the Friday I struggled into work and even before the day began I was hot. It had been very hot all week, and I had also worked the Monday and Tuesday as extra days. When my friend phoned the night before, we laughed that here I was 63 and still working. She had retired at 58, but I really enjoyed it.

So Friday morning I was wilting, but when the Head teacher popped into my classroom, as I was writing the date on my board, I smiled even when she told me I was to have 4 extra children, as two younger teachers had phoned in sick. 'How are you faring in the heat?' she asked. I did admit that I was ready for the weekend and also I was giving my class an easy afternoon doing activities they enjoyed, while I listened to them reading their books sitting comfy in my chair, by the open door. I cheekily said , 'I hope I'll be having an afternoon cup of tea,' as she always arranged for one on a Friday afternoon.

I then said, that I hoped the two teachers weren't too bad and be alright after the weekend. She said 'I think they will as they've said they have heat exhaustion.' Without thinking I reacted with 'What??' I added that perhaps us older teaches know how to pace ourselves to keep up our stamina, or she said, 'Perhaps older teachers are more committed.'

I'm still in touch with that Head teacher and have note from her, in her Christmas card every year, I had some lovely gifts when I left and beautiful flowers too.

Chrisxx