'Back to School'
The words that mean the end of the summer and the end of the holidays. These are the words that prophesize the oncoming doom which awaits children and teenagers throughout the country. As a child signs similar to those above annually sank my spirits and the search for new pens, copybooks and the bland grey uniform was always an affair of bribery for my mother.
'After we get try on those trousers, we'll go for an ice-cream' or 'Just one more shop and then we can go home' are some examples of the tactics used in my case.
Even the thought of meeting all my school buddies didn't raise my spirits for two reasons;
'Sit down and stop disrupting the class' shouted the teacher while smug grins were discerned on the faces of your 'friends'.
Checking the seat before you sat on it was always a good way to provide landing on a piece of chewing gum or something sharper and it was always necessary to be on the lookout for flying objects such as paper ball, sandwiches and metal pointed compasses. So you can see why returning to this environment was not a pleasing prospect.
Nowadays I'm on the other side of the desk and the prospect is still not as pleasing. Okay, the groups I have are smaller than 30, I haven't been attacked or bullied by students (yet). I also have the power of language over my students which can be a powerful weapon, but my nerves still tingle before stepping up in front of a group for the first time trying to convince them that I mean business before 'Mr Soanes' is soon replaced by 'Phil' and the routine kicks in like before.
The words 'Back to School' still unnerve me but at least I still have a month to prepare for this return.
The words that mean the end of the summer and the end of the holidays. These are the words that prophesize the oncoming doom which awaits children and teenagers throughout the country. As a child signs similar to those above annually sank my spirits and the search for new pens, copybooks and the bland grey uniform was always an affair of bribery for my mother.
'After we get try on those trousers, we'll go for an ice-cream' or 'Just one more shop and then we can go home' are some examples of the tactics used in my case.
Even the thought of meeting all my school buddies didn't raise my spirits for two reasons;
- Those friends I liked from school I saw outside of school and
- There were so many things you had to beware of from so called 'friends.
'Sit down and stop disrupting the class' shouted the teacher while smug grins were discerned on the faces of your 'friends'.
Checking the seat before you sat on it was always a good way to provide landing on a piece of chewing gum or something sharper and it was always necessary to be on the lookout for flying objects such as paper ball, sandwiches and metal pointed compasses. So you can see why returning to this environment was not a pleasing prospect.
Nowadays I'm on the other side of the desk and the prospect is still not as pleasing. Okay, the groups I have are smaller than 30, I haven't been attacked or bullied by students (yet). I also have the power of language over my students which can be a powerful weapon, but my nerves still tingle before stepping up in front of a group for the first time trying to convince them that I mean business before 'Mr Soanes' is soon replaced by 'Phil' and the routine kicks in like before.
The words 'Back to School' still unnerve me but at least I still have a month to prepare for this return.
2 comments:
'Sit down and stop disrupting the class' - I wonder if Polish and Irish teachers in the 80's didn't form some sort of secret organization (or, perhaps it was Paneuropian?). It's so much like our "Siadaj! Przeszkadzasz w lekcji!" And, of course, when it turned out you didn't have your pens/pencils it was nobody's fault but your own, and pointing out you haven't been allowed to collect them was no use (usually got you in more trouble).
That's it. That's the ironical thing. You are the victim of other students boredom and the teachers frustration. Interesting that the same order is used in Polish and English.
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