Thoughts of an Old Codger

The following thoughts and recollections are entirely those of “Old Codger” and not those of the NUT nationally or locally

Relaxing in the lounge of ‘Shady Deals’ home for bewildered teachers (courtesy of the RIG – Rewards and Incentives Group) I look forward to my lunch. Sixty minutes of uninterrupted eating and relaxing (for the benefit of younger teachers unused to this concept). Granted I always get strange looks from the staff when I ask them what their objective is for the meal and what materials they are going to use. I forget they are professionals who have done the job for years and could do it equally as well in their sleep.

I chuckle as I recall a conversation between two of my pupils. The first said he had asthma. The second not wishing to be outdone said he was getting one for Christmas. The latter would have been considered W (working towards) had such jargon existed in those days and would have spent his lunch times and after school time lessons doing catch up to ensure that he was Level 4 (at least) by Year 6. As it was we delivered a much broader, enriched, balanced curriculum and even read aloud to the children. Whole novels for pleasure!!! The only appraisal was predicting what would happen next. The very idea!

Excellent lessons would continue beyond an hour, children would bring things in from home and we would talk to them about it. Walt and Wilf were the class hamsters. Nowadays I understand that due to Health and Safety, they have been replaced by cardboard cutouts and renamed Waffle and Wilt.

In my day a Risk Assessment involved deciding how likely you were to get caught by the head, smoking behind the bike sheds. The only reason I smoked in those days was because the back of the matchbox had enough space for my weekly planning and room left over for my shopping list!

Any way its time for my medication, also known as a pint (or 2) of Guinness. Cheers.

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