And everyone in the school is in a good mood for once. Even the lingering after-effects of an evening drinking cheap red wine is not enough to dent the day's charms. Neither, oddly, is a first period with Year 9s as they struggle to resist playing games and work instead on their 4,000 word mininovels (due next Friday).
This sharp rise in morale is much needed at the moment. Two weeks ago we had staff and student welfare week, which involved lots of ego-stroking for the students but little for their teachers. In fact, the staff meeting that week involved us tackling the results of a school survey that showed the students felt we didn't interest, understand or empathise with them. The question we had to answer was: 'Why are we all so crap at our jobs?'
The next day the principal, noting a certain gloom in the corridors, gave a powerpoint presentation at morning briefing showing that staff morale 'isn't as bad as everyone thinks.' In other words, 'you're not as unhappy as you think you are.' There was a certain (additional) irony that this time-consuming presentation was given at one of the thrice-weekly briefings that force everyone to get to school early and usually miss out on caffeine before hurrying under-prepared to class.
Today, however, none of this matters. Not even the fact that yesterday a friend here was told if she didn't go on leave 6 months earlier there may not be a position for me next year. Nor the matter of me leaving my glasses at home and having to squint as I type this. Spring is here.
Oh. According to the national weather tomorrow will be cold and rainy. Bah.
This sharp rise in morale is much needed at the moment. Two weeks ago we had staff and student welfare week, which involved lots of ego-stroking for the students but little for their teachers. In fact, the staff meeting that week involved us tackling the results of a school survey that showed the students felt we didn't interest, understand or empathise with them. The question we had to answer was: 'Why are we all so crap at our jobs?'
The next day the principal, noting a certain gloom in the corridors, gave a powerpoint presentation at morning briefing showing that staff morale 'isn't as bad as everyone thinks.' In other words, 'you're not as unhappy as you think you are.' There was a certain (additional) irony that this time-consuming presentation was given at one of the thrice-weekly briefings that force everyone to get to school early and usually miss out on caffeine before hurrying under-prepared to class.
Today, however, none of this matters. Not even the fact that yesterday a friend here was told if she didn't go on leave 6 months earlier there may not be a position for me next year. Nor the matter of me leaving my glasses at home and having to squint as I type this. Spring is here.
Oh. According to the national weather tomorrow will be cold and rainy. Bah.
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