01 Teacher, Teacher! by Jack Sheffield

Author:Jack Sheffield [Sheffield, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Dance With Your Eyes

HT visited the Thomas Pemberton Special School in York to coordinate arrangements for a ‘pen friend’ project – a successful (and enlightening) visit.

Miss Flint in Class 4 – morning session only.

Extract from the Ragley School Logbook: Wednesday 8 March 1978

“M

y Tracey-Leanne’ll catch her death o’ cold in her vest,” said the formidable Mrs Brown. “It’s freezing in that ‘all o’ yours, an’ them wall bars are like t’north face of the Aga.”

It was clear that Mrs Winifred Brown did not approve of my Physical Education lessons and, whilst her knowledge of the names of famous mountains was lacking, she had made her point.

“It’s a pity, Mrs Brown, because your Tracey is a good gymnast and loves the Movement and Music lessons we have each week,” I explained. “Why don’t you call in and see for yourself? We have a lesson on Wednesday afternoon.”

Mrs Brown seemed surprised by the invitation.

“Aye, mebbe ah will,” she said, “an’ ah’ll ‘ave a word with our Dominic’s teacher at t’same time, ‘e were black bright when he came home from football t’other night.”

I had learned it was always wise to let Mrs Brown have the last word so I smiled politely, nodded and walked back into the office.

Vera was waiting for me with a list on her spiral note pad.

“Mrs Phillips called, Mr Sheffield,” said Vera. “She says you can visit the special school in York at ten thirty on Wednesday morning.”

This was good news. During her last visit to school, Sue Phillips had asked if I would agree to the children in my class becoming pen friends with some of the children at the Thomas Pemberton Special School in York. Sue wanted to strengthen links between our able-bodied children and those children in the special school who were recovering from illness or accident. It sounded a great idea. My visit to meet the headmistress and tour the school was intended to establish a working relationship and make arrangements for the exchange of letters.

Vera was enthusiastic.

“It’s a lovely school,” she said. “My friends at the Women’s Institute put on a party tea for them during the Silver Jubilee celebrations.”

“Thanks, Vera,” I said. “I’ve not been to a special school before so I’m looking forward to it.”

♦

On Wednesday morning Miss Flint, the supply teacher, came in to teach my class. I completed registration and confirmed the work that had been planned for the morning. While Valerie Flint’s slate-grey eyes rarely showed any emotion, our relationship was now almost cordial. My predecessor had held fast to the rule that female staff should not be permitted to wear trousers during working hours. Before the end of my first day, I had withdrawn this outdated and illegal practice. It proved very popular with all the staff, particularly Miss Flint. Today she was dressed in a tailored safari shirt with a long pointed collar and a brown pin-stripe trouser suit. Her stylish sling-back clogs with their thick heels and soles ensured she was marginally taller than me.

The

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