Free Confessions of a teacher: Because school isn't quite what you remember it to be... by Jane Salomon Page A

matters worst, she was refusing to leave the room. I sent for my Principal teacher, Jack's predecessor, who had no more success than myself. Karen was sent to deal with the situation. The second she entered the room, the temperature plummeted, sending icy shivers down everyone's spine. You could have heard a pin dropped and even ADHD girl was lost for words. Karen locked her icy stare with every single pair of eyes in the room before saying coldly "get on with what you're supposed to be doing". It wasn't just the kids being frightened, I nearly grabbed pen and paper myself to join them in doing the work. Karen walked up to the child and whispered something to her. ADHD girl stood up, as if in a trance, and followed Karen quietly. She had been shouting about a witch, she certainly got one, just not quite the one she thought. For all her witchcraft, Karen also has a well hidden sense of humour. I accidentally discovered this on a staff night out where I had drunk a bit more than usual and divulged to her more than I should have about my private life which was a bit messy at the time. Karen and I ended up having a good chat and she made me laugh on more than one occasion. When I recovered the next day I had the uneasy feeling that I had disclosed more than necessary about my private affairs. I needn't have worried though. Karen wasn't exactly sober herself and all she retained from the incident was that we'd had a nice talk and what a nice person I was. But to this day, she couldn't really tell you on what basis she formed that judgement about me. Not that it matters, I've ended up in the good guys camp in her eyes.
     
     
    Dora is still going on about Karen, proclaiming loud and clear that if Karen goes, she will pull out. I'm pretty sure she's bluffing. Despite her lack of success so far, nothing would keep Dora from an opportunity to be in Ross' company. If both Karen and Dora join in the culinary experience, I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see what happens.
     
     
    Early December and the first flurries of snow have started to descend upon us. The last few days have been spent making that crucial morning decision: should I take the car or the train? Trains have been my favoured mode of transport over the last few days. As everyone slowly trickles in, registration is delayed to allow for more staff to arrive. The kids are of course in a state of high excitement. "Are they going to close the school, Miss?". We always try to be the responsible and reasonable adult in those situations. "No, I'm sure they won't Peter. The snow is supposed to stop by 10h anyway". To be perfectly honest, we hope they're going to close the school as fervently as the kids do. We're just better equipped at not building our hopes up. At this time of year, we all suddenly turn into weather forecast fanatics. We watch, compare, analyse and predict every weather report we can lay our hands on. There are far more chances of the school closing on account of a burst pipe but with the way things are going, you never know!
     
     
    There are only two weeks to go before the end of term. This morning, like all the mornings before it, I check outside to decide whether it's going to be train or car. It's raining and the snow has turned to mush so I opt for the car. Bad decision. Half way through my journey, the rain turns back to snow and falls down heavily. Everything becomes white in the space of a few minutes. I soldier on and make it as far as the roundabout after exiting the motorway. All cars are at a stand still and turning back one by one. Someone rolls down their window and tells us that it's a no-goer. A lorry has skidded and is blocking the road. The only thing I can do is go home. I turn the car back but the snow has covered all lanes to make one single road and I find myself led onto the new road which they've just opened a couple of months ago. I'm not a confident driver at the best of times and I am now finding myself driving at 10 miles an hour