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Staffroom confidential

A funny thing happened on my way to work...

I was so proud of my outfit for world book day. I was Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Long blond hair with blue band, rosy cheeks, big blue dress with underskirts, I skipped happily out to my car. Then my petrol light came on. A 50-mile round trip wasn’t an option without filling up. I got some very strange looks and my cheeks were even rosier as I queued to pay.

Rachel, Leeds

Back in the fifties I taught in Yeovil. I lived near enough
to school to go home for lunch, and returning in the afternoon on the first day of the autumn term I found
myself accompanied by a small boy whom I recognised as
one of the new intake. He chatted merrily to me all the way.

But as we turned in through the school gates, he looked
at me wide-eyed, and said: “Cor miss, I didn’t know you
were a teacher – I thought you were a lady.”

Brenda, Peterborough

Cycling to work I was cheered by the number of smiles and thumbs up from passing vehicles. On arrival at school my mood was somewhat dampened when a colleague discreetly informed me that my short skirt was tucked into the back of my thick winter tights, revealing my not insubstantial rear.

Couldn’t resist sharing it with the rest of the staff though, and the story provided a great deal of embarrassment-by-proxy, interspersed with shared hysteria!

Anne, Middlesex

One of the scallywags from the secondary modern school at which I taught had been sent to a local youth detention centre. He absconded. From the bus on my way to school, I spotted him skulking at the edge of the farmer’s field. He was hobbling with a severe limp. Leaving the bus at the next stop, I phoned the police from a call box (before the days of mobile phones). He was re-arrested. The reason for his limp? A shotgun down his trouser leg!

Wyllan, Sheffield

Next issue: A funny thing happened… in our school assembly. Send your anecdotes by 26 November.

Teachers' tips

Brenda asked for tips about how to maintain her post-summer enthusiasm as the autumn term progresses.

Chill with yoga

Chill with yoga

Chill with yoga

I swear by a mid-week session of yoga. It calms my mind and sets me up to tackle the rest of the week.

Kathryn, Ely

The next getaway

The next getaway

I always start researching where I am going to go on my next holiday, be it summer or an autumn half-term – that means I always have something to look forward to!

Sophie, Derby

Accentuate the positive

Accentuate the positive

I set myself small goals and remind myself of what I am good at and why I became a teacher in the first place – hard to do sometimes with all the pressure we are under, but it helps me stay positive.

Pete, Reigate

Plan to be well

Look after yourself. I wrote myself an action plan to create a decent work-life balance. I gave myself short- and long-term goals, but all achievable. I reviewed my plan in the summer and monitored myself! Had I had a lunch break? What time did I leave school? Had I seen my family?

Every week I set realistic targets for myself and I am pleased to report that I’ve had some success. My energy levels are higher and I am sleeping better. I feel more connected to people and am generally happier.

Jane, by email

Next issue

Next issue

My New Year’s resolution is to get a new job. Has anyone got any tips on where to find the best vacancies – and making a winning application?

Wendy, by email