Crazy first years

 Ah yes, there they are, those fabulous, crazy first years! The first time in Secondary, first few weeks in first year... yes it is a time of firsts! Same for me. As a teacher seeing you guys for the first time, wandering in the door of the prefab [or the Leaky Cauldron as I like to call it] looking in wonder at me, the room, the other students, it brings me back the 40 odd years to my first week in secondary.

I really don't think you guys are crazy at all! I was punched by the teachers, hit in the head with a history book and so scared in the first week that I begged not to go back each day! You dudes have it easy! Our teachers didn't give demerits, they just exploded with rage, went red in the face and began hitting all around them. The kids sitting at the back were not the idiots, they were the smart ones! They were furthest away from the flailing arms of the psycho madman and he usually ran out of energy half way down the class. Did you ever go to Sea world? The first 5 rows are painted red because when that killer whale splashes down, those in the first few rows get soaked. My class was similar but the teacher was the killer whale and the first five rows gotten beaten instead of soaked.

And of course you guys can raise a hand and give your opinion. You couldn't have an opinion back then. You would be instantly nicknamed 'brainbox', 'smart-ass' or 'nerd' by your fellow students and your teacher would hate you. Put up your hand and the teacher didn't smile, they said, "Not you again Rossiter! I have better things to do than listen to your nonsense!"

You guys smile and laugh and go home with stories and smiles and bounce off down the avenue. We on the other hand, changed our underwear 4 times a day with fear, never spoke and sat in class in total silence.

Damn I wish I was starting over again, sitting here listening to Rossi and not a care in the world. You guys have it easy.

Or maybe I should paint the front seats red and wait for one of you to put your hand up....

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A spin in the country [Tension/anxiety/cliff-hanger/twist]

It would all be over in seven hours. The alarm would buzz and I would be up at seven like every other school morning. Except tomorrow morning was the start of the Leaving Certificate. Insomnia is a terrible thing. Not sleeping is one thing, I mean we have all had a few sleepless nights of worry, right? No, this was different. Stress-induced. Tomorrow morning was the beginning of the rest of my life. No pressure then! Turning the pillow over to the cool side didn't work. Thinking of the holiday in Magaluf in August made my heart race even more. I would have to let off some steam. Vent my frustration. The car. The brand new car. Smells of leather. Turbo. Outside the door. I love my parents. They have always looked after me and trusted me. If I got caught taking their pride and joy, all that would end. My mind is made up. The carpet muffles any sound of me going downstairs. The alarm is never on at night so I don't have to make noise switching off the keypad. I spend twenty se...
Read more

South street.

Should have been a routine night. The pubs now closed. The idiots gone home after either throwing up, dropping their kebabs or kissing someone they wouldn't if sober. As I looked down the street I could see amber lights, neon shop fronts and a fresh glisten of a rain shower. Nothing much to report. Some boy racer was headed up the hill nearby way too quickly with his techno blaring and the straight-piped exhaust waking the dead. RrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRphiiishht, rrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRphiiiishht. And then it was silence again. I could hear it. I began to walk the length of South street and head in the general direction of the station. And then my attention was taken by two figures in the distance. The unmistakable tall, leaning walk of Cashman and his five-foot sidekick Roberts. Joined at the hip and always up to no good, they were affectionately known as Batman and Robin in the station. They were bottom feeders. Scabs on their knuckles from dragging them along the ground, in debt to dealers, c...
Read more