Each year our school offers the pupils a day of fun activities. Some of these are out of school such as a trip to Alton Towers or Paintballing, some are done in school for those pupils who can't afford to go anywhere, can't be arsed to go anywhere or are just too stupid to get the form filled in on time.
Last year I was sent to a water-adventure centre. This was fun in a way because a colleague I get on really well with was there too but it was a little stressful. It wasn't exactly an environment I'd choose to spend time in: hundreds of screaming kids, all that water and wearing nothing but swimming shorts. In actual fact in such basic terms it sounds like a nightmare.
To avoid being posted to another difficult activity I offered to teach some kids how to juggle in school. Unfortunately I only got a few sixth formers who left after an hour or two and two boys from the lower part of the school who were more interested in throwing balls at each other than learning to juggle.
We wound things up pretty quick and joined together with a group of mainly year nines doing some sports in the Sports Hall. This group included some known 'characters' and the girls I'd danced to Whigfield with on camp. It was one of those afternoons that I'd tentatively describe as being quite fun but where I couldn't help but feel like I wasn't being especially teachery. Filthy Feet was up to her old tricks prodding me in the stomach and even tickling me. It was meant in a good natured way and I do find all the attention very flattering but I'm a teacher for crying out loud so would rather everyone left my belly alone.
I do seem to have picked up a role of being quite popular but not being taken especially seriously, though in all fairness things are different actually inside the classroom. I certainly can't remember being jabbed in the stomach whilst in the middle of explaining how to solve equations.
Either way, it shouldn't happen to a teacher.
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