Strike - Day Two

We got to lie in today whilst the teachers went to a union meeting. This afternoon was scheduled for sport, so most kids took the opportunity for a day off as there were only 2 out of 8 periods of classes.

I rocked up to school just before eleven and went to an English class in the computer room. where there may have been eight kids in attendance. This was a higher level year 9 class and they were given the time to complete stories for the Young Writers Competition and articles for a Newspaper unit they were just finishing up. I was amazed by their discipline and self motivation; there was hardly any idle chatter even though this was essentially a "bludge day" and they used the time profitably. Kids I've talked to seem remarkably switched on and engaged and not at all threatening.

Did I go to a really bad school? Other schools in the area were supposed to be worse. I remember many of our teachers in year seven saying we one of the worst classes of all time - and we were streamed as the smartest - teachers running out of classes in tears - always a victory for the class - and student teachers and casuals unmercifully tormented. We were smart kids in a middle class area with mostly professional backgrounds. Was I just a tormented teenager caught up in my own Gothic moroseness?

The other period was a mashing together of several classes into one classroom with a video player and some hot chips. Teacher and kids alike seemed happy to relax. Nicole, the teacher I was assigned to, pulled her three kids out the class half way through and we went back to her classroom to complete a speaking assessment task which hadn't been done the week before because she had been away. Her kids had asked to do it whilst there were only three of them so they would be spared speaking in front of the whole class.

The kids at Albury have been unfailingly friendly towards me, if sometimes a little cheeky - and in a couple of days I find my whole opinion of teenagers changing dramatically. Where has this preconception come from? Is it purely my own miserable youth or has this been fuelled by relentless bad press for teenagers in the media. I always thought I would be a strict teacher, but I find myself wondering at some of the things teachers are pulling kids up for. I guess what I consider harmless loses its charm day in day out with the same kids pulling the same stunts.

I'm really liking being back at High School.