RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 21

RANDOM REMINDER

CONVERSATION PIECE

Schoolteaching has more to commend it than the obvious attractions of enormous pay packets and almost unlimited leisure. Those who have charge of small children find other rewards. Those in the early stages of education bring to classroom conversations a refreshing honesty. They are not old enough to be diplomatic or devious, they simply say what they think, and if short of ideas, they will often draw heavily on conversations heard at home and are therefore little masters and mistresses of the non sequitur. There have been a

couple of very good examples of these qualities reported to us recently. One came from a young lady teacher who has just retired from the profession, temporarily, to have her first child. A few days before her departure from school, she explained to her small charges that she would be leaving them, and she told them why she would be away. One of her small girl pupils made her a present on the spot. “I hope it’s a beautiful baby,” she said, “because you are.” The other report was from the headmaster of a primary school, a man who, during those lunchhours blessed with sun-

shine, liked to smoke a pipe on one of the school's outside seats. He sat there one day, puffing contentedly, when a little five-year-old girl came along and seated herself beside him. It was abundantly clear that he was expected to express his deep admiration for her splendid new frock. But wise in the ways of youngsters, he thought he would say nothing, and await developments. After a few seconds, the little girl spoke. “How’s things at the office today, Mr A.?” she said. He pondered on a suitable reply. , “Do you get many flies?” she asked.