NOT always a walk in the park...

I feel compelled to write even when I am stressed and irritated. Work is definitely stressing me out at this point, but it's all caused by unnatural things that occur in the teaching world. Sure, the kids are stresssful at times....but piecing a department back together is a nightmare.

My department head was a great guy, but left us in a state. I didn't even know what course of GCSE we were on. Luckily I found a book and used that scheme to base my lessons. The room was a disaster which was cleaned yesterday by two deputy heads - so that's one aspect corrected. The replacement teacher arrived today - which is a whole matter in itself which I will not comment on here. I want us to get organized - so that's something I'm working on pushing.

Oddly enough, every time I had a problem today, the deputy head was the one who happened to be sauntering by - I must look like I have no idea what I'm doing. She happened to be on call when I had an outrageous class which racked up a 55 minute detention through awful behaviour (each tick mark equals five minutes - good behaviour erases a tick mark - they obviously cared....).

Then there's the potential head job -- I look like a crap candidate. And it does slightly upset me that I've done so much without any help and I don't really stand a chance. Running the head's two after school clubs along with my own warrants something, or so I believe.

There's a lot of pressure from tons of different sides. I don't like change. I don't like being pushed to do something. I haven't started the term in the best mood due to this pressure. I might be giving off a negative vibe, but that's because I didn't like the changes being made around school. Some are great - like my new form - I love them as they are sixth form and a great laugh twice a day. But others - I'd rather not be a factor in.

Stress is rising. I need to start going to the gym to calm myself. And to make matters better - two rooms are going to be open at my house. What kind of looney is going to wind up living with me? Can I pray for a McFitty? Please?