Geoff and Margaret
25K posts
Geoff and Margaret
@RetirementTales
Retired teachers.
Responded to The Call in 2022.
Purveyors of Hope. An allegory.
#bemoremargaret
Everything you imagine us to be.
Rutland
Joined December 2021
- I am looking forward to tomorrow so very much! I've polished my Hush Puppies, packed my lunch and double checked the shuttle bus timetable. I've been told that, depending on who else makes it in, I'll either be teaching all of Year Four or manning the school office. Or both.
- Today, we remember Ruth and we send our love to all who knew and loved her. It's time for change. #forRuth
- I spoke to Margaret last night. She said she would have answered The Call to be the new Education Secretary. She realises she wouldn't have met the criteria of the person spec though, what with liking children, loving teaching and knowing an awful lot about the education system.
- Every now and then, we like to remind everyone of the beautiful thing that was fuzzy-felt.
- Margaret wonders if anybody else remembers Richard Scarry's books? This one was in her classroom reading corner - enjoyed by a great many children, over the years!
- Four weeks ago today, I set up this little Twitter account. I thought it might be fun to share a few stories and reflections. A different perspective. Retirement Tales has grown into something very special. It's a community. It's unique. And it's a blessing. Thank you! G&M
- Today I felt compelled to write a letter to the newest Secretary of State for Education. I've tried to encapsulate my experiences and observations - six months answering 'The Call' and a lifetime in education. It's more serious than my usual words but these are serious matters.
- Six months ago today, I set up this little Twitter account. I didn't really have a plan, other than to try to spread a bit of joy and hope. Thank you so much for following us and for creating this wonderful, unique community! It's a blessing to still be here, in every sense.
- Well what a week it has been for me and Margaret! We answered The Call! We returned to teaching! (In our 70s!) I used many exclamation marks! We had adventures (and minor mishaps) and shared them in our retirement tales. We made many new friends and I hope we made a difference.
- "But Geoff, what is a Banda?", our younger followers have been asking. This is a Banda! It was how we copied worksheets and letters in another millennium. It was manual. You needed a carbon master copy and some ink that caused much excitement!
- Do you remember when it was quite normal for children to go home from school for their lunch? (Some teachers would go home too!) A short walk or bike ride, lunch with a parent or two and maybe even a bit of TV before the afternoon session. I think the respite was very healthy.
- And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter...
- An utterly heartbreaking news story. A life lost. School leaders work and live under inordinate levels of pressure and expectation. Everybody wants schools to be as good as possible but the inspection process and culture don't need to be like this.
