I have been a teacher for 27 years, a Headteacher for 12 years and, at the age of 51, this much I know about having fun at school (and a great Bowie tribute!).
Laughter is the best medicine. I am recovering from a bout of pneumonia. Yet, as I sit here this morning, quarantined in the spare bedroom, two things have raised my spirits. Firstly, my comrade ever, Geoff Barton, has written a piece about headship which confirmed for me my despairing sense that all the fun of teaching was seeping inexorably away. It raised my spirits because, suddenly, I did not feel quite so alone; Geoff and I are happy dinosaurs together. His article made me determined – without becoming more of a David Brent parody than I am already – to re-encourage people to have fun at our school. Having read Geoff’s words, I then discovered Disco Mister’s Bowie tribute. Disco Mister comprises Robin Parmiter and Ian Wilson who teach at Huntington; they made headlines in 2014 with their World Cup hit Bring It Home. Amongst all the pressures of working in a large state comprehensive school, they have found the time to don the make-up, write the arrangement, play the instruments, edit the music and produce this film in honour of The Thin White Duke. It looks like they had a lot of fun. Good for them, I say, good for them…

 

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  1. Agreed John. What is that truth about how many times a day young people laugh compared to adults. As I reach for a mint from my Grumpy Old Git tin, a Xmas gift! I smile. FB is good for a chuckle some days. Get well soon and get the fun going, we learn as we have fun, as you know!

  2. Laughter with my wonderful colleagues and students is what keeps me sane. A sense of fun indicates a willingness to question, challenge and shift. It is when the animals in the zoo stop playing, and start pacing that we recognise their demise. Long live fun and a little mischief in our schools!

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