Back to Work

So yesterday evening I ventured for the first time into the realms of Adult Education. I've taken on a once a week course up until Christmas at the school where I used to teach.

Fully prepared (lesson plan and all!), I set off for my session feeling a bit trepidatious on account of the fact I had no idea how many people would turn up, what breadth of skills base I would be delivering my material to and whether I had enough activities to keep everyone occupied and happy for the full hour. Also, I was concerned about how receptive would people be at that time of the evening after a day's work.

As it turned out, everything was fine. In fact, it was more than fine. It was brilliant! The adult students who turned up were lovely - friendly and enquiring- and I had more than enough activities planned. Everyone joined in, asked relevant questions and we ended the evening having a really good laugh.

And I get paid for this, I thought, as I packed my bag and set off for home. What a buzz!!

Andy said, 'I can't believe you look so happy to be back at school.'

To be honest, neither could I. But I suspect it would have been a different matter if I'd gone back for a full day, with 150 eleven to eighteen year olds passing through my doorway, and quite a few of those 150 intent on spoiling things for others.

That's the nice thing about teaching adults. They want to be with you to learn, they have a wide variety of experiences and learning to bring to the sessions and I really felt they appreciated what I was trying to do. I could get on with my job and it was great!

And one of them even said 'Bye, Teech! See you next week!' when they left.

Finally, here is a poem by e.e.cummings which I loved when I was about 8 years old. I'd forgotten all about it until a few days ago when I was searching for suitable material for last night's Adult Ed and I came upon it once again.

And now, 25 years later, I love it even more because I finally think I understand what it's all about.

maggie and millie and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles, and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles: and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea