Eh?

I've just read a report in the local paper about a catapult attack on a school in Stafford. A teacher was hit on the side of her head by a ball bearing as she was escorting her class to the main school gates. A police spokesman said something along the lines of

'there were 100 children leaving the school with their parents. Had one of them been hit, it would have resulted in a more serious incident.'

What? Surely it has the same level of seriousness whoever is hit? But, as I have observed over the last few years, according to government and others, teachers don't count anymore. I've experienced, almost from the horses mouth, the way in which teachers, especially the older more experienced ones are being ground down and worn out by more and more paper work, training, course changes, constant monitoring and assessment, extra duties and extended timetables doled out by management so that they can tick the boxes required by government targets. There seems to be an unspoken agenda for schools to rid themselves of the older, experienced teachers in favour of young newly qualified teachers or class room assistants all of whom cost less money and don't remember how things used to be.

There are a whole load of other issues, but I won't say more or I shall get really angry. I've seen the way things have changed particularly over the last couple of years as Paul saw the job he loved and could do well, change so much that he was run ragged and stressed out. He has now walked away from the job, as have many of his colleagues this last term; he is healthier and happier now he doesn't have to spend hours each day accounting in triplicate for his every movement, now he doesn't have to miss lunch breaks in order to catch up on paper work, now he doesn't have to rush from class to class without even being able to have a comfort break and now he doesn't have to work three hours every evening and a couple of afternoons each weekend on top of his full week at work.

I'm glad he's out of it because things can only get worse.