Full Circle

Next week marks my part-time return to the Geography classroom after almost seven years. I will probably never be able to tell the whole story of how I came to be ejected from the profession back in 2016; suffice it to say, it is a salutary lesson about what happens when Big Management hubris combines with delusional, data-driven ambition and an organisation that consequently decides it no longer wants a certain individual.

No matter that it failed to conduct the matter properly against its self-professed criteria, nor that its data were later discredited, nor – apparently – that the mental health and career-livelihood of a long-serving, committed and competent professional were sacrificed at the altar of that hubris. And I wasn’t the only one.

Still, I don’t mean to sound bitter, for all that the bad taste remains. I haven’t written much on this blog in the meantime, simply because teaching-wise, there hasn’t been much to say. That may change a little given my changing circumstances, but as I am now working in an establishment that has a much more compassionate culture, and that goes to lengths to value and care for its workforce, I doubt I will need to grumble as much.

By means of up-date: after three years out of the profession, doubting I would ever return, I was coaxed back on a supply basis by a valued former colleague, and I have held various roles at a large Sixth Form College continuously ever since. I have taught ‘A’ Level Politics and Sociology on short-term contracts, brought classes through lockdown – and in the last two years, when the teaching dried up, I have been working as an LSA: an invaluable experience that many more teachers would benefit from having. I’ve also been delivering spot-training on Critical Thinking for students and teachers.

Without also wishing to succumb to hubris, I can say without doubt that I have, on merit, built a strong reputation that eventually led to my being asked back into the subject for which I was trained, on very favourable terms, and where (unlike the previous place) appreciation of one’s efforts is both expressed and rewarded. I have even got a small amount of regular non-exam Critical Thinking to do.

We will see how the year goes: I am really looking forward to teaching my ‘home’ subject again and working on a rather more established basis as part of the teaching staff. I’m less happy to be back in the data-ocean again, but my department seems fairly relaxed about how deep I need to dive.

I shall be 60 next February; I’m not quite sure how long I will go for, but I’m making up for lost time and don’t yet feel the need to stop. Being without work for three years taught me quite a lesson about its value as part of a purposeful life. In the meantime, I am already satisfied – what seemed like an utterly demeaning, miserable end to a career has turned out not to be. Things have come full circle – I shall retire from the career I actually set out to do, and that is a great and dignifying thing in itself. With thanks to all who have helped make it possible.