Facebook teaches us about those back-to-work blues
“ONE day done,” declared the Facebook status of a friend, “29 to go – with Justin Dunn.”
That was how my old mate marked the end of her first day back at work on Monday after the holiday fortnight. The “29 to go” bit? The number of working days left before she could once more rest her weary feet, despite having just enjoyed an uninterrupted two-week break that ended on Sunday.
Gill is a teacher, and she knew only too well there are few things guaranteed to make my bum twitch more than the sound of that lot bemoaning about their hideous workload.
Especially as only 14 or so days ago her education ilk were busy posting pictures of the gifts they’d all been given by their runny-nosed charges.
Traditionally at this point – if they’re not busy on teacher training days – the Misses and Sirs throw their collective B.A. Hons out of the pram.
How DARE anyone question The Hardest Most Underpaid Job In The World?
Don’t we KNOW how tough it is out there in the Wild West of school classrooms?
Does anyone even REALISE how much class prep and planning they do out of hours?
Steaming
Unfortunately – we do. Thanks to Facebook I’ve seen another friend juggle all those back-breaking tasks from a steaming outdoor Jacuzzi set atop a hotel in Innsbruck, Austria, with a glass of Chablis at hand.
Another happy teacher pal was battling through the books with his new fiancée in Budapest as they celebrated their engagement.
And the aforementioned Gill and several others had spent the holiday fortnight holidaying, getting pissed and waking up late.
Yes, everyone deserves a break. But not a single one of my teacher friends posted a dismal snap of them eating a gnarled turkey sandwich while labouring over a home desk piled high to the rafters with unmarked books.
By the time you read this it’ll be even fewer than 29 days to go before the half-term week off.
Then another six weeks until the Easter fortnight. Yet ANOTHER six before the final half term and half a dozen more again before they break up for summer.
And they also have the traditional September strike to look forward to – the one involving no placards, donkey jackets or burning braziers, but plenty of thick duvets and lies in.
To be fair, it must be really knackering for teachers, having to remember how often they’re off work.
But never mind, Gill… soon be Christmas!