"How did it go?" I direct my question half-heartedly towards Maura as we slalom around children to enter the staffroom. "Not great. They asked some really sticky questions about computers and discipline for learning. Sure, there was none of that when I was in training." "Too busy fighting dinosaurs." Finbar's earwigging contribution is unwelcome judging by Maura's scowling eyes. Moving school is not an option for Finbar, for family reasons, and he appears to believe that a mandatory 40-year career in one school is just a sentence for all primary teachers.
In the queue at the burco, an undeterred Maura continues while whisking her decaffeinated coffee and low fat milk. "I didn't really expect to get it anyway but it was good practice for St Luke's on Friday. That's the one I really want. The babyminder is just around the corner and the teachers there get great support. Classroom assistants. Fabulous resources. A social committee and . . .' "Not like this dump." Noelle is still peeved at being overlooked during the allocation of posts of responsibility last year. She has bought a site down home during the summer and religiously spends Sundays networking after Mass. "They even have specialists for drama and RSE. It'd be great to feel part of a real team," Maura surmises. Fergal breaks an awkward silence. "I suppose it'll be like leaving Shelbourne to play for Man United." Aisling doesn't find this funny. With her ability to construct a family tree of every pupil in the school, after 17 years of dedicated service, she seems threatened by the "chalk-walk" of teachers from the school over the past six months. "But the kids here are great. They're so full of life and don't cause much . . ." Maura cuts across her.
"Children are the same wherever you go. Only schools are different." Then, my stifled fear is challenged as Maura's gaze centres on me. "Well, did you get your CV together yet? You're surely not going to stay here much longer?" Accusing eyes knife through me. They know that having accepted housing market realities, I crawl through an hour and a half of AA Roadwatch hold-ups to continue to work in this unappreciative, comfort zone. "Aah, the boys' team might still win their league and with it so hard to get a sub, I couldn't leave sixth until after entrances and Confirmation. I'll possibly do something about it then." Maura's frown indicates her disappointment at my cowardly procrastination but Finbar supports my brittle backbone by outlining the principal's difficulties in attracting new blood for a sanctioned post.
"Seamus still hasn't had an application for the resource job. The young ones coming out of college don't want to work in places like this. Nowadays they just suit themselves." I reflect on how the times are a changing for Celtic tiger teachers as I empty the tea dregs into the sink. I exit the staff room and collect my loosely lined class in the yard. I roar silently. "Let's go."
