A New Teacher 2
Pat was halfway through his second week of training when he was asked to go and see the Headmaster.
"Bob, the last time I was told to see a Headmaster I came away with a sore behind and bruises that lasted two weeks at least."
"I don't think that this time you will have a sore behind to complain about Pat, but we will continue this conversation when you come back."
Pat left Bob's office and made his way through the corridors to the administration area. He arrived at the office and was shown a seat, Miss Pratt, the Heads secretary was a lithesome redhead. Pat noticed she was wearing an engagement ring. Suddenly the Headmaster's raised voice was heard.
"Well Forster, I have heard enough of your excuses and none of them ring true."
There was further murmuring through the door.
"Enough..................bend over there." Pat could imagine the cane or a finger being pointed to the spot required. There was a pause..........then the sound of a crack as the cane met the tightened seat of a pair of shorts. Five more times the cane landed with a sharp crack at about ten second intervals. Pat watching Miss Pratt noticed her going a bit pink.
"The Headmaster seems to be in good form today," said Pat.
"That boy must have been really naughty."
The door opened and a nearly six foot boy emerged followed by Mr. Burnley.
As the boy left the outer office Mr Burnley said, "Come in Pat."
Pat followed the Headmaster into his office. Mr Burnley went behind his desk and sat and gestured to a chair, "Sit. Do you mind if I smoke?"
"No Sir."
Mr. Burnley picked up a well worn pipe and packed it with tobacco, tamping it down with his thumb before lighting up. "Do you smoke?"
"No Sir."
"Good, try to stay away from it if you can. Do you drink? By drink I do mean alcohol?
"I like a few beers on a Saturday afternoon after a rugby game, but that's about it."
"Why."
"Well I was just about to sit bursary when some friends and I went to a dance and got caught. We were lucky as the cop was a decent guy and all he did was report us to school. I got a sore behind from my dad and another the following Monday from the Headmaster. While I like a beer now, I certainly learnt that it can cause problems. Also my dad always let me have half a glass if he had any at home so I never had the urge to go out on the town. Of course while I was at Uni I went out with the guys and got happy a few times but never really drunk."
"I am glad you told me that, specially about the episode while you were at school. I was talking to your old Headmaster, and you have confirmed what he told me," Mr. Burnley smiled around the stem of his pipe. "Pat, I have had good reports from all who have watched you teach and you will be a real asset to the school that you choose to teach in."
"Thank you Sir."
"I'll make you an offer that I have only made to two other people in your position before. Are you interested? Of course you are not under pressure to accept this offer and you will have a few days to think about it."
"The offer is this, I can square it with the Education Department and the local Education Board, you can start teaching here full time from next Monday. Now as I said moments ago don't rush in now with your decision, come back tomorrow or Friday and let me know and I will give you a complete run down on what we expect of our teachers."
"Thanks very much Sir, I don't know what to say."
"Well think about it seriously and I will see you before the weekend," he looked up his face wreathed in pipe smoke, "I hope you decide in favour Pat."
Pat stood and found his knees going weak, "Thank you again Sir."
He left the office and returned to Bob White's office where he found Bob writing reports.
"Well have you got a sore behind this time?"
"No Bob. Mr. Burnley has made me an offer. I can start here full time teaching next Monday if I want to. He said he can square it with all the authorities that I don't have to go on training."
"Are you going to take the offer?"
"I'm thinking seriously about it tonight where I can sit and think quietly."
"Look come to my house, my wife can cook quite reasonably and she enjoys entertaining young men. After dinner we will sit over a couple of drinks and chat. I'll put a few trees in your way so to speak so you can make a fair decision."
"Thanks Bob.".................
Later that evening at Bob White's home. "Well Pat that is dinner, the kids will clean up come to the den and we will talk.
Calling to his wife, "Kath, we are in the den."
"Ok Bob, I'll try to leave you in peace."
They went to the den which was a large room lined with books and furnished with a battered desk and couple of kitchen chairs and an old, but comfortable couch.
Well Pat what do think of the offer? I think you are the second student teacher that the old man has approached like this.
"Bob it came completely out of the blue, it hasn't really sunk in yet."
"Well first, are you thinking about it?"
"It is quite an attractive idea. Here, I am two and a half hours from home so I can go home on the odd weekend without to much trouble. Beside I quite like looking at the art teacher."
"That's not a good reason for staying, but I can give you a few, then as I said put up a few reasons why you should not accept the offer."
They talked on for several hours, there was a knock at the door,
"Do you guys want coffee or supper?"
After supper Pat said, "Look at the time my landlady will be having fits if I don't get before 11, I had better get going. Thanks for everything."
"Try to sleep otherwise some of the wise kids will give you a hard time tomorrow if they think you are tired or hung over."
Next day after lunch Pat went to see Mr. Burnley to give tell him that he would accept the offer made.
Mr Burnley was again smoking his pipe and he gave Pat a run down of exactly what was required. He went on, "For the rest of this term if any boy needs a good hiding send him to Bob White or to an other head of department. Next term you can start using corporal punishment yourself, meanwhile use detentions. Tomorrow at assembly I will announce your permanent appointment to the staff."
"Thanks very much Sir."
Back in Bob White's office, "Pat, we will carry on where we left off yesterday, you were saying something about last time you went to the Headmaster you came out with a sore behind."
"Yes, I got eight for getting caught outside a dance with a bottle of beer."
"Do you feel bitter about the punishment?"
"No, I knew I had broken the rules and got caught. Actually the cop that caught us was decent, he could have charged us."
"Well, do you approve of corporal punishment."
"Yes, but as a last resort. At our school we were caned for having a sock down or not wearing a cap, stupid things like that. Some of us felt that certain teachers caned more for their pleasure than for punishing us. They certainly caned a lot more than the other teachers, if you like they had a 'name' for caning."
"Yes, we have had one or two here, but the old man put a stop to them doing any caning and they left. We only cane for bullying, flagrant insolence or committing dangerous acts, like running in the corridor etc which against all rules of safe behavior."
They talked on for a while. Bob showed Pat the timetable that he would be using from the next week.
"By the way Pat what about your digs?" If you are going to stay in the area are you going to get something a bit more independent than staying with old Mrs. Smith."
"I thought I would get tonight's paper and look for a flat. I think I can afford something reasonable. Mr. Burnley told me my pay rate because of my language skills would be a little above the average starting rate for probationary teachers."
"I know a guy that has a few flats I'll give him a ring for you and see if he has one free if you like."
"Thanks Bob."
"What I suggest now is that you spend some time preparing for your first few lessons, then for the last couple of periods for the day you can spend with Nick Carter."
Thanks again Bob for all you've done for me."
A week later Pat moved into a flat that Bob's friend owned and life settled down. For the rest of the term he enjoyed when teaching, during that time he sent two boys to be caned by a head of department and he witnessed Bob White giving an other fifth former six of the best for smoking behind the cricket pavilion. He took the art teacher out on a couple of dates, but that didn't progress very far, (in the days before 'the pill') and she didn't want to risk a condom.
But all in all he was one happy fellow. At the end of term he loaded up the old Ford Prefect and drove home to his parent's home for a couple of weeks break. He wondered how long it would be before he had to cane a boy himself, and vowed that he would make sure it was well deserved before he did.
To be continued..