Thank God for the Holidays!

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My first team leader (we called them department heads then) was a very wise woman indeed. She was old school in the best way - firm, fair, supportive and brooked no nonsense from anybody.

She had the perfect response for anybody who said that teachers were lucky to have such long holidays - she agreed with them.

"You are so right - it's fantastic to have six weeks in the summer."

She would pause just for a beat before saying,  "Why don't you join the profession? We need good people like you!"

Without fail, she got the same response. "Oooh no - I wouldn't have the patience!"

This has been my stock response too for many a long year. I still get that response.

Thank God for the holidays - they make doing the job possible.

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