Back to School
Education at the end of the 1960s saw most classes still taught in rows, facing forwards and with the teacher holding the children’s attention, aided by the threat of corporal punishment. As a newly qualified teacher, Jack looks at other ways of encouraging an enthusiasm for learning, especially for the disadvantaged children in his year group. The thirteenth book in this series is set in Jack’s early days of teaching. This is his second post as a qualified Primary teacher and Jack is thrilled when he gets the position ahead of 28 others being interviewed. Eagerly anticipating the new academic year, Jack arrives at Heather View Primary two days ahead of the start of term. Little does he realise at the time, that the lack of leadership and encouragement from the Headmaster as well as the severe budget constraints imposed by him, will be such an enormous barrier to implementing the improvements that he hopes can engage his pupils with their learning.
Outside of the classroom, Jack is an enthusiastic rugby player and is hopeful, that at the age of 24, he will find a companion to welcome into his life. There is one potential candidate but there are complications. This is a gentle stroll through the diary Jack Sheffield recorded from his earlier career, interspersed with humour and the warmth of companionship associated with a simpler era. It is an engaging story, and though the characters are in some ways very much of either good or bad character, they have a realism to which the reader can relate.
