franceslievens | There we go again!

This afternoon I went to one of my schools to see whether I could get a hold of The Head. I knew it was a long shot. The Head is responsible for three different locations and is frequently at that location where he isn't really needed. When I arrive I'm greeted by L., the first grade teacher, who informs me I've just missed The Head and then goes on with a litany of all things gone wrong at school, implying things are going awry because they aren't going like she would do it. I feel my eagerness to start anew and have fun teaching, quickly dwindle. I have been able to evade the whiners for five months, and then I set one foot in that school and I can pick up the conversation exactly where I've left it. So instead I go for small talk, but get the same baffled look I got last year when I asked her how her kid was doing. L. doesn't do positive small talk.
I have learned my lesson the hard way last year and hold my tongue. A quick peek in my classroom and some small talk with the secretaries later, I leave. I'll see The Head on Monday during the meeting, and will have to inform Miss Islam I can't join her at the staff meeting at the other school. I'd rather go there, but know my lovely colleagues will cover for me – even on critical moments when meeting a new headteacher*. The Head would just leave me hanging.

eta: I have just received an email things are even graver than expected at said school. The Head doesn't even know how many kids he'll have at school, not to mention my teaching hours. This will be a wonderful start of the year.

*Crazy Headteacher quit at the end of last school year.