lunchroom

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Home : 2003 : August : 2

lunchroom
By Cathy-Dee

If you do not have supervision then I highly recommend eating in the staffroom with the rest of the staff. Yes gossip can occur but most teachers do not tend to gossip in front of strangers or visitors to the staff room.
In fact most tend to find a quiet classroom if they really want to gossip because if they are caught badmouthing another teacher for example they can be brought up on charges.
Do we sometimes complain about parents or students - yes we do, sometimes when you've had a bad day or a bad moment with a parent or a student you need to deal with it and venting it in the staffroom is healthier

than taking it home or back to your classroom. And teachers know about confidentiality and whatever is said in the staffroom stays there.

And this is not something that happens on a daily basis. In my staffroom we often talk about what we've watched on tv, what's happening in the world, we learn about one another's families or backgrounds (especially our teachers who have moved from other areas), we discuss upcoming events at the school or in the town, etc., And we build a community that way.

Substitute teachers who do not mingle often do not get called back, more because we didn't really get to know them. The substitute teacher who is outgoing, friendly and makes an effort to be known is much more likely to be called back on a regular basis because everyone enjoys having them around.