A Working Day by John Chambers

A Working Day

By John Chambers, retired principal of Howth Primary School

A Working Day, published by Revival Press, is a verse sequence of 56 sonnets focusing on a busy day in the life of a primary school principal. The book is set on the day that the school gets notification of an upcoming WSE. It also includes many lighter moments of school life.

This is the first time that a major verse work concentrates on the hectic life of a school leader.‘ It will be launched during conference in Citywest - Friday 20th May, 4pm in the Kingswood Suite. A contribution towards the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine will be donated from book sales.

Frank, a previous collection by John Chambers, was nominated for a Hennessy Award.

Good craic in the staffroom at morning break

Good craic in the staffroom at morning break. Emmet Davies announcing he’s engaged. The women drill for details-do they take delight in hearing that a young man’s caged? He likes the lad; he’s brilliant in the class he’s seen him turn challenging classes around. But this test here might be harder to pass. The women pass his mobile phone around and comments fly on dress, engagement ring, how he proposed-he’s putty in their hands a perfect ambush-they know everything by the time the break is done. Emmet stands, clears his tea cup, his untouched bun; the Gestapo leave him be, their work is done.

Yesterday it struck him at assembly

Yesterday it struck him at assembly, that he’s blessed to be working in a place brimming with optimistic energy and fresh exuberance-a form of grace he’s more attuned to with each passing year. Standing beside this carousel of youth it’s been tempting to see himself secure, immune from passing time, but there’s no truth in that he knows. And yet he feels for sure that every day he’s being recharged, restored, connecting to a grid that’s strong and true. He likes to think it stops him from getting bored or stressed and hopes he’ll have the sense to know those signs if they come. That’s the time he’ll go.

He has to smile and yet it shows

He has to smile and yet it shows there’s something lacking in his armoury of social skills. Could it be that it flows

from a shyness masked by glib pleasantry? Making small talk with Kathy Bates today as she stood holding Stephen by the hand. She looked bronzed and glistening-which led him to say “Have you been abroad? Sun and sea and sand, lucky for some”. She rolled her eyes, replied “Too much make up I knew it!” She moves from sight pulling the toddler in her wake outside the gates. Why can’t he keep his mouth shut tight? Too late to explain now and if he tries the harm’s done-a cosmetic exercise.

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