For if you don’t schedule rest days, your body will take them for you and you’ll find that there are many days where you’re far too exhausted to contemplate even thinking about how to improve your life.

What rankled with me as teacher, it is people like Frank, aka caricature curmudgeon, that it is people like him that have a very negative effect on a school. Rather than just a witty memoir to his teaching career, which he openly admits he is neither likes, nor is in for the long haul. It reads more like a cathartic mild venting of the spleen, which is fine if it has a something more to hold your attention, not just episodic moaning! The sad thing is, I recognise the cast. The same people disrupting every lesson, getting away with it over and over. The same kids on report all the time, it did sweet FA. The poor excuses for teachers and the ones who were good teachers but never actually got around to teaching us anything. I can think of two, maybe three teachers who always had control of the class. One of these was a maths teacher, I am terrible at maths but that year I had her, I actually learned things. Unfortunately I never had her again so my maths standards sunk shortly after. I also had Greg Davies from Inbetweeners fame as my Drama teacher, great comedian, bad teacher. Chalks descriptions of Drama reminded me of his lessons. This might seem overly simple and even counterproductive if you feel at odds with yourself and want to rush onwards to achieve more. Affect an accent that is posher than the pupils' (Not difficult). This will worry them because you are obviously ‘Not From Round Here.’ As most will never venture more than half a mile from the Cherry Tree Estate (once a fortnight to sign on, plus Court appearances or burglary outings) they find this quite disturbing."I'm a teacher so don't get me wrong - I know this profession is frustrating. We are overworked and underpaid & get zero respect. The British school system is a joke and most of our state schools are way underfunded. As a result, we do often need a good whinge. That's why I generously awarded 1 star to "Mr Chalk." Ironically, punctuation is another issue for me. Paragraphs and sentences really need to have more than commas sometimes, to avoid the reader being puzzled when a train of thought seems to end abruptly, and having to reread passages until they make sense. Don't be afraid of colons and semicolons! Culling these 10 habits is a good place to start when it comes to cleansing your lifestyle and making the most out of all life has to offer: 1) Ditch the comparisons I am literate in my own language only because my time at that school was limited to one year - and it was possibly the worst year of my life. I also went to a private prep school, an LEA sixth form, a Waldorf school, and a state primary. It is because I have seen British education from several sides as a student, that I can whole heartedly agree with about 90% of what the author of this book writes. One could be so simple as trying out a new coffee shop, or finishing that book that’s been sitting on your nightstand for months.

There will be others that are more personal to you that after sitting down and really reflecting, you’ll also be able to identify and avoid. I have loved every minute of this book, from Show & tell to Pandemic (being a parent during that time.) to “o moments” and to everything else. I have nodded my head to all the parts I can see happening in my school or what I’ve been through. I have sniggered to myself and my son asking “are you okay?” To cringing and saying “oh my goodness.” Out loud 😂😂 I was so close to giving up on this book and was considering a one star review but it saved itself with the last two chapters where there is genuine insightful discussion of teaching during and post pandemic. This was interesting and engaging and had a different tone to the rest - how I wish it had all been like this! Yes, by all means, share stories from the classroom (I could tell a few of my own), but this reads like office gossip and I had trouble believing it.Frank Chalk is talking about our "broken society". He has clearly pointed out THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. Poorer schools are being set up to fail. Bravo Mr Chalk. A few afternoon hours spent gazing at portraits or examining old artefacts is truly good for the soul. Overall though, an utterly brilliant follow up to the original and I almost enjoyed it more. I also loved your unique take and opinions on life and wholeheartedly agreed with your stances throughout.