The Teachers Jumped Out of the Window

The teachers jumped out of the windows.
The principal ran for the door.
The nurse and librarian bolted.
They’re not coming back anymore.

The counselor, hollering madly,
escaped out the door of the gym.
The coach and custodian shouted
and ran out the door after him.

The lunch ladies threw up their ladles,
then fled from the kitchen in haste,
while all of the students looked puzzled
as staff members scurried and raced.

We’d never seen anything like it.
But, still, it was pretty darned cool
to see all the staff so excited
to leave on the last day of school.

–Kenn Nesbitt

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I’m Late For School

I got up late for school today,
And nearly missed the bus!
I hurried down the stairs,
Wolfed my toast, and caused a fuss!

I quickly threw books in my bag,
My pens, my lunch and shorts.
Grabbed my coat from out the cupboard,
Took my bat and ball for sports.

I slid across the kitchen floor,
And hopped around the cat!
Then expertly rolled over,
Jumped back up and grabbed my hat!

I belted out of our front door,
Spun round and swung it shut.
Saw the bus was waiting for me,
I felt I had time to strut!

I climbed aboard and then froze still,
And knew that things weren’t right!
My friends fell down in fits of fun,
And pointed with delight!

My face went red, I couldn’t breathe,
For in my haste I knew!
I’d forgotten to wear trousers,
Jumper, shirt, my socks and shoes!

©2003 Gareth Lancaster

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WOW – A £60 fine if your child is late for school

Fines: Emerson Valley School Milton Keynes UK

Parents are being fined £60 each if their child turns up a few minutes late for lessons – and are being threatened with court if they fail to pay in time.

The strict measures have been introduced at one primary school where pupils are penalised if they miss registration ten times in a 12-week term.

Emerson Valley School, in Milton Keynes, says parents will get 21 days to pay their fines after which they double to £120 which has to be paid within 28 days.

It is the third school to adopt the system in the city where two penalty notices have been issued in the past year. The powers are available to any head teacher in the country but few are thought to have adopted them.

Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, warned: ‘They could undermine relations between school and parents – the cornerstone of any school’s success.’

Emerson Valley, which is in special measures, said it hoped its stance would raise standards. The penalties are levied on each parent for each child who is late.

If parents refuse to pay, they could be punished in a magistrates’ court and incur more costs. But an Emerson Valley spokesman said: ‘The link between good attendance and pupils achieving well at school is clear.’

Milton Keynes Council said it had ‘a borough-wide policy in place’ although the decision on whether to use fines was left to each school. Most problems were resolved by issuing a warning letter, it added.

Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard said: ‘Children who are frequently late to school are often from chaotic family backgrounds. Taking money away from struggling parents could just make a bad situation worse.’

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