This post was inspired by my efriend Designer Sophisticate’s post about the word Epitome.
I recall a similar time from my previous life as a teacher.
Now, to put this in context, you need to know I can’t abide Blow Hards.
Most character traits are tolerable but one that sticks in my craw is Pomposity.
Don’t set yourself above me. Don’t talk down to me.
We all wipe our backsides and we all fart in the bath.
So, I’d just finished a really good unit on Greeks with the kids. Full involvement, songs, costumes, diaramas, the lot.
One of our Senior Teachers took a full assembly each week and this one was about Gods in different cultures.
All went normally and the kids were all either asleep or drooling with their brains leaking out of their ears.
As she droned on she got to the Greek God Zeus.
Suddenly all my little Goblins sat up and looked agog as she repeatedly said ZAYUS – not Zoos or Zyoos, but ZAYUS.
Titters and giggles started and she asked me to explain.
Realising her embarrassment I gently told her about the pronunciation.
Well she took huge offence and though controlling it in front of the kids wasn’t so calm in the Staff Room.
She spoke to her lone crony loudly about “pseudo-intellectuals” and stormed out in a huff. (I should point out that I have an Honours degree and Mensa tested my IQ at over 150. Not bragging, just saying)
There was a short, somewhat discrete pause, before everyone burst out laughing.
During my stay at that school she repeatedly tried to impress her greater knowledge, cultural refinement and all round better-than-you-ness on us all. She even joined the local Art Soc, displaying her dreadful efforts whenever she could.
Ah, hang on….
A deeply buried memory is surfacing.
I’d been at the school for a few months when I was discussing an awful vomit stain of a picture on the Staff Room wall. It showed no balance, no perspective and the use of colour was awful – a friend of mine was is a successful artist (he currently lectures at Kent and Chichester Unis so knows a bit) and had tried to teach me the basics. I could hold my own in Art gallery wine and cheese openings anyway.
Bet it was one of hers.
Oopsy. My bad?
