Blethering on!

About the Book

Starting a new career is daunting at any time. But for a new teacher in his first secondary school in a Durham mining community at the time of many pit closures, it was truly traumatic.
The book follows that first year of teaching recounting some of the many humorous, tragic and often thought provoking situations encountered using anecdotes and stories involving the staff and children. It gives an insight into the impact of the destruction of the Durham coalfield on the people who lived there, particularly the children.
The book tells how unprepared the new teacher was, the help that he received and his route to survival. Above all, this book is a personal view of 1970's secondary education in Britain, taking a light-hearted look at some of the day to day events that we have all experienced, such as: school dinners, sports day, school inspectors, snowballing and many more hopefully bringing back our own happy memories.

About the Author

Michael Walters was born and grew up in County Durham. He is one of the sons of a Durham miner, who spent all of his working life underground.
Michael was educated in Durham and trained as a teacher in York. He returned to Durham and taught science for over thirty years in secondary schools.
Throughout that time he worked with a broad spectrum of children and teachers providing many opportunities to observe their attitudes and behaviour.
Michael and his wife, Kathryn, continue to live in Durham. They have two adult daughters.