Hello Miss

The first thing my DMiL did after retiring from 30 years as a reception class teacher, was go on holiday in term time.

She, husband and son, were very early pioneers of package holidays to Majorca (late 1950s)I think because it limited the chance of someone coming up to her and saying 'Hello Miss'

I try to book holidays in places where children are not welcome. Just occasionally, I encounter a child. I peer over the top of my sunglasses and ask them gravely what homework they have for the holiday. Or, if camping, I hunch over my primus and mutter ‘I eat children for breakfast’. Either way, they don’t come near me again.

It’s not the kids I dread, it’s the parents, who think that any time they see you, it’s a free parents’ evening. I live and work some considerable distance from the capital, but occasionally go up to town to meet my daughter for lunch or dinner. On one occasion, well into the summer holiday, we had agreed to meet in Covent Garden, and as I waited, I was spotted by a parent. Her first words to me were ‘This is convenient. I was hoping to talk to you about xxx’s performance in her school exam in May.’

'Hello you two'

Teachers to me and a friend hanging out in the saloon bar of the school's local, as fifth formers......

I agree, students not the problem their damn parents another thing altogether !!

My daughter said she is glad she lives a long way from the college she teaches at as she is unlikely to meet any of her students when she is out in her neighbourhood.

I ended up one summer partnering a student from my school in mixed doubles matches . Opposition thought it must amusing when he’d shout “good shot Miss!”

My DC have bumped into their ex-teachers in far-flung places of the world!
There's no escaping ex-pupils. Sorry.

Before I retired, and was dependent upon school holidays, I bumped into pupils at the the airport, then different pupils at the resort in Majorca. It was more embarrassing for them than me. I've always lived near or in the catchment area so I have often heard, "Hello Miss." Usually from boys who I didn't actually teach, who were extremely difficult but who loved to tell me how they were at college, had their own place, had become a father etc. I really enjoyed meeting them and listening to their news. Especially as they had left school!

I used to be a Beaver Scout leader (boys 6-8). Many’s the time I’ve been in a supermarket or pub and a hulking young man in his 20s has come up to me, offered his left hand for a scout handshake, and said ‘Hello, Badger’. The only problem is that I usually don’t recognise them and can’t remember their names.

One teacher I knew arrived on her pre-wedding honeymoon (there was a reason) to be greeted in the hotel foyer by a child and family from her class; another one took off her bikini top on a large flat rock by a river in France to hear, Hello , Mrs....... as the child splashed past.

My DH grew up in a large town where you could go from one end of the year to the other without bumping into a teacher.

In the early 80s we moved to this small town where he taught at the local Gymnasium (Grammar School). He never did get used to meeting pupils everywhere - or their parents, as they would be working in the Bank or bookshops, were doctors or we would bump into at concerts, in church, at the theatre - you couldn't get away from them. But the subject of conversation was never about the children's schooling, just a short exchange of small talk.

He also sometimes has to apologise to an ex pupil that he can't remember them or their names. After all, they have grown up, often beyond recognition, and he did have more than half the pupils in each year for 40 years.

My sister was a teacher. She always insisted on living at least 20 miles from any school she taught in, well away from the catchment area, to limit her chances of seeing any of her pupils out of school.

DMiL only lived a couple of hundred yards from the school she worked in, so stood no chance, but she did say that after retirement it was nice meeting pupils, long grown up, who always greeted her, if she met them in the High Street. She was a popular and well respected teacher.

I would have thought it would be nice to see former pupils and to be greeted in such a respectful way. It makes me wonder if some people followed the wrong profession.

I do understand that on occasion it might be embarrassing or uncomfortable, but still .....

Eloethan Before retirement DMiL found meeting the parents of her pupils locally all the time, was like eating a box of chocolates. Meeting (eating) a few now and again is nice, but eating a box at a time/seeing several every time you left the house can become too much of a good thing.

geekesse my two were scouts and that’s a very sweet anecdote . Sometimes even though when they have grown into men, the little boy is never that far from the surface.

You should try living On a small island ?

As 'Miss' my final job (for 20 years) was in the local high school. It was really convenient as I was on hand for my own children should the need arise plus I could fall out of bed and appear in the staff room within a nano second.
Now I'm retired, past pupils expect me to stop and chat. I find I recognise the majority, can recall personal (often highly confidential) information about them but not always their names. If I don't recognise them they use eye contact and smiles until I'm compelled to ask if I know them. I've often been thanked, hugged, had my cheek pecked and even been asked by two if I'll look after their children while they work which I find quite flattering. Most insist on giving me staff discount or freebies, or go the extra mile to help me in their professional capacities. If I'm introduced as 'my old teacher', I smile and gently suggest replacing 'old' with 'former'. I enjoy meeting them and catching up on their news.
Nowadays we holiday in term time as it's less expensive and quieter. Once, in Lucca, when we were paying through the nose in August and looking longingly as figs were ripening but not yet ready to eat, DH and I thought a grandmother excessively stern when she told her DGC to go to their rooms immediately if they created a scene by the pool. Years later, we appreciate her consideration and thoughtfulness!

About 15 years ago I was on holiday in Turkey with a couple of girlfriends. We were having a great evening in a bar drinking cocktails and dancing on the bar!! Later on I got talking to a couple with two children aged about 5 and 6. It turned out they were pupils at the infant school adjoining the junior school where I was teaching. When the boys moved up to my school I often wondered if they remembered that night.

It’s quite nice to be greeted by high school pupils that I taught in Primary.
They often look so different by the time they are teens, but I evidently still look the same to them. I remember lots about them if I know the surname, but I’ve taught so many Charlottes and Jamie’s that first names aren’t always enough.
I don’t mind being greeted by ex pupils or their parents as long as they are polite.

There is something very rewarding about hearing that pupils for whom you had limited hopes have found their way in life, and even more rewarding when they remember something you said. But probably not too often!

It was bad enough on a small plane flying out of Beijing for a week’s holiday, parents wanting a break would often tell their children to go and say hello to their teacher. Is was worse at the hotel’s early breakfast table.

When I was in the maternity hospital after my son was born I was in a 6 bed ward. In the bed opposite was a teacher with her first baby. In the bed beside her was an older mother. Come visiting time the older mother's children trooped in - took one look at the teacher who, like the rest of us, was not looking her best. Oh! "Hello Miss" they cried in unison!

I lived in the catchment area of my school, and thought nothing of meeting pupils all the time.
I was a little nonplussed, though after my divorce, when I went on holiday (romantically) with another member of my department to hear "Oh hello Mr. D..., and it's Mrs M, isn't it?
400 miles from home, in Wales!

After I retired or changed schools, I loved meeting former pupils in town. At first I used to be discombobulated by the fact that some of them were smoking and I wanted to say what are you doing with a cigarette in your hand but then realised I was no longer their teacher.
When they got older they used to come up to me and tell me all the wonderful things they were doing , Further education ,marriage ,children and careers and I never lost the pleasure in meeting them. I can’t see what the problem is unless you are behaving really badly.