Hello Miss

A colleague of mine was sunbathing topless on a beach in the South of France when a pupil shouted “Hello Miss”
I was on a trolley being wheeled into the labour ward about 15 mins before the birth of my daughter when the porter leaned over me and introduced himself as an ex pupil.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

It never bothered me if I met pupils while on holiday.

If a parent tried to discuss the child's progress out of school, I just smiled and said, "I'm on holiday too, you know. Make an appointment once term starts, will you?" and walked off.

You have to draw the line somewhere.

It depends on where and what age you taught. When we lived near I kept away from Supermarkets in holiday time nothing like a young man you taught as an infant putting your teena ladies or women razors through the till. He with a red face telling you he was not the one who wet his pants regularly.
The odd hello Miss did not bother me but the pushy mothers did I was even asked by one to get her child placement at a school, I could just about remember the family.
I was never caught out on holiday but colleges were and complained of stripping off at the beach only to find little eyes peering at them they all had booked at the local Travel Agency
A friend also suffered the same they were involved in medicine and I remember listening to lengthy discussions about ailments in the middle of M&S when all they wanted to do was run.
away.
We always book holidays in term time.

This thread makes me remember a lady who recently died. A teacher for years at the local primary school the whole village had been her pupils, they adored her. In her retirement she did so much for the village that turned into a town and they in turn supported her.

Mostly I've enjoyed meeting ex-pupils. The one time I didn't was when my sister was rushed into hospital in the early hours of the morning. Following her emergency op I walked into the ward to be greeted by the ward sister. I used to teach her and she wanted a chat, while all I wanted was to be with my sister.

I met a teacher of mine in Dubai, 25 years after I'd left my UK school. She wasn't one of my favourites.

I recognised her immediately. Said hello, she looked vague, then as soon as I started talking she remembered me and said she hoped my children, ( who were with me) were better behaved than I'd been!

It doesn’t bother me at all! I have added quite a few former pupils as FB friends since retiring from teaching. It’s fascinating to hear what they’re up to these day. One’s in Australia & another’s in Cyprus. I met one at the health centre when taking DS2 for an assessment, she was working there as a dietician. Another’s an ophthalmologist, as I discovered when she did DS4’s eyesight check. She filled me in on what others from that tutor group were doing. If I bump into any former pupils on holiday I will likewise play catch up with them and anyone else they keep in touch with.

It is exactly the same for doctors, but a bit worse, especially if the patient attends the surgery regularly with numerous trivial health complaints. Likewise, if the doctor knows the patient 'intimately' if you know what I mean!!

NotSpaghetti - I did miss the teaching at first, not really now, especially this last year, I really don’t think I could have coped with all the online teaching. What I DO miss is the mix of age groups in the staff room, I find that these days I hardly ever get to mix with younger age groups, those in their 30s / 40s, apart from family members. I used to enjoy hearing about their lives and getting their point of view on current affairs. Every group I join seems to be full of over 60s these days.

Doctor's have the same problem! I am used to hearing, " Hello , Dr xxxx " all over the place!
It's usually fine and I am delighted to meet my lovely old patients. They are usually delightful and respectful of the fact I am no longer working.
I did, however, giggle, when I was convalescing from a broken ankle.
I was going to the Post office, carrying a large parcel. I was hobbling down the shopping road near the surgery , with a walking boot, crutches and parcel.
I was greeted by no less than 3 different patients. They were thrilled to see me, keen to update me on all their medical issues since I retired.....and not a single person commented on my ankle or even seemed to notice ???

- the teaching I mean?

This is an interesting thread.
Do you all miss it?

As a retired teacher I’m generally glad to see ex pupils and hear how they are doing in life. Like some others on here, when we were able to travel we went in term time and to adult resorts - no nothing smutty ! - just no children in the hotel as we like to relax without them around. We’ve done children of our own and love seeing our grandchildren - all 10 of them - but holidays are for peace and quiet!

I don’t know who was more embarrassed as I opened our bedroom door on our honeymoon night to be met by a student holding an early morning tea tray. I was wearing a towelling dressing gown thankfully as she surprisingly greeted me with “hello miss”. I didn’t actually know her but I hope she didn’t recognize me in school. If she did she kept a tactful silence.
On another occasion at a very dressy dinner dance a lovely looking sophisticated young lady came up to me somewhat worse for wear and said “hello miss. You were a real cow but I liked you” and gave me a big kiss! Happy days (sometimes)!

I live next door to my grandson's teacher. We all know far too much about each other

I retired from teaching five years ago and generally I’m happy to get the odd “hello” from ex pupils and their parents. I was totally amazed a couple of weeks ago, whilst standing in the freezing cold, marshalling at a local vaccination centre, completely covered up and a face covering on, a parent of an ex pupil arrived with her mother and said, “Oh, hello Mrs ...” she could only see my eyes... how do they find us and still recognise us?

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.

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!

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!

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.

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’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.

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.

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!