Primary End of Term Awards Ceremony

Restored: 20.03.21

I:  Support

Everyone endured scores of awards
presented by a smiley lady
in a green dress
who said nothing aloud
but had a few quiet words for each child.

Finally, a galleon of a woman

- hitherto silent - 

sailed out, boomed, grimly:
I want to thank the staff for their
relentless hard work.
And everyone else for their
relentless support.
You must support.
There will be no non-supporting.
We will all,
relentlessly,
support.

And now we will sing the school song.
And then the leavers' song.
And any other mawkish tune

That cancels thought but 

tears the eye and bleeds the heart

of the tattooed mums
chatting
chewing
texting
while the children shone.

II: A reading

And now there will be a reading.
The minister?
But the galleon ploughed on:
Are you listening Primary 7?
(dared they not)
You have learned
to read,
to write,
to tie your laces
to clear up after yourselves
said the government's

State Guardian /
Named Person/
Parental Alternative,
Illustrating current practice:
teaching to the lowest common denominator.

But the minister, in his five minutes

was warm, inclusive, uplifting, surprisingly real,
being under no government agenda.
These were things headteachers could be, I remember.
"The face must fit the council now" said one, in private;
manager, politician, state snooper, guard.

III: A job well done

'What did you think? said dad.
"China", I said.
We watched the blocked ranks of queryless children
file out.

Toe the line
Sing the song
Say: "we will".
Or else...