Invitation to the Dance: Exploring Everyday Life in Schools

Abstract

A small note to say how we’ve [the class] enjoyed you following us around the school. Your shadow in the background silently observing our actions shall be missed (including your little smiles when someone does something silly!) Only one question, how could anyone bring themselves to note and watch universally dreaded form 9B (is the pay good, or something). Anyway, see you in a next existence …

A student gave a farewell card with this note to Kay Parkinson on her last day in a London school. The note indicates our place in the classroom where the authors (and colleagues) spent many days; we normally sat in the background silently, an embodiment of an ideal (female) pupil. But we experienced many emotions and evidently revealed our feelings through small gestures.