ABSTRACT
There is one final point that, although it reflects national trends, can be addressed locally up to a point. One of the deepest and most disillusioning aspects of the current situation is the feeling many staff seem to have that they cannot get on with the job: that they cannot do what they came into the profession for. Various things may prevent them ‘teaching’ as they see it: behaviour and discipline problems, lack of external support, excessive emphasis on testing, poor equipment, increased bureaucracy and lack of continuity. Teachers come into teaching primarily because they want to or because it seems a reasonable choice in the circumstances, so the main
factor affecting their morale is whether they are allowed to do the job. Are they? Are you?
