Lunch duty is never a picnic

STAFFROOM: Let's look at lunchtime supervision, subject of so much attention in the media and not surprisingly in the staffroom lately.

For starters, lunchtime or not, supervision is no picnic. This is especially true for teachers who have spent the whole morning working in direct contact with students. On wet days it can involve moving from classroom to classroom (many reeking nauseatingly of crisps and oranges) in an attempt to contain, control and pacify the nation's youth who have already been cooped up all morning. It helps to be deaf or carry earplugs, as noise levels rocket off the scales. Sometimes, it helps to pretend to be deaf.

On dry days, lunchtime duty involves patrolling an oft-windswept yard. It helps to have taken your vitamin C and donned your thermal underwear as the east wind whips around that corner. It doesn't help to be blind, since you have to monitor behaviour around the perimeter of the terrain as well as under your nose. It certainly doesn't help to be gullible - it's unlikely that Johnny Murphy genuinely needs help as he rescues the school cat from that tree. More probably there is something afoot in the diametrically opposite direction and that is where you should head.

In a nutshell, lunchtime supervision is a demanding job that few teachers do with relish. Nevertheless, the professionals who know the pupils (especially the likely bullies and their potential victims), and who are familiar with the school terrain, are the best people to do it. It is important work that deserves recognition and fair remuneration. As regards the current dispute at second level, to all those with negotiating power I say: be reasonable, listen to the other side, compromise and above all sort it out sooner rather than later. After all, the students, however much they may test our patience during the day, need security, a safe environment and stability of personnel.