INTERVIEWS FOR HEADMASTER
This is actually the post I should have used as introduce myself as this is how I got my headmasters post. My wife and I filled in all the documents and applied for seven headmaster posts. I applied for six posts at schools that were not very big, and my wife convinced me to apply for the seventh post. This school had 1 200 children and I told her we will never get it, because normally you start at a smaller school as a principal and then move up by applying for bigger schools.
But so what my wife said put the application in and then we waited to here if we were on any of the short lists for a post. We were actually on them all. It was a big surprise and we decided together if we do not like a school we will do something that would prevent us from getting the post like not having a good interview. We went to the first one and as we drove into town we were looking around to see what it looked like, then we got to the school. The governing body was the people who did the interviews and decided on who would get the post. This first governing body seemed very smart, as they were all professional people but they really did not have any sense of humour. We decided this was not for us and so we worked it so that the post would definitely not be mine.
The next interview was very funny you really get funny people in this life as when we walked in there was normally tea and something nice to eat available. There were always five couples who had to be interviewed the wife went with and the rest sat in the lounge where they were making small talk and drinking tea. One of these men said to the ladies this is the best food he has ever seen and I felt sorry for him for being such an asshole, because even I had better food at some of the schools.
He begged them for all the recipes for everything because he was so impressed with them all. I am sure he thought he was going to get the post, but the men did not like him that much so shame he had recipes but no post.
It went on like this for more interviews one of the schools the governing body chairperson said every wife must now go and stand in front of her husband so he can see, what I still do not know till this day. My husband whispered in my ear, I think we are going to play ring a ring a rosy now and I burst out laughing.
The head of the governing body asked me why I was laughing. My husband said please excuse us but this is the really stupid and would you please excuse us, and we left. So these were hard times but some funny times for us. Then we had an interview at the school my wife said I must try, but I knew this meant jumping a post and the chances were slim, but off we went.
When we got there it was a mining community and we both felt at home immediately. We went in for the interview and then they started asking my wife how many children we had. She answered she did not know.
I jumped in and said we have two a lovely girl and a boy and then I saw that she had calmed down. She then said she must apologise but she did not know that they were going to ask her any questions and she got the fright of her life. She then told them all about our wonderful two children and laughed at being so stupid.
After we left she said if you do not get this post it is going to be my fault, who forgets how many children they have. One morning while we were waiting to hear if there was anything in the pipeline for us the head of the governing body of the school with 1 200 children walked into my office at the posh school where I was the acting principal at that time.
He congratulated me and said that I had the post and would start after the holiday the next term.
My wife was very thrilled because she really thought that she had blown my chances with the kids, but he said they could see how surprised she was when they asked her a question. I started at this school the next term, the one I really wanted and stayed there till my retirement.
Hope you enjoyed my story and have a wonderful day from the Wild Coast
Hi, I've cried with this beautiful story, people often do not understand the meaning of helping without expecting anything in return. I am pleased to read these stories that are motivating for anyone.
Helping with love is very beautiful.
It was a very good school, my children were very lucky to have you as their principal!
Thank you so much frieda I loved them all and now one of them is my daughter in law but actually our own. Her humour is excellent and she always makes me laugh.
O how I enjoy your stories
Thank you anneke you make me feel better when I see someone like my stories.
Isn't it always a beautiful moment when you know that you are in the right place at the right time? Somehow things always work out for the best. I guess life knows what we need to grow, learn and love. Thank-you for a beautiful rendition of how you became a Principal at the right school!!!