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The staff of Belle View Primary School in London in the late seventies is consumed with more than just the students. This story pulls back the curtain on the lives of the teachers and reveals, with humor and style, the grievances and musings of these working teachers. Witty repartee in staff meetings and school events lends conversational flair to this clever novel. Staff concerns range from petty nuisances to serious complaints, and the voices combine with ease to reveal what life is like for teachers when the students are not around. Unlike many schoolroom dramas, this one is focused on the parts of the school day that do not include the children. Through a collection of scenes, the working lives of one group of teachers are revealed as they navigate staff meetings, individual quirks, conflicts, and even death.
Walters employs a unique narrative format with this drama novel, which loosely incorporates elements of a play. The structure is dominated by dialogue, which provides authentic voices for the rich array of teachers who all have different personalities, preferences, and peculiarities. As readers eavesdrop on the teachers, a world of conflict and camaraderie is evident as the teachers work so closely together to keep the school running smoothly. At times, the unusual structure disrupts the flow of the story, but the vivid writing makes each interlude come to life.
Walters has written more than a story of teachers talking in staff rooms. Welling up in the conversation and narration is a hint of powerlessness felt by teachers and the nagging possibility that they are undervalued. The subtle symbolism of a child’s playhouse and references to Ibsen’s famous play A Doll’s House elevate this story of teachers’ lives and the realities they face as they create a place of learning.