*CATEGORIES OF TEACHERS*
1. The ‘White Smoke Detectors’.
These ones always update others when salary has reflected on the bank accounts between 25th and 28th of every month. In the whatsapp groups and the staffroom, you’ll hear them saying ‘Mwangi whiiite’ and ‘Simba amengurumaaa’.
2. The ‘Sons of the soil’.
These are mostly found in dayschools and the boarding schools which are in the interior. They feel entitled to the school. They have a sense of ownership of the school. Most of them studied in that school so they believe nobody knows the school more than them. In most cases, they will want to dictate which principal should head that school. They will use all means humanly possible to influence parents, the Board and even the students against a particular Principal whom they don’t want.
3. The ‘Money Makers’.
These ones are in business. To be their friend, just mention money in everything you say. When others admit form ones in school, for them it is an opportunity to hire someone to sell sodas and snacks for them outside the school gate. When others keenly follow sports activities in school, for them it is an economic activity. For them, everything is money. On a positive note, they will also work hard in their form four class to ensure their subject gets as many A’s as possible because they know each A is equivalent to 1000 when KCSE results are out. They are strictly in money-making business. After all, it is not bad.
4. The ‘Know It All’.
These ones know everything. They will always be the first ones to provide information to others. They will always know which principal is coming after the former retired. They will be the first to know that the term dates have been changed, even before the principal gets the circular from the SCDE-MOE.
5. The ‘Lone Ranger’.
These ones prefer being alone. Even in the staffroom they do not have friends. They rarely talk to other teachers unless they are being talked to. In the staffroom, they are either marking students’ work, marking exams, reading newspaper or filling sudoku.
6. The ‘Callers’.
These ones are always making and receiving phone calls. Some even miss the 10 o’clock tea just because they were on a phone call conversation that lasted for over 30 minutes.
7. The ‘Opposition Leaders’.
During staff meetings, they will always reject every suggestion given by other teachers. They are always the first ones to oppose other’s recommendations. No matter how good someone’s suggestion is, they will always look for faults to bring it down. The funny thing is, they never give suggestions and even if they give one, it is a suggestion that did not work the previous year.
8. The ‘Fashionistas’
With these ones, dressing is theirs. They don’t mind spending tens of thousands of shillings on suits, dresses, watches and handbags. All they want is to look attractive and adorable. For men, they will always do the latest design of three piece suits, with a nice coloured pocket square coupled with a matching bow tie, a relaxed fit tapered Turkish classic cotton gabardine fabric trouser with ankle socks and Italian shoes . For ladies, the fashionistas rarely repeat a dress for a month.
9. The ‘Strict But Likeable’.
These ones are the strictest teachers in the school but the most loved by the students. When students wrong, these teacher will always punish them but the students will never hate that teacher or hold anything against the teacher. These ones will always smile when it’s time to smile and get serious when it’s time to be serious.
10. The ‘Mentors’.
These are the teachers who are the most trusted by everyone in the whole school.
They never gossip about others. They always remind others the importance of unity. They bring back together other members of the staff who seem to have an issue between each other. They always mentor the young teachers who have come on Teaching Practice and also The Board.
