Are teachers' nicknames dying out? John Dacey mourns the loss of of one of life's innocent-ish pleasures...
In the 60's we had nicknames for all our teachers - Flapper, Bilko, Batman and Big Ben. They could cane you, for say having dirty shoes or laughing in class so a nickname was essential to put them all in a comic place - or our world.
When I started teaching in the late 70's my nickname was Dr Who, cos I wore a scarf like Tom Baker. I had his hair also. Still do.
Later on I became K9 after the Dr Who mechanical dog - it seemed my voice lacked emotion. And at yet another school I became the Terminator, which was spot on. It was a rough school - still, I loved to see the children dance. They didn't know I was using blanks!
Those children have all left and so have the nicknames. I can't think of one nickname for one teacher. Maybe all teachers could have an official nickname for if the pupils can't think of one (or can't be bothered to). I want mine to be Hannibal - or Dr Lecter - just rolls off the tongue.
