In my school, there is a waiting room for the students and visitors. The waiting room for students is the room where all the arriving students wait until the bell is jingled for assembly before leaving. The reason for preparing the waiting room was just to curb the bad habits they always commit during the morning period. Most of them do come as early as usual just for one bad play or the other, while some do come early to read.
One fateful morning, before the waiting room was created, the Vice principal caught two students with unwanted characters. After that day, the school decided to place all the students in the waiting room just to reduce or put a stop to the unwanted habits.
This waiting room must be guarded by three teachers, one who will stay in their midst (in the waiting room), while another one would stay outside just to welcome the students coming to the school at that time. The third would be going round to see if any student had found his or her way out to the classroom.
Teachers have been strictly warned to be careful and should always try to monitor the students properly. And have been warned that any laxity from the part of teachers would result in a penalty.
One day, I was on duty and had to do the needful as before. Although, I had forgotten that I was on duty as I could not check properly a day to that day. I was thinking my duty day would be the next day. I sat comfortably in my office doing something else instead of going to my duty post. The next thing I heard was my VP ranting downstairs with a lot of shouting. “You know you are on duty and you will not border to stay in your duty post. I will serve him a query”. Hearing this statement made me check the duty rota again just to be sure. After checking it, it was discovered that I was on duty. It showed that all the shouting and ranting was all for me.
I immediately rushed out. I met him and was explaining to him. The next thing he said was “you are not going to be forgiven”. The issue was that, if the head of school got to know about this, my salary would either be crying or remain on hold and part may be deducted. No one wants to hear that a penny is being deducted from his or her salary. I pleaded several times but he was not able to listen.
I never mind, instead I walked straight to my duty post. I saw my partners rightly on their duty post. One of them was in the major gate, while the other was in the waiting room monitoring the students.
This showed that I was supposed to move round the classes just to ensure that no student is in the classroom. As I was moving around, I saw two students in the classroom. Meanwhile, on my way to the hall, I saw the VP who was furious. Seeing him alone will show you the serious aggression deep in him. He shouted at once “you see what you have caused? You allowed the students to leave the waiting room for their classes. They were misbehaving in the classroom. What we were avoiding has finally manifested”, I was not myself anymore as his words alone coupled with the students I sent out of the classroom gave me some immediate headaches.
I began to wonder why would a day like that turn against me? I have never experienced this before. One of my colleagues experienced it and I was feeling ashamed. Now, it's my turn to absorb that same disgrace.
The next day, the VP downloaded everything that had happened to the principal. I was summoned for a panel meeting which included the Vice principal, the principal, and all the heads of department. It was an embarrassing situation, but then the mistake was from me which I would always admit instead of lying. They called me in and asked me why I was not on my.duty post. I told them I had forgotten that I was the one on duty.
They did not stop there, instead went ahead to ask again “ don't you know the reason the waiting room was created?” This time, it was one of the heads of department that asked. I told him, I know the reason and they should just forgive me. I also said I will never repeat that same mistake, never again.
“Then you have to face the penalty attached”, The principal said.
I had no choice other than to accept the blame and took the punishment.
Since that day, I have never for once ignored my duty, and the waiting room has been a no go area. I have always been avoiding staying with the students in the waiting room, as this may indict someone.
