Tom Shipley decided to be a teacher at 4 years old. He never wavered in his enthusiasm. Join him as he studies then during his first two years in the Capital. Fascinating characters painted with a gently humourous brush. Tom grows up, leaves home on a long train trip out west only to find that the school to which he has been transferred is not finished, and not equipped. He is promoted to head of department on his first day with all the extra work and responsibility but no extra pay or time to do it. The students, a truly colourful bunch, are to arrive the following week, all 200 of them. As the science teacher who loves experimentation we follow his antics during the explosions, administration tangles, and students who will grow to be politicians and criminals. Laugh and gasp the adventure is worth it. Incidents such as these do really happen in schools, unbelievable as they appear. Definitely historical (1960s) fiction worth reading.