A letter to Mother Midsummer (as opposed to Father Christmas!)

Dear Mother Midsummer, 

I have been a good teacher this year. I have taken care of all my students, I have taught them some skills I hope they can use and I have given them all fair marks. I have also been patient and understanding, I have taken into account my students' circumstances and I have pushed them enough to make them take risks and make decisions. 

Because I have been such a good teacher, I have put together a list and, if you think I deserve it, I would love to find these under the nearest palm tree so I can be an even better teacher next year:

- a good timetable, with enough time to prepare lessons, correct assignments, mark exams and talk to my colleagues about meaningful aspects of our job

- since we have a new Minister for Education in Spain, my wish is that the law is changed to do away with our current system of external assessment, to bring back subjects that help teens develop critical thinking and an ethical mind, and that individual schools have more freedom and more resources to best serve the community where they are located (I'm so generous! This isn't even for me!)

- kind, generous, friendly, curious and conscientious students who like to talk about different subjects, who progress in their skills and who help all their classmates no matter who they're friends with. 

- exciting projects across different areas of the curriculum, to give students a global vision of their world and... why not, to help me understand other areas as well. 

But before the new school year begins, we have the summer in front of us, so my wishes for the next few weeks are: 

- the chance to sleep in every now and then

- the chance to stay up and look at the stars, with and without StarWalk... like when I saw a meteor shower last summer

- to be able to visit some new places but also some familiar places, both in Spain and abroad

- to switch off for a bit, even if it is to gather strength and energy for the next school year

I will leave a glass of lemonade on ice and a few chilled pieces of watermelon for you and your train of flamingoes. 

Best wishes, 

Maite Gallego