Teachers pen pet thoughts

By BARABRA HARRIS

A SNAKE IN THE SHRINE

By David Geraghty

University of Otago Press $29.95


COUNTING HEADS

By Wendy Innes

Nationwide Book Distributors $24.95


First-time author David Geraghty, who lives in Auckland, spent three years teaching English in the suburbs of Tokyo.

He doesn't give his reasons for going to Japan but with the comparative pittance that teachers are paid here it's no wonder many look to take their skills abroad.

Early on, Geraghty's frustration with Japan - the daily grind and a case of cabin fever brought on by cramped living in a dowdy dormitory - emerge as niggles, then sound like downright whinges.

Soon it seems as if he's always knocking the place.

Unfortunately, this sense of claustrophobia permeates through to the reader. Also, it's easy to drift off when the links become torpid. For instance, three consecutive paragraphs begin: "We were welcomed ... " "We were soon delivered ... " and "We relaxed ... "

More annoying, though, is that Geraghty occasionally lapses into official-ease with phrases such as "proceeded around the precinct" conjuring up the impression of PC Plod consulting his notebook.

Relief comes for the writer and the reader in the shape of a good friend Nobuyuki (Nobby) who suggests Geraghty and his wife Vicki move to one of his apartments. Indeed, the new-found space and privacy bring about a slightly more positive outlook - or perhaps Geraghty is settling in.

Life should take a turn for the better when Geraghty, who is miserable in his work, escapes the "monotony of battery teaching" when he changes his job. Despite being a highly informative book, overall A Snake in the Shrine seems to offer a somewhat jaundiced view of Japan.

Meanwhile, in Counting Heads, teacher Wendy Innes takes a softly, softly approach to her experiences escorting more than 30 girls on school trips to Noumea, Tahiti and France.

It's one thing for teachers to head off on their own big OE, but I've always thought that those who are prepared to spend their holidays escorting a gang of teenagers around a foreign land must be barmy. Sure they get a cheap holiday but is that enough of an incentive?

Innes' experiences are gently related and prove to be a heartening account even if the kids sound too squeaky clean to be believed.