PUT A WET PAPER TOWEL ON IT: The Weird and Wonderful World of Primary Schools
£7.90£8.50 (-7%)
THE SENSATIONAL SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
A heart-warming and hilarious look at life in the classroom from the teachers who host the most popular UK education podcast, Two Mr Ps in a Pod(Cast).
‘’Education’s answer to Adam Kay … Lee and Adam Parkinson are doing for teaching what he did for medicine.’ The Times
Have you ever wondered what really happens during the day when your precious little angels are at school?
In this book, The Two Mr Ps will take you on a side-splittingly funny journey through the weird and wonderful world of primary schools. It will also explore the pressures of modern-day teaching, revealing exactly what it takes to wrangle a chaotic classroom (or seven) on a weekly basis. From the absolute characters found in the staffroom to school-trip mishaps and everything else inbetween, Put A Wet Paper Towel on It is a must-read for teachers and parents alike.
So sit up straight, four legs on your chair, fingers on lips and get ready to take a trip down memory lane. And remember – when in doubt, just put a wet paper towel on it.
Lee Parkinson and Adam Parkinson’s book ‘This Is Your Own Time You’re Wasting’ was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 25-07-2022.
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by Amazon Customer
I work in a secondary school and much of this is equally applicable. I would love to record their answerphone message
by Antony
According to someone at The Times, the authors are “Education’s answer to Adam Kay … Lee and Adam Parkinson are doing for teaching what he did for medicine.”
The difference, in my opinion, is that Adam Kay tells a lot of funny stories about his life as a doctor, as well as having a well-earned grumble at the way the UK health system works.
These two (well, mostly Lee; Adam doesn’t say much in the book) have written a rather dull book about how schools work (or don’t) and end up with a grumble about what’s wrong with the UK education system.
The first five chapters (of twenty) are taken up with the authors’ journeys into education (as a career, not as students), which is not exactly laugh-out-loud material.
The next 13 chapters introduce a baffling array of abbreviations without any explanation or definition at all. For example, how many of the following can you work out?
CPD CRB DAB DBS EYFS GILF HLTA ICT IEP INSET KS1 LSA MFL NQT PGCE PPA PSHE PTA PVA SAT SEN SEND SLT SRE TA TES TLR WOW
*Some* of these are explained later on in the book, but every single one first appears with no indication as to what it might mean.
The final two chapters comprise the authors’ rant about what’s wrong with the UK education system today. They may well be right, but whether they are or not, it’s nothing to laugh about.
Oh, and whilst they’re about it, the grammar is nothing to get good marks for, either – they’ve split infinitives, used nouns as verbs, accepted children’s slang as standard English, and they can’t tell the difference between an acronym and an abbreviation. I’m glad I don’t have children *they* are teaching.
In summary: read Adam Kay instead – he’s funny, he’s done his bit as a doctor, and he knows how to write engagingly.
by Danni D
Ok but couldnt finish it. Just didnt keep me hooked and i got a bit bored but may go back to it later
by Rachel
So true! I have been laughing at so many parts of this book and as a teacher completely identify with the two Mr P’s and their experiences! So true about the paper towels too!
by Katie Foad
As expected from the podcast, this boom shares some hilarious misshaps and experiences from other school staff in this world. A fun book to read during the holidays or weekend when you need a pick me up (and with a glass of your favourite adult drink)!
by C Knight
Ever wondered what it’s like to be a primary school teacher? I think a number of parents over the past 18 months have had a vague idea but what’s it really like in the classroom? Well the Parkinson brothers are here to give you an insight into their working life!
I got myself a copy of Put A Wet Paper Towel On It after being recommended the podcast by the same blokes. I’m not a podcast listener as I fail to concentrate on it whilst I’m working so I figured the book would be the next best thing. And you know what, I loved it.
The banter between the brothers comes over so well in the written word. It’s like two men having a good chin wag over a pint. Their stories are hilarious in the main but some are slightly more emotional. The bit about Mr Crawford made me full on well up
They really capture primary school life to a T. The chapter about school performances is hilarious! As a parent, I’ve been to the nativity performances and everything said is so true.
But what they share isn’t just relevant to a parent. There are messages for all in this book. The five life rules are something we all need to take heed of:
Life is not fair
You get nothing in life for free
Not everyone will like you
Comparison is the thief of joy
If you have a problem, talk about it
These are wise concepts in my book and the last two are the ones I struggle with, particularly number 5.
Put A Paper Towel On It is a very open and opinionated read from two experienced members of the education system. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the anecdotes the Parkinsons had to share, a number rang true both as a parent and as someone who returned to primary school on work experience. If you want an insight into the primary classroom or a vocation into the education system, give Put A Paper Towel On It a read. You won’t be disappointed! And yes, a paper towel is essential for a classroom ????