Inspired by her teacher's Guardian clippings as a child, this reader now uses articles from the paper in her own classes
I was 16 when I picked up my first copy of the Guardian. It was handed to me by Mrs Mess, my politics teacher at school, after she recognised my blossoming interest in journalism and politics. She would keep a cuttings book full of Guardian clippings and I would often flick through it, fascinated by articles about the newly elected prime minister Tony Blair and his "Blair babes". I now work as a substitute English and drama teacher for schools across Dumfries and Galloway council, and I'll often use examples from the Guardian as teaching aids.
It's quite surreal how Saturday columnist Suzanne Moore manages to put into words everything I feel. A couple of weeks ago, she wrote about the bleak prospects for young people, the failures of the education system and public sector cuts. It struck a chord with me. Working in the comprehensive system, I see a lot of kids who are very talented but don't have the family or financial background to even stay in school, let alone consider university. The country's principles are going back to the old values of those who have the more privileged upbringing going further in the system. It's unjust.
It's the Saturday Guardian that I read most religiously – anyone interrupting my weekly intake gets a severe telling off. I read Weekend magazine first, paying particular attention to Lucy Mangan's column, then I read Review cover to cover, flick through Family, and save the main news pages until last. Ironically, I've always been fascinated by this very column!
The writing in the paper has inspired me to have a go, and I'm currently working on a novel and negotiating an arts column for my local paper. It's a small first step but something I hope to pursue in tandem with my teaching.