The (Mis)adventures of a Dumbarton Maths' Teacher

by BAPPI BHATTACHARYYA

In 1989, at the tail end of the Cold War, a phone call was made that would change the lives of many people in an area of Scotland, not very far from where the Nuclear Submarines were kept.
Of course, it had nothing whatsoever to do with East/West relations at all.
It was instead, simply a call from Strathclyde Regional Council offering me a job at Dumbarton Academy.
This led to many somewhat strange, often suspicious, and definitely dubious events taking place with the help of several other disreputable parties, or as they were otherwise known, ‘some of my good mates’.
As the school had been operating fairly innocuously and quite successfully for 504 years up to that point, it was often remarked by the good people of Dumbarton that a call from the Russians may have been somewhat preferable after all, and that there would almost certainly have been much less carnage!!

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2024

Reviews

[Fee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I've been down the pub with the author, hearing all his funny stories from his career. "Actual?!" 🤣

[Gillian Oldham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant! I literally smiled the whole way through this book - refreshing, honest, funny and a gorgeous walk down memory lane. Thank you Mr B 🤩🤩🤩

[Adam Wardrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious

Having has the pleasure of Mr B's teaching in the 90's, this was a wonderful trip down memory lane.
Hilarious, insightful, and honest (from a man who admittedly tricked his pupils throughout his career)
Best book I've read in a long time.

[Matt Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had forgotten about Dr Bonjovi and the plan to get Bob to tell the school Bappi phoned in the middle of the night to say his flight had been delayed.
There is a missing part to that story, we did nearly miss the flight, Kolkata airport assumed he understood Bengali (Indian surname) and had been trying to find us as the plane had finished boarding. We had to be bussed out to the plane, I'm sure it had left the gate, and then the walk of shame to our seats.
I can see why he has got into trouble with his views on mental health and gender.
I enjoyed the book it was good to read about what he did for a living all these years. Get a proper job, you're always on holiday.

[Lynsay Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. Who would've thought I'd be reading about myself wearing a rubber glove in Maths class 15 years later!! Even if you didn't attend DA or have the pleasure of being taught by Mr B like I did, I think you'll enjoy this book regardless! Such funny stories and insight to "behind the scenes" as a teacher. Totally loved it.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! I was a pupil at DA in the late 90s/early 00s, I never had the Mr B as a teacher but after reading this I wish I had. Really funny stories and a great insight into what teaching is like from the other side of the classroom. Many familiar names like Mr Murray (English) and Mr Dixon (Maths) that I remember fondly (somewhat), great wee trip down memory lane.

[Bob McCaughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Although I left school in 1968 (it was called Hartfield in the dark ages) we never had any teachers as described in this book in fact some of them should have been locked up

[Nicole Harley · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy read

I didn’t and don’t know Mr Bhattacharyya however it was a pleasure to hear his adventures within his working career!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because it was set in Dumbarton and was local to me