Where Do All the Teachers Go? — AP Board Class 6 English
'Do they sleep in their BEDS? Do they have NIGHTMARES? Do they ever pick their NOSE?'
1. About the Poem
'Where Do All the Teachers Go?' by Peter Dixon is a HUMOROUS and RELATABLE poem from a child's perspective. The speaker wonders: after school ends, where DO teachers go? Do they live in NORMAL houses? Do they wear PYJAMAS? Do they ever make MISTAKES? Do they get LOST? The poem captures a UNIVERSAL childhood curiosity about the 'secret lives' of authority figures — especially teachers. It is FUNNY, HONEST, and surprisingly DEEP.
Why This Poem Matters for AP Board Students
- EVERY child has wondered about their teachers' lives OUTSIDE school
- 'Teachers seem like SUPERHUMANS — but they are people TOO'
- Easy to RELATE to and ENJOY
- Teaches PERSPECTIVE-TAKING — seeing teachers as humans
- Popular for RECITATION and DRAMATIC reading
2. About the Poet
Peter Dixon
- British poet and educationalist
- Known for writing POEMS FOR CHILDREN that are FUNNY and THOUGHTFUL
- Has visited THOUSANDS of schools to perform poetry
- Believes poetry should be ENJOYED, not just analysed
Why He Wrote This Poem
He wanted to CHILDREN to think about teachers as REAL PEOPLE — with lives, families, and feelings beyond the classroom.
3. The Full Poem
Where do all the TEACHERS go When it's FOUR o'clock? Do they live in HOUSES And do they WASH their socks?
Do they wear PYJAMAS When there's NO one there? Do they watch the SAME programmes As the rest of the WORLD?
Do they pick their NOSES. Do they pick their TOES? Do they make MISTAKES like ME? I suppose — nobody KNOWS.
And if I ever MEET one On my way to SCHOOL, Will they be STERN and SERIOUS Or will they PLAY the FOOL?
I think I'll find out ONE day — But I'll wait until I'm BIG. The last thing I WANT to do Is seem like a FRIENDLY KID.
4. Stanza-by-Stanza Explanation
Stanza 1
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 'Where do all the TEACHERS go / When it's FOUR o'clock?' | The CENTRAL question — where DO teachers go after school? |
| 'Do they live in HOUSES / And do they WASH their socks?' | Do teachers do NORMAL, BORING things too? |
Idea: Teachers seem to DISAPPEAR after school. The child wonders if they do ORDINARY things.
Stanza 2
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 'Do they wear PYJAMAS / When there's NO one there?' | Do teachers dress CASUALLY at home? |
| 'Do they watch the SAME programmes / As the rest of the WORLD?' | Do teachers watch TV — like NORMAL people? |
Idea: Teachers seem so FORMAL in class — but at home, they might be COMPLETELY different.
Stanza 3
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 'Do they pick their NOSES... Do they pick their TOES?' | HILARIOUS and GROSS — do teachers do UNREFINED things? |
| 'Do they make MISTAKES like ME?' | The DEEP question: are TEACHERS imperfect too? |
| 'I suppose — nobody KNOWS.' | The MYSTERY remains unsolved! |
Idea: The child wonders if teachers are HUMAN in the same ways children are.
Stanza 4
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 'And if I ever MEET one / On my way to SCHOOL' | What if I see a teacher OUTSIDE school? |
| 'Will they be STERN and SERIOUS / Or will they PLAY the FOOL?' | Are teachers ALWAYS serious? Or can they be FUN? |
Idea: The child wonders if teachers have a DIFFERENT personality at home.
Stanza 5
| Line | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 'I think I'll find out ONE day — / But I'll wait until I'm BIG.' | The child DEFERS — not ready to know yet |
| 'The last thing I WANT to do / Is seem like a FRIENDLY KID.' | The child doesn't want to seem TOO familiar — maintains distance |
Ending: The child DECIDES not to investigate further — it's BETTER not to know the full truth!
5. Themes
Teachers are Human
The poem HUMANISES teachers — they wear pyjamas, make mistakes, and have lives BEYOND school.
Childhood Curiosity
Children are NATURALLY curious about the adults in their lives. The poem GIVES VOICE to that curiosity.
The Mystique of Authority
Teachers seem like DIFFERENT beings in school. The child WONDERS if they change outside.
Growing Up
The speaker decides to WAIT until they are 'BIG' to find out — suggesting some MYSTERIES are better left unsolved.
6. Poetic Devices
| Device | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Rhetorical Questions | 'Do they wear PYJAMAS?' | Every line is a QUESTION — shows the child's CURIOSITY |
| Humour | 'Do they pick their NOSES?' | MAKES the reader laugh — and THINK |
| Repetition | 'Do they...' | Creates a PATTERN of questioning |
| Contrast | Stern teacher vs pyjama-wearing person | The SPLIT between school and home identity |
| First-Person Voice | 'I suppose...' | We hear the child's AUTHENTIC voice |
7. Vocabulary / New Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Stern | Serious and strict |
| Programmes | TV shows |
| Pyjamas | Comfortable clothes worn for sleeping |
| Mistake | Something done incorrectly |
| Supposed | Assumed or believed |
| Kid | A child (informal) |
| Fool | Someone who acts silly |
8. Important Lines
| Line | Significance |
|---|---|
| 'Where do all the TEACHERS go / When it's FOUR o'clock?' | The CENTRAL question |
| 'Do they make MISTAKES like ME?' | TEACHERS are HUMAN too |
| 'Will they be STERN and SERIOUS / Or will they PLAY the FOOL?' | Two sides of a teacher |
| 'I'll wait until I'm BIG.' | The child DECIDES not to find out YET |
| 'The last thing I WANT to do / Is seem like a FRIENDLY KID.' | The HILARIOUS ending — maintaining distance |
9. Short Answer Questions (2-3 marks each)
1. What is the speaker's main question in the poem? Where do teachers GO after school? What do they DO at home?
2. What everyday things does the speaker wonder about teachers? The speaker wonders if they wear pyjamas, watch TV, wash socks, and pick their noses.
3. Why does the speaker want to know if teachers make mistakes? Because teachers seem PERFECT in school — the speaker wants to know if they are HUMAN too.
4. What does the speaker decide at the end? The speaker decides to WAIT until they are older to find out.
5. Why doesn't the speaker want to seem like a 'friendly kid'? The speaker wants to maintain DISTANCE — it feels STRANGE to be 'friends' with a teacher.
6. What is the tone of the poem? HUMOROUS and CURIOUS — playful but honest.
7. What does this poem teach us about teachers? Teachers are REAL PEOPLE with their own lives — they are not JUST 'teachers.'
10. Long Answer Questions (6-8 marks each)
1. 'The poem is FUNNY — but it makes a SERIOUS point.' Explain. The humour comes from IMAGINING teachers doing 'un-teacher-like' things — picking noses, wearing pyjamas. Children LAUGH because it seems RIDICULOUS. But the serious point is: teachers ARE just people. They have families. They make mistakes. They get tired. They watch TV. The poem reminds us that teachers are HUMAN — and that children should see them as real people, not just authority figures.
2. Why does the speaker decide NOT to investigate further? The speaker says: 'I'll wait until I'm BIG.' This could mean: (1) The mystery is MORE INTERESTING than the answer. (2) The speaker is not READY to see teachers as ordinary. (3) There is COMFORT in the current distance between student and teacher. Sometimes it is BETTER to wonder than to KNOW.
3. How does this poem help students RELATE to their teachers? After reading this poem, students might REALISE: 'My teacher also has a HOME. My teacher also wears CASUAL clothes. My teacher also makes MISTAKES.' This makes teachers more ACCESSIBLE and LESS INTIMIDATING. The poem builds EMPATHY — students see teachers as FELLOW HUMANS, not just rule-enforcers.
4. 'Do they make MISTAKES like ME?' — What does this line reveal about the speaker? This line reveals that the speaker feels PRESSURE. Teachers seem PERFECT. The speaker makes mistakes and wonders: am I the ONLY one? The question shows: the speaker wants REASSURANCE that imperfection is NORMAL. The answer (which the poem implies) is YES — teachers make mistakes too. And that is OK.
11. AP Board Context
- AP Board questions often ask about the HUMOUR in the poem and what makes children relate to it.
- Telugu connection: 'Udyogam' (profession) vs 'Vyaktitvam' (personality) — teachers have BOTH.
- Activity: Write a SHORT POEM in the same style — 'Where Do All the DOCTORS Go?' or 'Where Do All the PARENTS Go?'
- Discussion: 'Do you think teachers should be FRIENDS with students, or maintain DISTANCE?'
- Writing task: 'Describe YOUR teacher's life outside school — using YOUR imagination.'
12. Fun Activity
'Dear Teacher — I Have a Question...' Write THREE QUESTIONS you would like to ask your teacher about their life outside school. Be POLITE but CURIOUS. Then share with the class — and see if your teacher is WILLING to answer!
