Tea Shall Not be Served (Revised)

Abstract

The case is in the form of an exchange of letters between a principal of a school and its teachers. The principal has ordered that teachers should spend their twenty minute free time during recess in the school canteen and have tea with the students. The teachers find the order draconian and write a collective letter to the principal to allow them to have tea in their own staff room after having failed to convey their anguish in informal meetings. The principal is hurt with the letter and hardens her stance and expects all of them to follow her order because she would like greater teacher-student interaction.