Long Kiss, Mr. Chips

In his eighty-third year, Charles Edward Chipping, fondly referred to as "Mr. Chips", recalls the fifty-eight years he has been at Brookfield, one of the oldest and most respected boys schools in England. Although revered by his charges and his colleagues alike, his years at Brookfield were not always so harmonious. As this was his first teaching job, his first students exploited his inexperience, which in turn led him to being a strict disciplinarian. Although he got out of his students what was required academically, they and his colleagues felt him to be stuffy, overly regimented, and not a naturally good teacher. The latter was evidenced when he was passed over for a seniority based position. It wasn't until about twenty years after his teaching started that that failure to be promoted, plus meeting the beautiful and gregarious Katherine Ellis while on an international vacation, his first, changed his life. Kathy, who was much younger than him, and who would eventually become "Mrs. Chips", opened his eyes to the fun in life, and saw his potential that couldn't see. She also provided his students and colleagues a different perspective on him. Over the next forty years, as he and the school saw the passing of many monumental world events, Mr. Chips experienced many personal triumphs, plus a few personal tragedies. But the one constant was the admiration and love from those around him.