Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “So What! Stories or Whatever!” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

So What! Stories or Whatever!

G.J. Griffiths (Goodreads Author)

3.80 · Rating details · 30 ratings · 25 reviews

STORIES FROM THE CLASSROOM! HOW DO THEY SURVIVE? WHETHER STUDENT, TEACHER OR PARENT THEY WILL HAVE YOU LAUGHING OR CRYING! Waterloo Road or Grange Hill meet Gervase Phinn - well maybe! Whether you love this book or hate it you will have to admit that the stories about its characters will stay in your memory for a long time. With over twenty years teaching experience behind ...more

Get A Copy

Or buy for $1.29

Paperback, 384 pages

Published July 4th 2013 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about So What! Stories or Whatever!, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.80 ·

Rating details

· 30 ratings · 25 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of So What! Stories or Whatever!

Apr 16, 2015 Samuel rated it really liked it

Although personally I found high school a little more insidious than the stories in this book might suggest, the author did a really good job at taking me back to my days as a student at a UK comprehensive. It was interesting seeing things from a teacher's perspective - I can certainly relate to how mouthy and ill-disciplined students are these days, and I should imagine they've only gotten worse since I left in 2000.

The light and loose writing style helps the book zip along at a fair old pace, ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Feb 12, 2015 Florian Armas rated it really liked it

Griffiths’s writing style is fluid and readable, expressing the ‘story’ in a series of vignettes of (I suppose) his lifetime experience as a teacher, sometimes emotionally, but most of times filled with a lot of humor. It is written in an easy, comfortable style, much like having a conversation that absorbs all your attention and you really need a lot of attention to survive the avalanche of children that come and go, and come and go with each year and chapter. And, be sure, this is not a ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Sep 25, 2015 Michael rated it really liked it

A revealing and honest insight into the life of a teacher, a profession I already had a lot of respect for. This book is more like a collection of stories, generally filled with warm humour although there are some serious bits. I knew I wasn’t teacher material and reading this just affirmed it, although it made the story no less appealing.

There is a good fluidity to the author’s writing style which makes this very engaging and easy to read. Plus, I was – pleasantly – surprised at being ...more

flag 4 likes · Like · see review

Dec 27, 2014 A.E. Albert rated it really liked it

The story begins in a high school in Britain and chronicles the career of a teacher, Mr. Jeffrey. Mr. Jeffrey learns very quickly that if you want order in the classroom, a teacher must be strict. Yet, in the process he develops meaningful relationships with many of these children. The reader joins Mr. Jeffrey through the adventures and misadventures of his students. Sometimes you laugh others times find a tear in your eye.

Most characters are fleeting and only Mr. Jeffrey is a constant ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 23, 2013 Cathy rated it it was amazing

I loved this book! A look into the life of a teacher. Gotta give teachers credit for their patience because I sure would not be able to do it. I laughed so hard I was actually crying during part of the book. It was {‘Please, sir, what are those animals called with eight testicles?’

‘And it can grip things with its testicles. It can squeeze you to death with them!} Oh my goodness however does a teacher keep a straight face even though its a serious question from a student?

Some of the book was ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

May 11, 2014 K.S. Marsden rated it it was ok

Slow to start, but the second half runs smoother. I can see this appealing to those that want to relive their teaching days.

(view spoiler) ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 16, 2015 Sean DeLauder rated it it was amazing

A vignette of teaching experiences chronicling the development and experiences of science teacher Robert Jeffrey. While the perspective changes now and again to a separate teacher to fill in gaps or provide an alternate viewpoint, all roads lead back to Mr. Jeffrey.

The cast in these stories is considerable, as it must be in order to paint a complete picture of a classroom, as well as the experiences of a teacher, over time--students, staff, experiences inside and outside a classroom that define A vignette of teaching experiences chronicling the development and experiences of science teacher Robert Jeffrey. While the perspective changes now and again to a separate teacher to fill in gaps or provide an alternate viewpoint, all roads lead back to Mr. Jeffrey.

The cast in these stories is considerable, as it must be in order to paint a complete picture of a classroom, as well as the experiences of a teacher, over time--students, staff, experiences inside and outside a classroom that define one’s career. Initially, the load can be overwhelming, but it does not remain so. Some characters come to the forefront and remain, an afterimage stuck on the retina, while others fade into the background.

Still, it’s the children who hold this story together. Certainly the teachers are of some interest, but it’s the children’s behavior and development that capture our fascination while it is the teacher’s role to harness their potential. I want the teacher to succeed, but into that success is woven the successes and failures of the children, and in dealing with the children we learn more about them. Mr. Jeffrey seems to identify very early on that these aren’t simply children or students, they are individual human beings with distinct characters, even if some are negative. This is something a teacher understands.

Interestingly, one of the early lessons Mr. Jeffrey learns is that he can’t be nice, that he must be an authority figure rather than a friend. And yet, as he gains control over the children this allows him to receive more of their attention and become more attenuated to their needs and distresses. Which is what he wants from teaching, in addition to making them successful students and appreciating the genuinely curious.

I admit to feeling the suspension of my disbelief fall away on occasion. My 3-year-old knows what an octopus is, as opposed to a pair of 13- or 14-year-old girls. Maybe it’s my fascination and familiarity with the cosmos that makes me groan when I read about a 17-year-old girl mistakenly calling a supernova a Casanova. Admittedly, some of these students did not live in the most nourishing environments, and this too was part of a progression for the teacher, who moved to different environments in which the competence and the difficulties changed. For the most part, however, there were few hiccups. There were even a few incidents of nostalgia—apart from dissection I remember enjoying middle- and high-school science very much.

Outside the classroom Mr. Jeffrey faces familiar struggles for a man of his age and profession. He’s a comparatively smart guy who happens to have the wrong opinions at the wrong time, and this hinders his romantic ambitions, but makes him more interesting. Perhaps because we want him to succeed and to find out what he does with that success. Or perhaps we dislike his opinions and we want him to fail. We get to witness both.

In all, a very engaging and nostalgic retrospective for former teachers and students, as well as current humans who have faced the struggle of enjoying one’s occupation while learning how to do it effectively, and balanced it with a life outside one’s job, even while that occupation becomes our life, and the best part of it, as well. And, when it matters most, we see our labors bear fruit and return the grace given them under our nurturing direction. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 13, 2014 MWBP rated it really liked it

In Between Classes – A review of the novel ‘So What! Stories or Whatever!’

“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well” – Alexander the Great

Any kid growing up spends the longest hours of his young life outside his own home in a school. So it’s no wonder schools are often referred to as second homes and teachers as sort of parental figures. And even though we experience a lot of rich emotions in our homes, nothing compares to the unique and special bond we make with In Between Classes – A review of the novel ‘So What! Stories or Whatever!’

“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well” – Alexander the Great

Any kid growing up spends the longest hours of his young life outside his own home in a school. So it’s no wonder schools are often referred to as second homes and teachers as sort of parental figures. And even though we experience a lot of rich emotions in our homes, nothing compares to the unique and special bond we make with our teachers. Numerous lovers and friends may enter and exit our lives, deaths and births we may see many but never shall we forget the one who opened the door to our minds, dispersing the shadows of ignorance with the light of knowledge.

Author G J Griffiths’s novel ‘So What! Stories or Whatever!’ is an anthology of a lifetime of stories of a teacher and the many kids that made an impact in his life. It follows Mr. Robert Jeffrey, a high school science teacher and his experiences dealing with students who were as varied as it gets. Beginning with Robert trying to lay a foundation on which to base his teaching persona, we get to see the various methods he employs, the numerous day to day incidents he faced dealing with students that made up a normal school day and the positive impact he made in the student’s lives.

Even though So What! Stories or Whatever! deals with the story of a teacher and his students in an English school, it has a story that will find universal resonance wherever it is read. It is a story that has been told many times before but then which story isn’t, is there a love story, an action story, a life drama or a comedy in this world that you haven’t heard before? And yet we like them and listen to and read every new story in that genre because certain stories are like that, it appeals to us at a basic emotional level we cannot ignore because these stories, like the one you will find in this book tug at your heart and not your head.Another attractive quality about the book is the guaranteed connection you will feel with the various characters and the events described in the book. You will find in the book traces of your old self and the various people you knew back in school, you will read about things that your friends and you did and you will also get to see the teachers that made an impact in your life.

G J Griffiths has a very simple and yet effective way of narrating his story and has created the perfect alter ego in Robert Jeffrey. And you can sense that it is perhaps the author himself, reliving his teaching days and the moments he spent amongst students like these. Another thing that I liked was how he dealt with the issue of bullying, everyone must have faced it one time or the other while in school and whether you were a perpetrator or a victim, you will find the conclusion drawn in the story to be very apt and just.

For the realistic portrayal of the school atmosphere and the laughs and tears that the author hands out in equal measure, I recommend this book and look forward to its sequel.
...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 09, 2015 D.C. Wolf rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: other

Like a song that touches your heart, or brings back fond memories, G.J. Griffiths’ So What! Stories or Whatever! had that effect on me. Reading almost like a diary, I was immediately immersed and fell asleep many a night without being able to put it down.

So What! Stories or Whatever! read like a three-act play with a “birth to death” theme:

1 - Early years, innocence and learning
2 – Reality and change
3 – Rebirth

It was a celebration of life and compassion for ones work through the lens of a Like a song that touches your heart, or brings back fond memories, G.J. Griffiths’ So What! Stories or Whatever! had that effect on me. Reading almost like a diary, I was immediately immersed and fell asleep many a night without being able to put it down.

So What! Stories or Whatever! read like a three-act play with a “birth to death” theme:

1 - Early years, innocence and learning
2 – Reality and change
3 – Rebirth

It was a celebration of life and compassion for ones work through the lens of a science teacher. Parallel to the appreciation of human life was the appreciation and care needed for all life around us so that it can be passed on to future generations.

The contrast between particular teachers and their teaching styles, from alpha-male’ish strict and self-congratulatory to soft and compassionate, almost frail and guilt-ridden, did not take away from their dedication and compassion. The book also showed that no matter how hard you try, whatever your approach, no one is infallible.

Many of the anecdotes brought me back to my childhood years in school and at home. It is hard to come away from this book without a sense of “I know that kid!” or “My favorite teacher was…” or “My favorite subject was…” Nostalgic.

Kids are complex creatures and ongoing mysteries as to why they do what they do and say what they say. Lessons like these that the reader might identify with were described over and over again within these pages. Other concepts covered were how important a stable environment was for the children, as well as the overall importance of family. Reading about the more difficult children characterized in the book was heartbreaking at times. Teachers do have a difficult balancing act.

Griffiths’ So What! Stories or Whatever! was a delight to read, bringing back fond memories, and digging up deeply forgotten ones. I laughed and enjoyed returning to early Physics or Biology lessons as described in the book. Whereas I enjoyed some of the in depth science lessons, some of the more political aspects of the science felt a bit out of place and more “lecture-like” which hurt the flow of the book at times.

There were a few distractions, such as skipping about in the timeline. And small story or plot “hooks” that were interjected here and there to give you hints as to what was to come, or had already occurred. A few editorial and formatting issues here and there were noticeable. But, overall, I truly enjoyed this trilogy. Many parents could benefit from reading it, and it’s a nice little “pocket resource” into the minds of the teenager.

Well done.
...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 05, 2015 Hock Tjoa rated it liked it

Despite the title, I decided to read this as a story. It is about a science teacher and the schools and students. It is also about students that might be "difficult to control" and a teacher who likes to be known for "firm class control" and "strong behavior management." The teacher, one Robert Jeffrey, begins his career by applying to three "difficult" schools in "socially deprived areas" in the hope of doing good socially and raising aspirations for a career in Science in some of his students. Despite the title, I decided to read this as a story. It is about a science teacher and the schools and students. It is also about students that might be "difficult to control" and a teacher who likes to be known for "firm class control" and "strong behavior management." The teacher, one Robert Jeffrey, begins his career by applying to three "difficult" schools in "socially deprived areas" in the hope of doing good socially and raising aspirations for a career in Science in some of his students. He does seem to be in favor of the "pastoral support program," but he also is pleased to learn later in his career that he is the third least popular teacher because of the strict discipline he maintains.

There is a moment of hilarity, maybe, when some young girls ask him what the creature is called that has "eight testicles." A more definite moment was the sight of one of the students who, having fallen into a very cold river, was "splashing and flapping like a demented penguin dressed as a monk."

The teacher is of a certain age and so there were women who interest him. First Vicki, pretty [but?] five or six years older than he, then Naomi, who did not have the heart to say no until her fiance shows up. Finally, he settles down with Jenny despite his preference for folk and hers for classical music.

The story is too fragmentary, kaleidoscopic, for my taste. I prefer more connectivity in the plot and heft to the characters, clearer tags to alert the reader than "three years later." I am also not impressed by a reference to the "philadelphus blossom" preferring, for my sins, mock orange, and the notion that a teacher might develop perhaps a "filamentous link" with a "living Gollum" who once exhibited a "frightening Jekyll and Hyde transformation" strikes me as absurd. Perhaps that was intentional.

The rude and bullying druggie gets into the Behavioral Unit. One of the other difficult students finds redemption as a "natural" Year One teacher. Other characters and episodes flake off like so much dandruff. Distracting inconsistencies with the paragraph indents plague this book.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 21, 2015 Gita Reddy rated it really liked it

Shelves: r4r

Mr. Jeffrey is looking back at the years he spent as a teacher. He chose a career in teaching, and opted for schools in socially backward areas, because he wanted to make a difference in the lives of those children, and also learn from the challenges in a tough school. In the beginning he is not able to assert authority over the students but tips from a senior colleague help.

The book is a series of anecdotes through which G.J. Griffiths unfolds the stories of some of his students, and his own. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 10, 2013 J.C. Wing rated it it was amazing

Griffiths writes with a light hearted style that is not only easy to read but uniquely entertaining. This collection of stories is about students, their parents and the instructor who teaches them, and there is something here for everyone.

I am a long time homeschooler so this book was especially intriguing to me. I grew up taking part in a traditional education and much of this book made me nod my head in both recollection and understanding as a previous student. I also enjoyed this collection ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Dec 16, 2015 Anna Fantabulous rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The best in the ‘So What!’ series. Robert Jeffrey joins the teaching profession on a ‘try-it-out-for-a-year’ whim against the wishes of his father who feels he can do better, being good in science and all. Jeffrey is accepted as a Science Teacher at Walnut Grove High School where he finds purpose, passion and skill. Next he joins Birch Green High School and this is where the crux of the book, drama and thrills occur. Caught between a set of ‘ruddy’ and ‘lippy’ kids and his knack for ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 24, 2015 Jacqueline rated it it was amazing

So What! Stories or Whatever! introduces Mr. Robert Jeffery, science teacher, to the world.

Our hero could have easily been forgotten or ignored in the humdrum of school days. However, Robert Jeffery had a different idea: he planned to make a difference.

Mr. Jeffery entered his first teaching assignment as a naïve, socially inept, young man searching to find a path to teaching excellence. In mid career, due to a twist of fate, the seasoned teacher discovered he had met his goal in so many ways. It ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Sep 13, 2014 Patricia Walker rated it really liked it

These stories so reminded me of my years in the school system! They are the timeless classics of typical school life from the perspective of the staff and, just occasionally, the children. How did our teachers survive the madness that is educating people aged 11 to 16 ? Surely we were never this horrid?? The pages will keep you laughing and crying throughout the book as we take the daily school life of a particular set of children during their senior school years from their form tutors eyes and ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2015 Princila Murrell rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya

I liked this story, but I wanted more plot. The beginning was a little hard for me to get in, but things got more interesting after the first four chapters.

The book is well-written and humorous. The writing was clear and easy to read and the dialogue was realistic. There were times when I laughed out loud at the stories that students told to avoid getting into trouble--very typical of kids this age. I cared about the main character, Robert Jeffrey. He was very likable, and I felt like cheering ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 13, 2014 C. Erani Kole rated it liked it

It's 4 Stars on Amazon, but it's three here because "I liked it". I'm not strictly fantasy, but even this was a little hard for me to get into before things got interesting.

It personally took me a long time to read it because it's stories about a teacher and the students in his life. After the third chapter, my interest was piqued, and I even found myself disagreeing/cheering with Mr. J's actions and decisions. It's a story that will make you appreciate your teacher and think twice about the ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 23, 2013 Reading Divergence rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a1-i-own-books, armchair-england, may-2014-reads, 2014_reads

I quite enjoyed this book, which is more a collection of vignettes about a dedicated but occasionally feckless secondary Science teacher ( later a college tutor). Robert Jeffrey is of course imperfect, but he is diligent, and devoted to developing potential scientists or engineers. Like most teachers, he has a variety of students, from the quiet intellectuals, to the bullies and future delinquents. It's pretty certain, that Mr. Jeffrey, successes and flaws, is not easily forgotten.

Author G. J. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 03, 2013 Dean Johnston rated it really liked it

This is an engaging and amusing look at life inside the walls of a high school. While the stories themselves are particular to the characters involved, each of whom has their own quirks, traits and amusing foibles, everyone is sure to recognized similarities to people they know, have known, or possibly who still live in their house. I think these stories will resonate particularly well with teachers and parents, those who will be most familiar with the odd, and often maddening, traits of today's ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Nov 21, 2014 Estée rated it liked it

This is my second shot a posting this review. The first apparently has vaporized. I found myself in quite a dilemma trying to analyze this book. Portions are charming description of life at a British school, something teachers everywhere would love to read. Other sections are less coherent. While there are many young characters their plot line gets lost in the interactions of the faculty. Part of my problem is this book was labeled as Young Adult, which I believe does the book a disservice. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 09, 2014 Christie rated it really liked it

Being married to a former high school science teacher, it's like reading about my husband's own teaching career.
The book is well-written and humorous. You can tell the author has experience working in a classroom, which gives his story a realness about it; very authentic.

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Apr 03, 2014 Sara Freitag rated it it was amazing

Loved loved this book! I laughed out loud many times. Teachers rock! I didn't want to put it down. After a long hard day, I could pick this up and know that I was going to smile and even laugh! Great job!!!!

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jun 26, 2017 Greg Chandler rated it liked it

This collection of anecdotes from the classroom isn't one of the "inspiring" stories that give purpose to teaching and encourage young scholars to see the profession as a "way to make a difference".

The teacher in the story learns to manage discipline, but makes his share of mistakes as well. When students pass a note that threatens a girl with rape, he throws the note out instead of involving the administration. When a particularly obnoxious student pushes him over a cafe table, he punches the ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 23, 2016 Sal Noel rated it did not like it

This book was unbearable. I'll admit to not finishing it. Started poorly- I skip- read on. No improvement. I have taught in all sorts of British schools and this book gave me no joy what-so-ever. In all seriousness, I'd say there was a student in that school who would have done a better job at writing. No depth. No style. Dull

flag Like · see review

Jan 11, 2016 Allie Cresswell rated it liked it · review of another edition

This collection of three books uses some cross-fertilisation of character and setting but each would stand alone quite comfortably and, arguably, more successfully.
The first book reads more like a memoire than a novel. A series of incidents, situations and character outlines form a teacher’s purportedly imaginary recollection of his teaching experiences. Some of the events were clearly amusing that the time, but their narration came across as rather laboured and more than once I found myself This collection of three books uses some cross-fertilisation of character and setting but each would stand alone quite comfortably and, arguably, more successfully.
The first book reads more like a memoire than a novel. A series of incidents, situations and character outlines form a teacher’s purportedly imaginary recollection of his teaching experiences. Some of the events were clearly amusing that the time, but their narration came across as rather laboured and more than once I found myself with the thought ‘perhaps you had to have been there.’ There was little cohesion or development, for me, however the events of the finale did shock me and I began to view the central character with more interest.
So much so that I hoped that the second book would follow this character into his teaching at a college of FE; suddenly he was more solid and human to me than he had been throughout the first book. How would a new teaching environment, more mature students and the new-found recognition of his own short-comings influence him? However, the second book took another teacher as its main protagonist; the setting, the issues and the character types remained the same. It worked better as a novel, though, with a central storyline - the rescue and improvement of the school’s nature area. What a shame that the writer chose such unlikely and overtly ‘comedic’ names for some of his characters - it did prevent me from taking them at all seriously, which was a shame, as their trials and tribulations were, at times, quite affecting.
The third book is labelled as a ‘thriller’ but I am afraid that it didn’t thrill me. More comedic names, two dimensional characters and some lengthy, non-contributory treatises about aspects of ecology suffocated the admittedly shocking elements of violence and the human interest features of the story.
The author writes with authority and in too much detail on subjects which are obviously of great interest to him; the environment, teaching practice, ornithology, but which don’t contribute much to the stories and became wearisome. His rendering of the south Manchester accent was a patois which even I only just penetrated and I was born and raised in the area and attended a school just like Birch Green in a town actually named in the book as a satellite of the imaginary Boynton. This heavily accented and phonetically rendered brogue was used by all the children and the ‘baddies’ which, unfortunately, linked them together and made them all into stereotypes. The teaching staff and police all spoke with normal accents - more stereotyping.
On the plus side - the violence of some of the scenes notwithstanding - the writer uses euphemisms for swearwords throughout, so these books can confidently be read by a young adult audience who might recognise and empathise with the school’s pupils and perhaps see that the teachers are human beings, too. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jennifer Beahler rated it liked it
May 22, 2016

Nora Muse rated it it was amazing
Jul 10, 2019

Ruth Casey May rated it really liked it
May 22, 2016

Lee fowley rated it liked it
Jan 03, 2016

Tabby Kat rated it it was ok
Oct 14, 2019

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Publishers who request a fee upfront	1	1	Nov 02, 2016 07:33AM
Book Viral Spotlight	1	3	Feb 23, 2014 09:36AM

About G.J. Griffiths

G.J. Griffiths

70 followers

G J Griffiths is a retired science teacher with some early working experience of the photographic industry. Born in the UK he enjoys reading most genres of fiction such as sci-fi, crime/detective thrillers, historical and wildlife stories. Non-fiction reading mainly includes scientific or historical books. Walking in the English, Scottish or Welsh countryside with binoculars ready for ...more