In Chapter 11 of “Goodbye, Mr. Chips,” the focus is on the relationship between Mr. Chipping (Chips) and Ralston, the school’s headmaster. Ralston is portrayed as an efficient and ambitious figure who has elevated the status of Brookfield School. Despite Ralston’s success in improving the school, Chips finds him unlikable. Nevertheless, Chips serves Brookfield faithfully, not bothered by Ralston’s lack of affection towards him.
However, in 1908, when Chips is sixty, Ralston suggests retirement to him. This unexpected proposal startles Chips, who vehemently expresses his reluctance to retire. Ralston, undeterred, suggests that Chips consider the option, emphasizing that the governors would ensure a proper pension. The conversation becomes tense as Chips resists the idea of retirement. Ralston then accuses Chips of not pulling his weight, citing outdated teaching methods, slovenly personal habits, and insubordination to Ralston’s instructions.
Chips, bewildered by the allegations, questions Ralston’s claim of slovenliness. Ralston points out Chips’s gown as an example, revealing that it has become a source of amusement among the students. This marks a turning point in the relationship between Chips and Ralston, as the headmaster criticizes Chips’s professional and personal conduct, setting the stage for potential conflicts and challenges for Mr. Chipping.