Fantastic Teacher

"Imagine being a catalyst for knowledge discovery, a herald of change, a champion for Aotearoa or a scaffolder of self-worth". This is one of the visionary roles for teachers in 2027, identified in Secondary Future's publication "Inspiring Teachers".

I was fortunate to have such a teacher but way back in 1970 -71! She was a Home Economics teacher by the name of G Bowman teaching at at Putaruru Manual Training Centre, based on the grounds of Oraka Heights Primary School, and she made a difference! Her passion and enthusiasm for both her subject area and the children she taught was the catalyst to "ignite" in me a passion for learning. "I want to be a teacher just like her" was the vision I held from leaving her classes in 1971 and throughout my secondary and tertiary education until I qualified as a Home Economics teacher in 1978. She was and still remains a powerful role model. I was fortunate to meet her later in the 1990's and have her visit my own Home Economics department - but that's another story!

So what was it that made such an impression? Miss Bowman's classes were wow! They were fun, hard work, challenging and I loved them, every single minute! I couldn't wait to get there and I hated leaving - always trying to extract more time from the short one and half hour session including staying in over play time and lunch time. Miss Bowman gave meaning to learning, she encouraged me to move beyond mediocrity and strive for excellence and she believed I could do it and told me so. However more importantly she taught me to question and with those questions seek answers and solutions - " what else could you try?" I recall her saying. Her classes provided real learning not just with great take home products, as there were some disasters, but opportunities for celebration where our friends, teachers and parents came to share in our successes. I recall the annual fashion show and the preparation and service of the food as part of the whole gamut of the event. But she also cared about us, 'her girls' and she worked hard to ensure each lesson was interesting and that we achieved. I always knew she cared about me as a person, she wanted the best for me despite that fact the I was probably one of up to 150 odd students she saw a week.

I recall lining up in the traditional gender specific crocodile lines to walk the distance from the classroom around the padder tennis courts to line up outside the 'manual block'. Hushed, apprehensive but excited children having started the new school year as Form One kids and as such now in the senior area of the primary school system and entitled to attend specialist 'manual education'. And boy was it fun! It was learning that I loved, not just because it was 'hands on' but it allowed real creativity and integration of a host of other curriculum areas, maths suddenly made sense for me. Her assignments were cool, we got to choose areas of interest - I not surprisingly chose textiles- and we could present them anyway we liked! However these are all stories for another blog.

My teacher was fantastic! She made a difference for me! To Miss Bowman - thanks! Thanks for the passion, dedication and commitment. Thanks for being my inspiration and know that your teaching has made a difference not just to me but to all my students and staff over my thirty years of teaching and learning too! You were the catalyst for knowledge discovery and a scaffolder of self worth - a real visionary for teaching and learning then and now. Thank you!

An invitation to share memories

I often use the analogy of our life being similar to that of a piece of white silk fabric. Silk is known as the queen of fibres, natural, strong, resilient, vibrant and beautiful. It easily absorbs colour which adds richness and interest. Just like this piece of silk we as people are forever changed and our lives enriched through our interactions and experiences with others.

I invite you to share your memories of your teaching and/or learning of Home Economics - the acceptable wider definition includes Manual training, home craft, Home Science, Clothing and Textiles. It is the intent of this blog to create our professions own silk tapestry of powerful memories for what was and still is a very unique area of study.