I taught for two years at Taumarunui High School.
The school wasn’t that easy to staff. A high proportion of staff came from offshore mainly UK and Ireland and both staff and kids needed interpreters for a couple of them when they got excited.
Kiwi teachers didn’t stay that long unless they married locals.
Terry Moyle the boss there was pretty keen to get me. Economics/accounting degree with teacher training as well. And family in town.
Terry was a real character. Arrived in 1950? one morning as a commercial traveller, was asked to take a class for the day and stayed to the mid 1980s. Most of the time as headmaster.
My Dad during a break from his more commercial world taught there in 1952 and 1953. They left town and Dad never taught again. Plenty of comments about those who don’t learn the lessons of history repeating them. Dad and Terry told stories about each other.
The boss had an interesting approach to the school roll. 1 march was the vital day for school staffing and funding. The school often had a sports day then. All the kids who hadn’t left town were encouraged to come back to school for the day and compete. They weren’t necessarily as welcome the following week.
The school had a lodge up the mountain which was a good fundraiser as well as a base for lots of Outdoor Education. I think all the kids had at least two weeks there during their school careers. You could just watch them grow. And while we took care they weren’t wrapped in cotton wool like kids are far too often today.
It had a strong Maori Department and Culture team – headed by Bunny Wildermoth and Norm Tocker, a Celtic Jew, whose daughter Mahinarangi used to busk outside Carran’s supermarket. It was from the school that I first went to tangi and learned about marae as meeting places for everyday people – not as grand as Steve O’Regan had taught me – but much more vital.
Pretty important stuff for a pale city boy.
Good to read some of the experiences that have made you a more rounded person.