LETTERS

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 524, 22 February 1994, Page 4

LETTERS

Twice a year he heard each standard pnmary pupil read in his office and watch out if he thought you were not doing your best for any pupil! He would spend the next day or two in your classroom teaching you now to teach if he thought you needed it. If we were 'on duty' and any children decided they wanted to play outside he'd chase us out no matter how hellish the weather. Wild, windy days were the worst. The students raced and screeched about like earthbound birds trying to fly. I thought of the good things we enjoyed - our.

dedication to and love of sport and all the lunch-hour practices we took so bus pupils wouldn't miss out. There was the weekly assembly at which each class performed an item. It could be from an indi vidual, or class singing, a choral recitation acted, a play or a skit and parents lined the hall ! We had an annual concert, sports day, calf ciub and pets day, garden plots and for a short while, a yearly boxing tournament which I didn't care for. Whoever said parents didn't have their say those days? I would recei ve regular visits from a certain parent, but I doubt if I ever heard a word she said except for her parting proclamation. She was much bigger than I and my eyes seemed on a level with her chest. She would puff out her pouter-pigeon bosom at me and I would gaze in fascination as it appeared to grow in size right before my eyes. Then would come the words, said in capitals and with which she thought I couldn't argue, "After all, I was a teacher - so I ought to know!"

June .

Bates