Chairs up for the last time

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 551, 30 August 1994, Page 5

Chairs up for the last time

Fourteen years of teaching at Raetihi School came to and end last Friday when Collette Taylor packed up for her final end-of-term. After a class trip to Napier first thing next term with her Raetihi kids, Mrs Taylor starts a new job at Hilltop Primary School in Taupo. She and her husband Graham decided to make a move after selling their Mangaturoa farm. They have bought a house next to the lake at Terangiita. Apart from the new teaching job, which is a Scale A position, they plan to make the most of the Taupo lifestyle, though Mrs Taylor said they do plan to go back to farming at some stage. Mrs Taylor leaves behind 14 years of work and promotion at Raetihi. She started there as a Scale A teacher, working through to a senior teacher' s position in 1990, deputy principal in 1992, and acting principal last year for a time. She said despite being very stressful, she found the principal' s job a rewarding one. "Raetihi kids have got character, they are very open and they become very loyal." Tomorrow's Schools is the first thing that springs to mind when asked about the changes in 14 years. "Teachers are coping with the changes because

basically they are a dedicated lot and the government knows they'll get in and do the job. I think thegovernment abuses that knowledge." Because the trip to Napier was already planned, Mrs

Taylor said she persuaded Hilltop to let her start next term a little late so her Raetihi kids could still go. They managed to bring the trip forward, and now they're looking forward to meeting their penpals.