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Mr Woodwood, Britannia Primary, was formative for me. Taught me that there’s more to life than the academic side. He’d probably be banned now, but we learnt a lot through sport and play.
Mr Moon, Geography at Copleston, was pretty significant too considering I went on to get a degree, MSc and PhD in geography.
I can't recall too many. Generally speaking I preferred the ones that treated you with respect and more like an adult. I think it's how my mind used to work as a kid, I would be very keen to repay faith when it was shown in me and felt a sense of loyalty to those. If a teacher was an arse I would quite happily down tools.
One such example was GCSE English. There were 2 papers, one for the lower ability kids and one for the higher. The lower one meant you couldn't achieve more than a C, but had way less chance of falling off the bottom and getting a fail. There was no pupil input into which paper you did, they just got posted up on the notice board in the middle of school for everyone to see. I wasn't a top student by any means but was mortified to see my name in the list to do the lower paper.
I promptly found my teacher and asked it if was a clerical error. He explained it was my best chance of getting a C, to which I replied it was my worst chance to get an A or B. After some discussion he agreed to change me, so needless to say with my pride now at stake and a point to prove I revised by balls off and got the A. Having something to prove is a powerful motivator.
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Talking of teachers on 13:17 - Aug 1 with 2013 views
As English wasn't my thing, I didn't really appreciate Mr Hewitt but one person who did was Trevor Nunn.
[Post edited 1 Aug 2023 8:48]
I remember Mr Hewitt at the end of his career. His technique for calming down a room was a gentle ' now, boys'.
Neil Salmon at Northgate encouraged my enthusiasm for film and got me involved at the Ipswich Film Theatre even if I did spend more time watching Fassbinder movies than reading Twelfth Night or Keats.
On the other hand if I saw Mr Hodds.....
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Talking of teachers on 13:32 - Aug 1 with 1976 views
Talking of teachers on 23:16 - Jul 31 by Churchman
I went to a private school at 11 and my teacher was a man called The Colonel. He really was a ex-Colonel in the Chindits in WW2 and used to rule on military lines. Brutally. He seemed to be permanently enraged. Legacy of the war I suppose. If you could get him on the subject he’d describe bayoneting and shooting Japanese in the jungle and how they’d burn them out with flame throwers. His face would go purple and the eyes would roll. He was a good teacher though. No dossing about and fortunately he didn’t mind me.
At my next skool at 13 it was my misfortune to have a house master called George. The masters were not allowed to use the cane. Only the head could do that. But they could use anything else. Lumps of wood, cricket bats you name it and George’s speciality was using rugby or cricket boots as a bolus. I learned nothing from him.
Yet another fierce b&gger was a chap known as Colin (they were always known by names but not to their faces. Sir or Mr … was the drill. They all wore gowns too). This bloke scared the life out of everyone and would make your life a misery if you got on the wrong side. But he was very supportive / helpful to me in later school years and I learned a lot from him.
I went to boys schools from the age of 11 and most of the older masters had been in the war. The younger ones of course hadn’t and were generally less ‘rigid’. I can’t say I enjoyed school really. I had some good times and of course my friends but I was happy to leave - not least because in my final year I was boarding, but that’s another story.
As a postscript a good influence on me was the mush that taught Maths and later head of the boarding house I was in. He went by the nickname Chopper and for good reason. He never spoke loudly. He didn’t need to. Had eyes that could freeze the blood. No mucking around with him. He’d been in the Royal Engineers before teaching and actually went on to be Headmaster at Stamford School. He had natural, easy authority.
Without him I’d never have got maths O Level. I really don’t have much aptitude for it but of course, an o level in that at the time I was at school was crucial.
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Talking of teachers on 13:48 - Aug 1 with 1945 views
My sixth form tutor and history teacher was a great man from Yorkshire. He was firm and everybody respected him but he was such a kind man with a great sense of humour, love of all sports and a great knowledge of music. He took a real interest in all of us. He was a Leeds fan and used to love reminding me of how good Ipswich were before I was born. He wore a red tie every day, stressed the importance of unions, listening to alternative viewpoints and helped the entire year with our personal statements. Never met a single person with a bad word to say about him.
I went to Nacton Heath. Many of the classes were somewhat unruly and it took very skilled teachers to actually manage the classroom and educate those that did actually want to learn. The best teachers in this environment were those that were "firm but fair" and in my day two really stood out above the others, Mr Cox, the Maths teacher and Mr Chilvers, the Geography the teacher. Both really helped me and I will always be grateful to them.
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Talking of teachers on 14:53 - Aug 1 with 1892 views
Talking of teachers on 06:38 - Aug 1 by Chondzoresk
You are same era as me. I had Mr Woodward at Britannia. But the teacher who made the biggest difference was Peter Dawson at Copleston. Even when I did pee him off about my irresponsible attitude. I leant from that.
I remember Mr Moon. Do you remember Mrs Cooper the music teacher with her selection of leather canes in her cupboard? An honourable mention to Mrs Horswill…I think that was her name.
Was it Miss Horwell--my brain is old ...brightly coloured lady in clothes,hair and personality.. lovely hippy ? She was my form teacher and passed away between my 2nd and 3rd year there sadly.
Mrs Wise at Clifford Road Primary School, a real old-fashioned teacher.
And several at Northgate, including Mr Gosling (maths),"Wally" Walshaw (geography) and Mr Robin (rugby).
Mrs Wise was my teacher at Clifford Rd too - and similarly I remember her as excellent. And Phil Needham at Northgate, not for teaching maths but for lending me a tape of the Velvet Underground.
I remember Mr Hewitt at the end of his career. His technique for calming down a room was a gentle ' now, boys'.
Neil Salmon at Northgate encouraged my enthusiasm for film and got me involved at the Ipswich Film Theatre even if I did spend more time watching Fassbinder movies than reading Twelfth Night or Keats.
On the other hand if I saw Mr Hodds.....
The name Hodds certainly rings a bell. Remind me, what did he teach?
[Post edited 1 Aug 2023 15:05]
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Talking of teachers on 15:24 - Aug 1 with 1830 views
Talking of teachers on 20:35 - Jul 31 by Dubtractor
I'm honestly struggling to answer this. Not in the spirit of the thread, but I had a largely forgettable array of teachers (sure they think the same of me too!). All mostly competent, but not too many that I'd say made a difference. Worth noting that my academic achievements are mediocre, at best, and where I am in my working life now bears little relation to my education, just a case of circumstance leading me to where I am.
But I'll give two notable mentions, just to take part.
Mr Lester, maths teacher for my GCSE and A levels at Farlingaye , who came out with our group of lads for an end of 6th form night out, and got more sh1t faced than any of us, and was a genuinely decent bloke (hence we asked him to join us).
Mr Harris, Sociology teacher at Farlingaye, for 2 reasons. 1 - the most amazing inverse sideburns that ended about an inch above his ears. It was like he couldn't get them level and kept trimming an extra bit off until they matched. 2 - I scored a double hat-trick past him in goal in the 6th form vs teachers football match.
This. Tbh I don't feel my teachers taught me anything beyond a bunch of facts that I needed to remember long enough to pass some exams
I'll give honourable mentions to Mr Franklin, Wymondham High, History who was a laugh. I already liked History though.
And Mr Jarvis who taught American Politics at Hewitt 6th form and was a genuinely nice man that did a great job of helping us understand a lot of the context and reading between the lines that can go on in the US.
In terms of impact on me, the person I am or the path that I have taken though, absolutely none of them.
As a postscript a good influence on me was the mush that taught Maths and later head of the boarding house I was in. He went by the nickname Chopper and for good reason. He never spoke loudly. He didn’t need to. Had eyes that could freeze the blood. No mucking around with him. He’d been in the Royal Engineers before teaching and actually went on to be Headmaster at Stamford School. He had natural, easy authority.
Without him I’d never have got maths O Level. I really don’t have much aptitude for it but of course, an o level in that at the time I was at school was crucial.
I have always thought from the quality of your comments on here that you are a class above most of the rest of us!
[Post edited 1 Aug 2023 15:41]
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Talking of teachers on 15:43 - Aug 1 with 1787 views
That I don't remember it, doesn't mean it didn't happen. My memory seems to get worse every day.
I can certainly join you in that memory thing...worrying isn't it...but then I forget what I'm worrying about. Not sure your vintage but the period i'd be talking about would be 83-88 ... and of course there were ..are still ? many different teachers unions as well as there are in other industries ..and some did and some didn't strike more than others as well as some were bigger in other geographical areas.
I can certainly join you in that memory thing...worrying isn't it...but then I forget what I'm worrying about. Not sure your vintage but the period i'd be talking about would be 83-88 ... and of course there were ..are still ? many different teachers unions as well as there are in other industries ..and some did and some didn't strike more than others as well as some were bigger in other geographical areas.
[Post edited 1 Aug 2023 16:43]
I left school in 83, aged 16, with absolutely no GCEs. Thankfully I was able to sign up, which pretty much saved me from prison or worse. I dread to think what young people who drop out these days, do.
Didn’t enjoy my school years particularly but Geoff Harvey was the only teacher I had any real respect for as he was extremely encouraging to all the pupils. Often saw him about for a chat when I had left. An honourable mention must also go to the biology teacher who went by the wonderful name of Dick Seaman. Decent enough fella who’s name caused much merriment.
We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub.
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