Giving up their calling not easy
Retired teachers still have passion to help kids
AS THE school year draws to an end, so too will years of selfless service for three Nelson Mandela Bay teachers, who together dedicated more than a century to improving the lives of the next generation.
Helenvale Primary School principal Malcolm Roberts, De Vos Malan Primary School music teacher Julia Kemp and Victoria Park Grey Primary School English teacher Glenis Whitehead will all be putting down their pencils tomorrow after devoting 37 years, 41 years and 43 years respectively to teaching.
Roberts said while he was done being a teacher, he would never stop contributing to education.
“Thirty-four years of my teaching career was spent at Helenvale Primary, 10 of those as principal.
“And I will tell you this, when I returned to PE from Kimberley where I was teaching at an affluent school, I went to Helenvale Primary for one day . . . and told my mother I would not be going back,” Roberts said.
“The area was rife with violence and unemployment, which I wasn’t used to. But instead, I spent 34 years there, because I realised God had placed me at that school to better the lives of those pupils and the community.
“I learnt so much from that school and in particular the staff, who passionately contributed to improving the situation.
“We managed to introduce a vegetable garden, an early childhood development centre and a library, among other things,” said Roberts, who also hopes to bring back a sports programme at Helenvale Primary.
Kemp said her retirement had not hit home yet, as she too felt obliged to continue with her passion for children and music.
“Some of my fondest memories at the school were the two years I also taught health and Bible education. It reminded me of why I got into the profession, to better children in a holistic manner.
“I have seen curriculums come and go but one thing remains, teachers are yet to be consulted when it comes to these changes, which I hope won’t be the case for much longer,” Kemp said.
Both Roberts and Kemp agreed the biggest challenges in education in the northern areas were a lack of involvement from parents and lack of respect from pupils.
“The parents of these pupils are getting younger and that comes with a multitude of problems as they are children themselves,” Roberts said.
Whitehead, a former VP Grey pupil herself, was described by a colleague as an all-rounder in both academics and sports, who displayed expertise in everything she applied herself to.
“VP Grey has been home for me for too long. It saddens me to think this is the end of the road, however, I was blessed to have been a part of the VP Grey family for all these years, all the memories made will be treasured as I look forward to embarking on a new journey,” Whitehead said.