In the inimitable words of Lee Iacocca, “In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something else.”
Teachers truly are the cornerstone of every society, and the great ones deserve to be well celebrated. One of the great ones is Blairgowrie Primary School’s Alta Fischer, who was named 702’s April winner of their Teacher of the Year competition last week.
According to 702’s Bongani Bingwa, a number of testimonials about Fischer were received from parents and learners alike. In a live broadcast on 702, the Grade Three teacher spoke about the privilege of receiving the nomination.
In the interview, she talked about how the learners themselves were her motivation to continue teaching. “The children keep me going. When you look into those little eyes on a daily basis – just by a sound, or a smile behind the mask, you can see whether they understand what is being taught. They have such a hunger and a need to learn, and that on a daily basis, inspires and motivates you.”
Acting school principal Charmaine Vartharajaloo congratulated Fischer on behalf of the school. “We are very proud of Mrs Fischer and her contribution to Blairgowrie Primary. She is an excellent teacher and an asset to our school,” said Vartharajaloo.
Parents and learners congratulate Mrs Fischer
Parents and learners also jumped at the opportunity to congratulate Fischer for her outstanding achievement. Mother Tasnim Mia and her son Razeen called into the radio station after hearing Fischer live on air, to voice their appreciation for the teacher. “She is amazing, honestly sometimes words cannot express how wonderful some people are – she has such a warm way of welcoming kids and making them feel comfortable.” Her son, Razeen told Bingwa and listeners, “Mrs Fischer is like my mom, but at school.”
Abbey McGill, another learner in Fischer’s class, told Randburg Sun that she is very proud of Mrs Fischer, and agrees that she should be named Teacher of the Year. “She is a very good teacher and always makes time for us. But she won’t let us be lazy in class and she pushes us hard. I am glad to be in Mrs Fischer’s class.”
Jiah Maharaj said his teacher makes him feel cared for and loved, and teaches many interesting things.
Ayesha Randaree Kaka said, “My son Yusuf was so fortunate to have Mrs Fischer as his Grade One teacher. She made his transition into ‘big school’ so easy and put our minds at ease. A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instil a love for learning. And that is Mrs Fischer.”
A final parent, Laila Seedat, told Randburg Sun that the world needs more people like Alta Fischer. “Mrs Fisher is a kind empathetic and caring human being, these are just some of her many strengths that make her stand out as a wonderful teacher. My eldest son (now in Grade Seven) still tries to pop by her class every so often, just to say ‘hi’. A few months ago my family experienced a family tragedy. Mrs Fisher has been soo supportive to us all during this difficult time. She provided us with books to read to the kids and would phone in to check on us.”
Related Article:
This is how teachers can ensure online safety in the classroom
