COUNSELLOR and teacher at Kingsway High School and keen cyclists, Lynn Schroder and Alastair Peter will cycle off to ‘more time and freedom’ on Friday, 12 December, after more than half a century of service to the school between them.
Lynn has been part of the staff complement for 26 years. Apart from her role as counsellor, she has taught English, history, geography and life orientation. “I am excited. I now have more time and freedom – old people have no plans,” joked Lynn.
With her husband, Lawrence retiring from Sapref in March, the couple plan to travel in the winter, via caravan in SA and overseas. “Our next overseas trip which we are currently planning is a three-week cycle tour between north and south Vietnam.”
In the summer, she will continue to teach swimming, which she has been doing since the age of 16. The last day of school term is also Lynn’s wedding anniversary, she will be married for 34 years. The Schroders plan to celebrate with a getaway to the Drakensberg.
“I am perfectly ready to leave school. I want to enjoy gardening, reading, cycling, sewing and swimming. Although I have loved school, I am tired of the bells.” Lynn has had a long association with the school, both as a parent and staff member.
She initially started her teaching career at a farm school in Sezela. “I chose teaching because of my love of children and the school holidays.” She has never recalled an unhappy day teaching, having taught from pre-primary level to lecturing at UKZN and Mangostuthu Technikon.
During her years at Kingsway, she has also been involved in Interact (junior Rotary); junior achievers international business programme; a healthy eating club; social swimming for beginners; arranged flowers for special events and prizegiving; co-ordinated a principals’ and counsellors’ breakfast and overseen careers day at school. Another fulfilling aspect of her job was advising and discussing career choices of matric students.
Both Lynn and Alastair had a fitting farewell dinner at the school with fellow staffers and matrics on Friday, 21 November. Being the keen cyclists that they are, their partners smuggled in their bicycles and they rode a lap of honour around the school. There were a number of speeches on the evening and principal, Geoff Harrison presented them with awards for having ‘excelled beyond the call of duty.”
History teacher, Alastair has been at Kingsway for 28 years. His interest in teaching was sparked as a grade 10 student. He has only taught at high school level and started his stint at Kingsway in 1986 as deputy principal, having arrived at the school at the same as the current principal.
In 1997, he took up the government’s offer of a severance package. But the call of the classroom was too strong and he returned on a part-time basis, eventually to full-time, teaching history.
“I have loved every minute of it.” A sports enthusiast, Alastair has attended all sports events at the school and in many cases has been an integral support structure for many pupils in the various disciplines. In the next few years he plans to continue supporting sport at the school.
According to Alastair, a teacher has to have ‘tremendous empathy’. “Although teaching has become far more difficult, kids are kids. We must look for the right qualities in them and make something of them.”
With more time on his hands now, Alastair plans to do a lot more reading and spending time with his grandchildren in Scottburgh, where he has recently moved.
Both Lynn and Alastair pride themselves on never having a given a pupil a debit (detention for bad behaviour) in their careers. “Teachers must work on the positives and not focus on the negative. Love your pupils, believe in them and show that you care for them,” said Alastair.
