Charlotte Varcoe
“AN awful lot has changed over the last 50 years and I think the biggest change has been the introduction of SACE,” Mount Gambier/Berrin teacher John Pocock said as he recalled the last half a century of teaching.
Mr Pocock first began teaching five decades ago after hanging back at university to remain with his girlfriend.
Speaking with The Border Watch, Mr Pocock said the two moved to Mount Gambier/Berrin where he began teaching and has not looked back since.
He said the biggest change was the introduction of SACE which was when it became possible for all students to achieve something.
“The other biggest change would have been all around technology,” Mr Pocock said.
“I came out with chalk and a duster and then progressed onto whiteboards, smartboards and then all of the IT computer stuff which has been a massive change.”
He said over the years he had enjoyed working with both staff and students while society continued to change.
“Naturally students have also changed as well, they are a lot more independent in a way and their attitudes to authority have changed,” he said.
“Teaching is very hard and difficult to understand, you stand up in front of a class of 30 kids and they have to be engaged but along the journey you meet lots of nice people and you hope to influence the kids lives in just a little way.
“It is a job that has got its ups and downs but overall the journey has been good and I love working at the Independent Learning Centre now.”
Having been at the learning centre for about 14 years, he said it was a great place for students who would not find it easy to exist in a “normal school” for various reasons.
“There are much smaller groups here and if one is having a bad day then we have ways for them to release that.
“They are able to walk around and come back.”
