Try To Learn

Only about 20 percent of them ever actually did get into those higher income jobs. Most grew up instead and entered the ‘real’ world. I recall looking many up in what they listed as their jobs, when a reunion was put together. It was not an invitation I would ever accept. To go back to another unpleasant period of my life, no thank you. I have never met other students from my classes, as I have travelled elsewhere in the world. And occasionally while I have heard a name mentioned, which does not inspire any pleasant memories, I was however much impressed (some years later) by Russell Coutts. Who, one day, in his 5^th form year at high school he turned to me in history class and said, “I don’t need this. I just want to sail”. And apparently he did*. There was a boy, who knew what he wanted, and did it. Not arrogant, he was just determined. Meanwhile, the rest of us needed some help from good teachers. They seemed so few and far between.

One of the best for me was when I was around 9 years old. It was Mr Walsh who, as I mentioned, taught me a serious lesson regarding value, moral and consequences, without any actual punishment. I have to this day been sincerely grateful to his memory (for he unfortunately died of cancer some years later). He was a teacher I valued learning from. He was gentle and quiet, considerate and very interesting. His wife worked as an actress. He appeared much quieter than her. There was a certain sparkle in his eyes when he knew you were trying to see what he was teaching. And a genuine smile when he saw you understood. If you didn’t, then he would try to find time to bring you up to speed, sometimes in his own lunch break… and in yours as well. or was that just some form of detention?  I can’t picture it as that. He encouraged you to try.

I remember he read us a poem once. Ethelred. ‘The Sad Tale of a Motor Fan by H. A. Field’ About a boy who became (in his mind) a motorcar. He told the class how a boy in one of his previous classes, had learnt the poem in a week. Of course, I saw that as a challenge. So approaching him that day I asked if I could have a copy of the poem to see if I could learn it. He kindly lent me the book saying with a smile. “Yes, of course. Then copy it out and see how you go.” Oh, copy it out. Not simply take the book home read it. Not a silly man was Mr Walsh. So. Copy it out and that way, some learning was definitely involved. And therefore, I did that afternoon, and took the copy home to learn. This was extra homework. But I wanted to do it. I wanted to…. prove I was better than some of the others? Was that the reason?

(Continued tomorrow)

*Sir Russell Coutts, KNZM, CBE (born 1 March 1962 in Wellington New Zealand) is a competitive sailor. His achievements include a Gold medal in the Finn Class in the 1984 Olympic Games, winning the America's Cup four times, the ISAF World Youth championships, three World Match Racing Championships, numerous international match race wins and IOR, IMS and One Design World Championship victories. He has a perfect record in America's Cup racing with 16 wins to 0 losses. (ref:Wikipedia)