How did you come to be a secondary-school headmaster? I have worked in secondary boys schools for 45 years (27 as headmaster). I have done every position and job one could do in a secondary school.
What brought you to your current school?
I taught at St Paul’s in the 70s. When asked to consider applying for St Paul’s college - I grabbed the opportunity.
What are your favourite things about being a headmaster?
To be able to influence the character, the opportunity and futures for young men over many years.
What has been a highlight of your teaching career?
There have been several peaks:
• Bringing a project to fruition
• Bring able to help parents deal with their adolescent, sometimes stroppy son
• Teaching chemistry to high level
• Being headmaster of a large catholic boys school for many years
• Winning sports championships
• Having adolescent boys understanding and appreciating music.
What has been low points of your teaching career?
There have been several troughs:
• Managing conflict in the community
• Managing personal (unwanted) criticism
• Coping with imposed 'not thought out' change
• Losing school sporting championships
• Turning away good families and boys because of insufficient room.
How would your boss describe you?
An experienced head with lots of ideas. A follow through approach guy. A ‘get the job done’ pragmatic approach to education.
How would your teachers describe you?
A change agent with many ideas. Supportive of classroom practitioners so that they can do their job. A man with authority - because of the grey hair. The man with the best car in the school.
How would your students describe you?
A hard guy - driven. A man who wants everyone to get ahead. Just saying it - about expectations required. A setter of boundaries for all.
If you could wave a magic wand at your school...
• I would have every boy at St Paul’s playing a musical instrument
• Every boy playing a sport for the school
• Every boy gaining UE in year 13
• Every boy doing 15-20 hours per year of service for his community
• Every boy understanding poetry and Christianity.
Five tips for mums and dads of secondary school boys:
1. Fathers being present at every school event, read every newsletter and know by name every teacher of his son.
2. Mothers not taking your son’s lunch into school when he forgets. Let him be hungry for a day. He will only do it once.
3. Fathers picking up your son at every occasion. Boys will talk more when moving in a car, a walk, etc.
4. Mothers inserting this phrase when disciplining your son: “I am not showing you disrespect when I confront your misbehaviour but...” Boys listen to the word ‘respect’ and take the punishment.
5. Fathers when talking with your son, allow yourself to be vulnerable and hence authentic. Speak from the heart (leave out the flash corporate lingo).
ST PAUL'S COLLEGE www.stpaulscollege.co.nz