In 1980, I was a teacher in mid-career. I also was lucky enough to win one of two teaching Fulbrights to New Zealand. Jan and I lived in Palmerston North, one day short of a year. While there, I taught at Intermediate Normal (Grades 6 - 7). P.N.I.N. was a school where students from the then Teachers College (now part of Massey University) had their classroom experiences as well as doing their student teaching. The headmaster of this outstanding school was Johan Bonnevie, a Norwegian freedom fighter during W.W.II who left his native home to settle in N.Z. By the time I arrived, Johan was nearing the end of his career. He had gained a national reputation as an outstanding educator. (Many of his ideas are still considered innovative in the U.S.) There are many stories I could tell about Johan and his idiosyncrasies. The bottom line is that he had a tremendous impact on me professionally and personally. I have always considered him one of my mentors. While our correspondences have dwindled to yearly Christmas cards, he still often pops into my mind. One of the purposes of my trip was to deliver the following poem to him and to express my gratitude.
|
