Reflections on my education journey
Myself in the red top and long brown hair 1982
Peter Cunningham and myself 1983 second row from front. I am in the red & white striped top and Peter in a pale blue shirt.
It might sound cliché but I have to marvel at the journey and the changes that have evolved in education in my lifetime. Current students should appreciate the opportunities modern education and the curriculum provides them.
My earliest memories are of living in an old wooden school house (Head Masters accommodation) next to what were called 'one teacher schools'. My father was the only teacher, he taught over 60 students by himself in one large room. He had become a teacher after receiving a teaching scholarship after year ten, had twelve months training at a technical college in Turbot street in Brisbane then he was sent out to teach at age seventeen. Year one students had slates to learn to write on, one used another piece of slate to write with and a wet cloth was used to wipe off the lettering. They were the size of today's tablets. On the walls were alphabet charts and time tables with a picture of a very young Queen overseeing the students, all sitting in rows at wooden tables with long wooden stools. The teacher's main teaching device was a black chalk board on which very neatly printed and running writing instructions were given. Older students did copy book writing, using ink and nibs; we had to learn how to use blotting paper when the ink was too thick. A hand held school bell and its ringing was used as a reward for good students, at morning-tea we drank the free small bottle of milk the government provided for students. I recall the school motto from one on my many primary schools 'children the school motto is by honourable deeds and hard work' and 'good, better, best, never let it rest, till your good is better and your better best'.
As part of a generation that experienced the transition from the Pond to the Dollar 'with 12 pennies in a shilling and 20 shillings in a pound, there was a lot of difficult maths involved in using our money. It was on 14 February 1966 that Australia started to use decimal currency – the dollars and cents that we know today'. The transition in money was confusing for students at the time. In all I attended five primary schools and two High Schools all over North Queensland, whenever my father was transferred it was a promotion, each time it meant more teaching staff. My mother who was a very talented artist had to resign from teaching when she married my father as was the rules for all women who worked in the public service. She had also run one teacher schools by herself in very isolated areas; she was one of the 'golden girls' only given six months of teaching training and sent out to fill the vacancies left by men such as my father leaving regular jobs to join the Australian Armed Services to fight during World War One. My father saw active service in New Guinea and Borneo; he never liked to talk about those years during war time.
The department changed it rules about married female teachers working when they had a serious teacher shortage due to the baby boomer generation. I recall the Director of Education contacting my mother by letter and begging her to return to teaching. Female teachers until 1969 were only paid half what a male teacher was paid for the same job, I remember my mother being able to purchase a new electric sewing machine when she started to get equal pay. They lived for a few years in places where there was no electricity so she had an old fashioned treadle machine. Up until I was five we lived where there was no electricity, old wooden stoves, no sewage, there was a kerosene refrigerator, a windmill to pump the water from the ground to fill a rain tank.
Until 1962 Year eight students use to be in Primary school and did what was called a 'Scholarship Exam, state run, all students in the whole of Queensland undertook the same exams. After which the majority of students left school to do apprenticeships or go to work. Very few went onto High Schools. My elder siblings did the year eight Primary school Scholarship exam; I recall the tension that everyone felt at that time. In 1963 year 8 students were moved into High Schools and in year ten (10) State run external exams were conducted, every student in Queensland did the same exams for all their subjects. The exams were sometimes two hours in length, they were discontinued in 1970. The papers were sent to Brisbane to be marked, as a student during those times I learnt that it was up to me to do my best that there was no one else to blame. There was pressure, but it made us resilient and taught us how to think and reflect.
In 1968, a Select Committee of the Australian Senate examined metric "Weights and Measures" and came to the unanimous conclusion that it was both practical and desirable for Australia to change to the metric system. So more change that students had to adapt to; It was also the year I did year 10 external exams; I was the only student in my commercial class that went onto do senior. In year 10 there was little flexibility with subjects. It was not until year 11 that I could finally study art, with an added challenge of having to change schools and make new friends once again as my father was transferred to the Mackay region from Far Northern Queensland. In 1969 they let us students go home during the school day to watch the Moon landing. For me that was a long ride in a rattly bus.
So why did I become a teacher, just like my mother, I only even wanted to have a career involving art in some way and I was lucky enough to be able to attend Art college in Brisbane after senior. I had to leave home and flew on my very first plan flight in 1972. With the art teacher scholarship I studied for three years at Brisbane College of Art then headed to Kelvin Grove Teachers College for Post Graduate Teaching Studies. It was half way through that final forth year that after finishing Student teacher Prac at Aspley High School (there I met future work colleague Peter Cunningham); that I had to defer my studies as injured when I was knocked down by a vehicle on my way to college one morning. Having a brush with death changed my perspective on life in many ways.
Finally in 1977 I started teaching full time at Hendra High school for three years, and then Craigslea High for two year, instead of going to Kingaroy in 1982 Nashville High needed an art teacher. Young female art teacher had resigned suddenly from Nashville High just after Christmas to peruse ball room dancing success in Sydney.
It was a lucky coincidence that the position was available for me and that was the start of the very rewarding Nashville years. By 1990 there were four art teachers and three art rooms, D4 upstairs and D12 & D13 below, development of a double art room under D block in 1987 included a storeroom and dark room. It was around 1984 that I started an art event called 'The Art Expo' it included artists from the community and senior student art work. It was first held in A block when three rooms used to be able to be opened up. Then the event was moved to the newly built library for the 1988 celebrations for the schools 21's anniversary. In order to keep the librarian happy as she was concerned about the security of the building with art work in it I came up with the idea for all the art staff to sleep in the library to appease the librarian who had everyone terrified.
The art and teaching staff I worked with in those years were amazing and are still great friends. We had a happy staffroom; in the mix to keep everyone entertained and informed was Peter Cunningham, transferred to the school in 1983. See if you can work out where we are in the attached staff photo from 1983? The whole school stopped to watch the Melbourne Cup, on wet days the lunch hours were shortened and students went home earlier. There was a wonderful large staff common room in A block and many happy chats occurred during very regular whole staff mornings teas. Reflecting back those were the golden years, computers were not yet our masters.
When I left Nashville in 1990 to start a family I never anticipated that I would return to the school. Had twelve years part time, first at Hendra Secondary College teaching in the evenings adult students senior art, followed by a year district relieving, Interview Panel (Mr Gravatt Ed Office) and teaching time in over fifteen primary and high schools in Brisbane. Two years Newmarket High School, (then the State Government sold off New Market High School, madness at the time selling off assets that are now really needed, Nashville High was on their hit list also), from them I returned to for three years part time back at Craigslea High.
In 2001 an art teacher at Nashville High wanted to work part time, so I came in as her teaching partner. That partnership lasted a year then she had a serious injury to her right arm and subsequently left teaching. So in 2002 I resumed full-time teaching duties at what had been remarketed as Bracken Ridge High School to save the school from ending up having the land sold off like New Market High. In my years away from the school there had been twelve different art teachers and I found items were still where I had left them twelve years previously.
Since 2002, it might sound like a coincidence but there have been another twelve different art teachers that have come and gone, where did they go some may ask; two retired, one become a very successful artist and university professor, one became a policeman, two transferred to large schools, one left to work in another creative field, five stepped in part time (some months or weeks in 2007/ 2010 / 2012 /2013/ 2019, all over 23 years), the contract art teachers stepped in when I had to take extended time off work for family, injuries and surgery.
My 46 teaching years has been an amazing journey, never a dull moment when working in schools, meeting so many young people starting their own life journeys. There has been so many wonderful and supportive staff that I have worked with over the years. Many are still close friends and we treasure our time working at the BRSHS / NSHS. The fun and demands of School art shows and events, School Musical backdrops, for those who might recall the Ekka Produce displays that saw art, manual arts and Home economics work as a team to produce award winning displays for close to twelve years set up in the Agricultural Pavilion at the RNA show grounds. Where are all those cups and sashes that were won?
In the early 1980's for a few years I had to do the school newsletters, thank goodness computers started to be used to free me from the old cut and paste. Now computers and technology seem to be consuming too much time; look up and live everyone, walk away from that screen, don't use it to baby sit, watch mindless social media and avoid talking to real people.
Other art tasks included in the past includes collages of photographs required for the school magazine Zenith a time capsules for each school year. Setting up displays outside the school, many were years as a Subject area coordinator, year level coordinator, organising school camps, including a memorable year eight camp to Witta, in the old school yard and buildings; also senior students to Noosa. Have other memories from other schools, climbing Mr Coolum, freezing during winter in tents in the Kenilworth rainforest. Compared to friends who had office jobs I know what career is far more rewarding. In 2017 we celebrated the schools 50th anniversary, it was a privilege to work with the small team of individuals who made that event possible, the art exhibition that I organised included a wonderful opening night, set up in the MPSC (hall) included community artist, past art students who work in the arts professionally and past art teachers. The fireworks on the lower oval to conclude the event framed by the magnificent gum trees in the school grounds as the sun set is a very special memory. Supportive staff and kind students who have helped out with the 50th and so many other events and projects, you know you are, I thank you with all my heart.
In 2018 the decision was made to change the 'Arts Expo' end of year annual event to possibly Arts Showcase as it features Art, Music and Drama work and performances, my suggestion was as we wanted to imagine the event in a different way to call it 'The Arts Reimagined'. Art went back to being exhibited in the Library instead of the MPSC Drama in the auditorium and this year in the new K block purpose built facility with outdoor music and entertainment. Now an annual Outdoor and indoor festival held in October. It's an event that everyone enjoys as it is like a 'Festival; with food vans and allows the school and wider community to appreciate the efforts of students and teachers of the Arts.
Being an art teacher has been a privilege and I wish future art teachers many happy years at Bracken Ridge high School. The arts encourages students to be creative and to expressive emotions. Fine motor skills are really important and in a digital world it is imperative that we stay connected with kinetic experiences as they help the brain grow and develops well-adjusted individuals.
It is with a heavy but full heart that I turn the page to start a new creative chapter of my life. An artist never retires, instead of being a full-time teacher and part time artist, the plan is to be a full time artist and part time teacher. I wish everyone a content and peaceful life, be grateful for all that you have and enjoy your journey thought the years.
Judy Parker - 2023
There is a saying that I like to share...
You cannot be given a life by anyone else
Of all the people you will know in your life
You are the only one you will never leave or loose
To the questions of your life you are the only answer
To the problems of your life you are the only solution
Next page – It probably is too long but famous poem I like to quote.
Below is a copy of a very old poem that I also find inspiring
A Psalm of Life
BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW (1807 – 1882)
What The Heart Of The Young Man Said To The Psalmist.
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream!
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.
Life is real! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.
Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.
Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!
Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o'erhead!
Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;
Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.