Three Eisleben Road Primary School teachers, who had served at the institution since its inception, have said goodbye to their classrooms after 40 years.
Deseree Voges, from Westridge, Gail Symonds, from Penlyn Estate, and Nazli Ismail, from Goodwood, who retired last week, calculated their years of teaching according to the ages of children they had taught.
“They were our children. We taught them, played with them, cared for them, and tied their shoe laces. We are their safe space,” said the Grade 1 teacher Ms Ismail.
She was always in awe of her colleague, Grade 2 teacher, Ms Symonds, whom the children were so fond of.
“She always was a mother to the children. She spoils her kids. I never told you how much I admire you,” she said.
During their interview with the Plainsman the trio discussed teaching children in 1983 and in 2023.
This year the school celebrates its 40th anniversary (“Eisleben Road Primary turns 40”, Plainsman March 8).
Grade 6 teacher Ms Voges said the child of today was “drastically different”.
“The child listened, was curious and today they are telling you things.
“They are exposed to so many things. Social media and what they see in reality,” she said.
“They don’t believe in the tooth fairy or Father Christmas because they see things on television.
“We must convince them. They don’t use their imagination,” she said.
Ms Ismail said parents used to read bedtime stories, there were rules and now they are told to watch something before going to sleep.
“They knew the value of a book, to touch a page and have clean hands.
“We had book education as a subject. We made book marks, followed authors and reading was so important. We could have a whole lesson on books,” she said.
Ms Ismail said everything was not available at a click of a button those days.
Ms Voges said with the abolishment of corporal punishment went respect and discipline.
“We didn’t have to hit the children with it. We just needed it in our hands. We could not use it as a pointer. It challenged children to be better,” she said.
Ms Ismail said they were taught during tuition that a teacher should be smartly dressed in heels, skirts and stockings.
She said when teachers walked in the road they were respected. “Daar kom ‘n juffrou aan,” they would say.
Ms Ismail taught the first and only English, language of instruction class at the school in 1983.
“The rest were all Afrikaans-speaking and then when computers came everyone moved to English,” she said.
Today she wears her flats and comfortable clothes, to hug, bend and play with her children.
“The role of the teacher has changed. We are the mother, social worker, psychologist, caretakers and responsible for the care of this child,” she said.
Ms Voges said she has to prepare her Grade 6 pupils for the “big man’s world”; for the “cruel world” which is different here in primary school.
Ms Ismail said she enjoyed teaching a “clean slate” and watching her pupils grow.
“It was a lovely journey. Very rewarding. You could mould them. See your habits rub off on them.
“When you speak to them and show compassion, they may not get it at home,” she said.
She said a task is done well when the pupil flashes a smile of accomplishment.
Ms Symonds said a highlight for her was seeing a former pupil achieve success when they’re older.
“Seeing a learner become a professional is priceless. You see them in the mall. They talk, greet and hug you,” she said.
The trio chuckled at whether they should ask the former pupil who they were.
They have taught mothers and grandmothers and their children are now at the school.
Ms Ismail said that they were at an age where they could ask.
Ms Symonds asks: “Who are you?” but Ms Voges said: “You dare not ask them”.
They agreed overall that education, resources and subjects have changed.
They said they were leaving so new teachers could experience the love they received from pupils.
Ms Voges said they could not have found another family, like Eisleben Road Primary School.
“This was home. They accepted you. We’re a close knit family with whom we shared joy, sorrow and pain,” she said.
She said they missed the skills taught to pupils, including needle work, music, art and drama.
Ms Voges said they had classrooms and resources for each of the subjects, with a dedicated period on the timetable.
“These were things learners could do with their hands. They could be creative,” she said.
The retirees plan to clean their classrooms and prepare it for the next class teacher.
Ms Voges said she would continue working in her community and church.
Ms Symonds does not want to see another classroom for a year.
“I just want a break. No early mornings. I want to take it in my stride. I don’t want to be near a school,” she said.
Ms Ismail will busy herself with reading programmes.
“I’d like to tell stories with costumes and puppets to get the learners out of the usual classroom set up,” she said.
