Paying tribute to legendary teachers

JORDAN MOSHE

Whether they drive us mad or push us to succeed, the educators who come into our lives leave an indelible mark, be it for quoting Shakespeare incessantly or praising the beauty of an equation.

The SA Jewish Report asked Joburg Jewish Mommies to tell us about legendary teachers in their lives or those of their children at specifically Jewish schools.

We were inundated with the names of our community’s most memorable educators. While so many legendary teachers have passed through the portals of our schools, these are the ones whose names appeared most often in this very unscientific selection. We reached out to them.

Digby Ricci

Ricci is an eminent educator of English, having taught at universities and high schools since 1980. He joined King David Linksfield during in the 1990s, and is today Head of English at Roedean.

“Teaching is a very onerous profession”, he says. “You never leave your work at the office, and only an idiotic masochist would claim that marking is a delightful activity.” However, he says the reward of constant engagement with enquiring minds more than compensates for it.

It is this engagement which perhaps best illustrates why Ricci has earned the description of “an inspirational English teacher and I will never forget him” by former student Romy Ancer.

His classroom has witnessed too many memorable moments to recount. Says Ricci, “The hilarious moments leap to mind, but, in general, I always remember the remarkable work of young men and women who really possessed intellectual curiosity, and shared their insights with me.”

He recalls in one history class that whenever he mentioned a death (and there are, of course, many deaths in history), the boys “would grimly roll their trousers up to their knees to symbolise a flag at half-mast”. On another occasion, he recalls how “an enchanting girl solemnly raised her hand, but instead of answering a question, she exclaimed, ‘Sir, your shirt is hanging out!’”

Ricci believes no great teacher is “trendy”. “A mediocre – even harmful – teacher is what I call the “grandmother in fishnet” type of teacher: needy, sentimental, and desperate for popularity. A great teacher will not be a Jean Brodie figure, desperate for acolytes, but will be delighted when learners fly the nest of his/her instruction.”

Ricci says he has been touched and delighted by the responses of pupils who have not always gained the most impressive results, and he has learned never to be too rigid in his expectations.

“A nun at the Star of the Sea Convent in Melbourne wrote of the youthful Germaine Greer, whom she had the pleasure of teaching: ‘I certainly remember you with your searching eyes, restless frame, and quick brain.’ I have had the privilege of teaching many students, boys and girls, who could fit that description!”

June Barclay

Barclay’s maths teaching career stretches across 40 years. She started teaching in 1956, and arrived at King David Linksfield 10 years later. She taught maths until she retired in 1996 to move to New Zealand to be with her family.

Having come from a family with generations of teachers, she says she has seen first-hand what makes a great teacher.

“A great teacher should be able to empathise with their students, show their passion for their subject, and create a relationship of respect and genuine care. In return, the students will show the teacher respect and care.

“A teacher is someone who inspires their students even if they don’t enjoy a particular subject or think they can’t do it.”

Barclay’s years of teaching include several memorable occasions, such as taking two ulpans (Hebrew instruction courses), one to Sde-Boker in 1972, and the other to Jerusalem in 1973, where she, her daughters, and students spent six months immersed in Israeli life.

She was also involved in school productions, like Guys and Dolls and Grease (in which she played the role of the headmistress of Rydell High). She dressed up as Queen Elizabeth I for a matric dance one year.

“Teaching is a vocation, you are not in it for the money,” Barclay says. “Being a teacher is one of the most important jobs in the world. The future relies on teachers to provide the educational foundation for those who will decide on the future of mankind.”

Sheryl Benjamin

In spite of her small stature, Benjamin loomed large in her maths classes. At the age of 19 in 1967, she started teaching mathematics and mechanics at King David Linksfield. Her career there lasted 41 years, and when she retired at age 60, she was also senior deputy principal. She continues to tutor maths.

As her mother’s entire family were teachers, it seemed inevitable that when Benjamin displayed a talent for maths, her uncle, Norman Sandler (the first headmaster of King David High School), would insist that she join the staff as soon as she graduated.

She is described by former scholars as “an amazing lady and teacher”. Benjamin helped hundreds of students navigate the complexities of mathematics while maintaining a special connection with them as people.

She says it takes many years of experience and dedication to be able to impart knowledge with compassion and firmness, while showing empathy for everyone in the class. “Great teachers find a way to connect to their students,” she says.

In spite of her years of being in the classroom, she says the most memorable moments have little to do with the actual classroom. “I have wonderful memories of our first production of Fiddler on the Roof which we took to the Civic Theatre and on tour, the visit of Nelson Mandela, and wearing a tutu and dancing Swan Lake with some very large fathers in a Purim play. I may be wrong, but I think I’m the only woman to have been invited into the first team’s “huddle” before a match.”

She believes that associating daily with teenagers has instilled patience, humility, self-discipline, perseverance, and an ability to relate to others in a very human way. “There are very few careers offering the exceptional personal satisfaction that teaching does. I don’t regret a single moment, even the hard times!”

Hilary Waters

Waters’ connection to Herzlia in Cape Town began when she attended then Herzlia Highlands Primary aged six, matriculating in 1973.

She began teaching there in 1978, and has mainly taught Grade 6 and 7, with a short stint teaching History to Grade 9. Having taught for almost 40 years, she is currently teaching Grade 6 English and Social and Natural Science, and is the intermediate phase head and deputy principal of the school.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, the greatest teacher I have ever come across is Hilary Waters,” writes Linda Rawraway. “She is a legend of a teacher and human being.”

Waters says that teaching makes you realise the enormous impact you have on a child’s life. “There is something so special about being part of a child’s journey,” she says. “It’s so powerful and so rewarding. No two days are ever the same. I begin each year as eager as I was in the previous year, ready for the challenge, welcoming a new set of students for a fraction of their lives.”

Though she has taught for almost four decades, she says she still wakes up enthusiastically at 05:30 every morning to head to school by 06:10. She attributes this to several very special and rewarding moments over the years that have kept her happy and fulfilled.

“From my years of teaching, I have learnt that I learn as much from my students as they from me. I have learnt not to sweat the small stuff, and to realise that a year in school is such a tiny part of the bigger picture. I have learnt that facts are not as important as skills, and that being a mensch is ultimately the goal in life.

“I doubt I would have been as happy in a corporate environment. There is something so special about being part of a child’s journey. No two days are ever the same, and I begin each year as eager as I was in the previous year.”

Sandra Levitas

Levitas started her career at Jewish schools only after being forced to retire as principal of Johannesburg Girls Preparatory School in Berea in 2013 when she was 65. She had already been a government-school teacher for many years before being made a principal.

Levitas was determined to continue putting her passion to use after “retiring”, and spent one year at King David Linksfield before joining the Shaarei Torah Primary staff in 2014. She teaches Grade 6 boys as well as Grades 7 and 9 girls at the girls’ school.

Described as a “true legend” by former student Ruth Becker, Levitas’ approach to teaching is defined by her passion and heart.

“Teaching is about one thing only: passion,” she says. “You need to have a drive to make a change for the better in children’s lives. You do need the enthusiasm to teach, as without it you wouldn’t be able to face its challenges. Without passion, it means very little.”

Alongside passion, she stresses that a keen sense of humour is equally important. “You need to be equipped with a sense of humour that you can use at certain times. You need that sense of humour to cope with the stresses inherent in education. The ability to laugh is crucial.”

Her years of teaching have taught her how essential it is to do what you love. “You are never bored or unhappy if your job excites you,” she says. “Whether it meets with society’s approval or not, if you do what you love, it’s not work.

“Teaching is what I was put on this earth to do,” she concludes. “It’s when I see students achieve brilliantly that I experience joy. Every stage of my career has had its positive and negative moments, but they all make for one experience I’d never want to exchange for anything.”

Joseph Gerassi

For Gerassi, teaching means dedicating your life to the well-being of those you have been given the privilege to teach. He served as principal of King David Victory Park High between 1999 and 2009, before heading to Melbourne to head Bialik College for three years. Since 2015, he has been the executive head of school at Redhill, where he continues to teach.

He says that as adults, we are too quick to dismiss children’s ideas and solutions to problems because we don’t feel they are mature enough to contribute to society. “I have learnt to listen, empathise, acknowledge, and appreciate my students’ uniqueness and their ability to challenge and contribute to their society.”

Gerassi’s passion for teaching and ability to make students love what they were learning is apparent in the online comments about him, with former students saying that they will never forget his class debates and discussions.

In his 25 years of teaching, Gerassi says that he encountered so many remarkable students that to list any would be unfair. “I have amazing memories of students overcoming difficulties and learning how to succeed and thrive on the stage, on the sports field, and in the classroom,” he says.

“Memories of laughing with students in happy times, and crying with them in more difficult times. Of celebrating various festivities, and finally staying in touch with many of them as they discovered the world outside of school, got married, had children of their own.”

He concludes that the role of a good teacher is to see the difference in all students, and to allow them to develop as individuals who have unique talents. “The art of teaching is being able to see your students differently and to treat them differently so that they have the freedom to express their own identities, feelings, and ways of being.”

Ingrid Rachman

Rachman has been teaching for 33 years and has been part of the King David family for 24 years. She teaches English and Social Science to Grade 6 and 7 students.

Central to her teaching philosophy is the belief that no teacher should ever write off a child. “A great teacher takes the time to understand the pupils and their needs, especially in a changing world,” she says.

“It is the children who have achieved in all aspects of life, against all odds, that make moments most memorable.”

Rachman remembers arriving at King David Linksfield (KDL) as a new, energetic teacher on the block. “I was standing on a table with my harmless ‘Bozo Freeze’ stick, teaching maths times tables. I was ‘actively’ calling out the sums when my new Grade 5 colleague, Caryn Cohen, came past and asked me if everything was alright. We still have a good laugh over my unusual introduction to Grade 5 at KDL.”

She says seeing children gain confidence, believe in themselves, and shine in their unique way is what makes the moments memorable. Her belief that teachers teach children, not subjects, and ensure that they all feel acknowledged, has clearly been recognised by many. Among the online comments, this ringing endorsement stands out:

“She always found the good in each child,” writes Lianne Jacobson. “[She] showed genuine love, interest and care.”

Gail Segal

Segal began teaching in 1967, and though she worked in retail for a time, she resumed teaching at King David Linksfield primary in 1989. Though now retired, she is still teaching as a locum.

“My career started as a six-week locum and I just didn’t leave,” she says. Traveling form Northcliff to Linksfield and back daily for years, Segal committed herself to education from the very beginning.

Described as an “unbelievable teacher who changed my child’s life” by Tali Mansur Janet, Segal is clearly a woman with a lasting legacy. Given her approach to teaching, this comes as little surprise.

“To teach is to touch lives forever,” she says. “[I have] witnessed children changing ‘can’t’ to ‘can’, and have shared personal achievements with students who were told that they would ‘never’.”

Her students have, indeed, gone far. Just last week, she says, a parent called to tell her that their daughter had just graduated from Macquarie University in New South Wales with a Master’s degree in Psychology.

“To witness the growth of introverted pupils standing on a bimah [alter] with confidence, singing maftir and haftorah; to be invited to the weddings of pupils and seeing [them] under the chuppah [canopy], these are the defining moments. It’s beautiful to realise that relationships are created with small beginnings.”

We are always learning, she says, and life lessons can be gleaned through the eyes and heart of a child. “The courage and tenacity of children speaks volumes when life throws curve balls,” she says. “Children have taught me so much over the years.”

“Respect for pupils and going the extra mile afforded me wonderful opportunities. I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”

Rob Wucherpfennig

Little did Rob Wucherpfennig know that when he made a “gentleman’s agreement” to teach information technology for two years at Herzlia, he’d end up staying for 31 years. Employed by Solly Kaplinski in 1988, he didn’t have formal teaching qualifications at the time as he didn’t plan to go into teaching.

I very foolishly and naively thought to myself, “They are just children; how hard could this be?”. As it turned out, it was harder than he’d imagined.

“People speak of teaching as a ‘calling’,” he says. “I don’t believe that’s entirely true. Sometimes circumstance puts you there, and you must do the best you can. Being a teacher means that you get to play a role in a person’s life, helping them to achieve their goals, or even affecting their choice of a goal.”

In his time at Herzlia, Wucherpfennig taught individuals who have risen to prominence. These include Alon Cohen, now a well-known and respected maths teacher at the high school, and Anton Krupenia, who is now principal at one of the Herzlia junior schools. He also taught two of the Rosenkowitz sextuplets who are now in their mid-forties, and, according to the internet, are the oldest surviving sextuplets in the world.

“Teachers learn early on in their careers that if they mess up, it’s not just their butt that is on the line. Failing to prepare pupils properly for exams will affect the life choices they are able to make, the jobs they are able to be interviewed for, the universities they will be allowed to attend. It’s a massive and terrifying responsibility.”

Aside from teaching at Herzlia, he has also lectured part-time at Boston House Computer College and the Computer Science Institute, and has worked for the education department. Still, he finds it hard to imagine working at a school other than Herzlia today.

“I have met so many really special individuals, colleagues and students, and consider myself fortunate and privileged to have been able to share part of a life journey with all of them.

“There is potential in everyone, and there are many forms of intelligence, of which the education system addresses only a few. I have seen students who are fairly average [or below average] in a class environment do wonderful things when they leave school, and make a true success of their lives.”

Joy Comaroff

“She was incredible then, and she is incredible now.” Former student Elsie Dave’s ringing endorsement of Joy Comaroff captures the sentiment expressed by so many.

Comaroff began her career 43 years ago in 1976 in Vereeniging at Milton Primary School, making her way to King David Victory Park in 1993. For 26 years, she has helped hundreds of Grade 1 students navigate the complexities of entering primary school.

“A teacher is someone who guides supports, motivates, and teaches children in many different ways for their future. A great teacher ultimately equips her pupils to face life with confidence. She is compassionate, empathetic, tolerant, and patient,” Comaroff says.

She says that 43 years of teaching have taught her valuable lessons, including the power and importance of collaboration with colleagues, parents, and pupils.

Teaching is a vocation, and highly rewarding. “The belief that teaching is one of the worst careers out there is absolutely untrue! If I were to choose my career again, it would be teaching for me, without a doubt.”

She doesn’t even mind that her colleagues have noticed that she is a little older than them. “One of my pupils asked if I knew Adam and Eve when I was young.”

“A sheer joy in every sense of the word. A Grade 1 teacher who is the epitome of a teacher,” wrote Wanda Sher.