William Smith sums up inspirational teaching

The sad passing on 21 August of William Smith, an exceptional mathematics and science teacher, has given many South Africans a moment’s pause and reflection on the influence and inspiration that is possible in the teaching profession.

Smith was famous for being “the television teacher” and for creating The Learning Channel, funded by Hylton Applebaum. But older South Africans will remember Star Schools, which Smith created and which provided educational supplementation and support to all students preparing for their matric exams. It was especially helpful for those students whose Bantu education system was, by design, preparing them to fulfil only blue collar jobs. Smith also ran his first multiracial school in the 1970s despite facing threats from the apartheid government.

I remember my own teachers at King David Linksfield like Don Lowry, June Barclay, and Elliot Wolf. I remember Mr Lowry, our history teacher’s, eccentric swirling of his formidable kuif with his right hand and, unashamedly and in defiance of the apartheid network of spies, speaking out against unprincipled hegemonies.

I remember June Barclay, our mathematics teacher who exemplified resilience, empathy, and self-regulation, and whose orange nails dug into my head in her personal and affectionate style of discipline.

I remember Elliot Wolf, whose English language lessons were a masterclass in wit.

I have also had the privilege of teaching with outstanding colleagues: the inimitable Digby Ricci, my mentor and friend; Reverend Metzner, whose gentle dignity allowed him to view all scruffy students through a lens that elevated them to the status of Talmud chochem; Morah Nili Amiel, who was an exotic bird in passionate flight; Renee Freedman, an elegant and rigorous role model; Sheryl Benjamin; Mr Johnson; Bev Bouwer; Peter Szewach; Lorraine Srage; and Morah Sacks who continue to steer students through the muddy waters of matriculation.

These teachers, among many, many others, inspired generations of students whose South African and diasporic lives and careers were moulded in classrooms. These reflections make me ponder the purpose of education.

I’ve always believed that we must educate students to be citizens who exemplify the values enshrined in the Constitution. Education should promote a culture of debate in a safe space independent of marks and awards by interrogating ideas rather than rote learning.

Critical thinking comes from teaching children to be curious; to ask questions; to challenge dogma; to understand how to seek and process information; how to be in community; how to be inclusive and welcome diversity and neurodiversity and understand that they are vital to progress. This spirit of enquiry teaches life skills and truly prepares children for the world.

Education must create systems of thinking that are sustainable and not only driven to support the kind of capitalism which privileges a minority based on exploitation of others and of resources.

These are heady principles that exist outside of the digital direction of artificial intelligence and inside the ethos of William Smith.

George Bernard Shaw unwisely said, “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach”. I prefer Aristotle’s, “Those who know do, those who understand teach.”

• Linda Mark teaches English at St Mary’s School and did her schooling at King David Linksfield.