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Retired NZ high school teacher

I am a retired high school teacher from New Zealand. I retired at the end of 2019 so I thankfully missed out on teaching in a virtual world. I definitely feel for this generation of students now that are having to adapt to learning in this new Covid environment.

Corporal punishment was formerly abolished in New Zealand schools in 1990. I started teaching my teaching career at an all boys school in 1976. At that point the cane was the preferred tool for discipline at the school. Although only senior teachers, such as the Principal or Dean were permitted to cane boys.

In 1981 I became a Third form dean (first year of high school). I think I had 4 classes of 13-14 year old boys, so I was discipline master for around 80 boys. While I did not have a problem with using the cane I was glad when my two years as Junior Dean came to attend. As Dean you are focused so much on the negative that it begins to overshadow the positive moments.
Cierzo · M
I am a teacher too, have been teaching for twenty-three years, and the three months I taught online from April to June in 2020 were the worst ones in my entire career. I felt I was cheating my students. I felt I was not really teaching. Teaching must be in person, otherwise it is a bad joke.

Another schoolyear is going to start for me. Again, students will wear masks in the classroom. Bearing in mind that 70% of the population of my country is fully vaccinated (and reportedly more than 90% of teachers), forcing them to wear masks feels like shortchanging them. I find it particularly cruel for primary school students. Actually I see it as a different form of corporal punishment.
MrDobson · 70-79, M
@Cierzo I don't believe that they are requiring students to wear masks in class here. Last year I saw news report with taped out squares on the concrete courts at one primary school and students had to stay within their individual squares at interval and lunch. So sad.
Cierzo · M
@MrDobson It is sad indeed, I pity primary kids. Socializing at school is very important, and they are not being able to do it properly.
MrDobson · 70-79, M
@Cierzo Currently here children under 12 do not have to wear a mask. It is mandatory for over 12 unless they have an exception for health reasons. I don't think they have made masks compulsory in classes. Students are currently learning from home at the moment as we are at alert levels 3 and 4.
SW-User
We did distance learning last year. I thought it would be fun not having to go into school, but yeah it didn't work well.

 
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