AFTER 38 years teaching students the ins and outs of trigonometry and calculus, Canobolas Rural Technology High School head mathematics teacher Phil Verhoeven is putting down the figurative chalk.
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The move from chalkboards to smartboards was just one of the major changes Mr Verhoeven has seen during his teaching career and he says he chose to retire at the right time.
The advance of technology in the classroom was “inevitable” and he found it a challenge keep up.
“It’s changing at a rapid rate,” he said.
While he won’t miss the technology he will miss watching students evolve, adapt and grow into young adults.
“I’m going to miss seeing them develop,” he said.
“The first time you see them they’re about 12 or 13 at the most, and they leave as adults, it’s really something quite special.”
The feeling is mutual, particularly for a group of year 10 students who are fortunate to have been taught by Mr Verhoeven for three years.
“They keep telling me they’re not going to pass next year,” he said.
Mr Verhoeven started his teaching career in 1977 in Griffith at Wade High School and took up a post at Canobolas Rural Technology High School five years later.
He spent 33 years walking those halls and does not regret a minute.
He said the school had not changed much until the last six years when it received a “great deal” of funding and was able to expand to give students more opportunities in vocational education.
“The health building, the metal and trade centre, the new commercial kitchen and since then the woodwork rooms have been done up,” Mr Verhoeven said.
“Even this year there are new projects we’re going into that are really special like the [high performance athletes program].
He has watched principals Chris Condliffe and Chad Bliss lift the school’s reputation over the last six or seven years and believes there is great potential in what can be achieved there, because of the dedication of his colleagues.
After 38 years of living life by the school bell, Mr Verhoeven is looking forward to some piece and quiet.
“You know all those things that you put off doing until the holidays because you’re too busy, well I’ll be doing those things full time.”
nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au