Anderson High School taken from Lerwick Harbour
I’ve just had a message on Facebook from a former history student of mine at the Anderson High School in Lerwick, the capital of Shetland. It was surprising – not to say disconcerting – and wonderful at the same time. This is what she wrote:
Well if I’m not mistaken, its Mr Leith my old history teacher from years gone by. I’m sure you wont remember me as I was fairly quiet but enthusiastic about your lessons. The biggest lesson you taught me however was that when I got 19% in my history O grade prelim and you told my parents that I wouldn’t pass my exam so I should concentrate on other subjects, I took the bull by the horns, stuck in and got an A pass. Never say never! Unfortunately, as I am now a community midwife, my O level history never really shaped in my chosen career, but my love of history never left me and now my children have a love of it too. My son is about to sit standard grade history as one of his 8 subjects and I am pleased to say that his prelim went well and he got 2 ones which meant his teacher didnt have to repeat the scenario with us and was infact disappointed he has decided not to take it as higher.
I wish you and your family all the best and a belated thanks (about 28 years) for showing me that with hard work and a determination to prove you wrong (in the nicest sense of course) I could achieve something if I really wanted to.
Over the years I’ve met or had messages from a number of my former pupils from King Charles I School in Kidderminster and the Anderson High School, all of them positive, but this is one of the nicest. It’s quite a compliment, in a back-handed sort of way.
Shetland photos
Mrs Barnabas and I lived in Shetland for the best part of ten years, from 1974 until 1984. When we moved there we had one child; when we left we had three.
The islands are beautiful in a bare and sea-girt kind of way. We visited in 2003 – our first, and last, visit since we left – to join in the celebratiions of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first Baha’i in Shetland. I got some great photos then. If you want to get a real sense of the Shetland you can look at the pics here.
Technorati Tags: Baha’i, Bahai, Shetland, Lerwick, Anderson High School, history, education
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Well back-handed or no, you obviously made a difference!
Unfortunately our history teacher had some kind of breakdown and used to wander round with her stockings around her ankles, talking to herself. But teenage girls can be horrible and cruel and we didn’t understand the poor woman was sick. To this day I have a blank in my brain where history belongs.
Gosh, Tess, how sad for you and your teacher. And what a pity. History can be a lot of fun. And, well taught, it helps you understand how we come to be where we are now.
I wonder how much difference I made for how many of my pupils? Perhaps the lessons they learned from me were by products of what went on in the classroom and elsewhere, as in this particular case. I’m certainly glad that this particular pupil learned a lesson she values even now.
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