‘Absolute privilege’ to teach in Ōtaki

It has been an “absolute privilege being part of this community and being part of generations of children,” says long-serving Ōtaki College teacher Janice Brown.

Ms Brown retired at the end of the 2021 school year after more than 44 years’ service as a teacher. The vast majority of her time in teaching has been at Ōtaki College where she served for 38 years.

“I really respect the families here [in Ōtaki]. I love them,” she says.

“I just feel it’s been a great honour to be a part of so many kids’ lives. I cherish these relationships that I have made with kids.

“It’s special.

“Kids keep you on your toes. They are straight up. You know where you stand with kids and I think I’m really that kind of person as well. I like to know where I stand.”

Although Ms Brown is now leaving a job she absolutely loves, it was not always that way. In fact when she was at school as a student, “I always said when I grow up I’m not going to be a teacher”.

That all changed, however, just after she left school aged 16.

“I was too young to go nursing. You had to be 17 and I thought I wanted to be a nurse.”

If you were a girl in those days “you were a nurse, a teacher or a secretary. That was it,” she says.

“So I applied for Teachers’ Training College and got in, and – thank goodness – I really loved it. And I still really love it.”

Trained as a primary school teacher, her first job was at Taradale School, teaching a standard two class [today, that would be referred to as year 7] in 1975.

In 1976 she moved to Tairangi School in Porirua East, where she taught for two years. During that time she was a member of the Porirua East Advisory Team, working with other teachers in the Porirua basin in 1977.

She then went overseas for three years, teaching for one of them before returning in 1981. She taught for one term at Ohau School and one term at Horowhenua College in Levin before moving to Ōtaki.

At the time her mother and father were neighbours of the then Ōtaki College Principal, Rex Kerr.

He talked her into joining the staff, which she did at first in a temporary role. After six months, however, Mr Kerr convinced her to become permanent, which she did.

Now, 38 years later, she says: “those were the best years of my life. I’m lucky. I’m really lucky.”

During those years she has taught English, Reading, Mathematics to Year 9, PE, Economics to Fifth Form [year 14] and Social Studies.

In 2000 Ms Brown took a year off to finish her degree in the United States. While there she came across research from the US which showed that you have to have three qualities to be a teacher.

Number one is a passion for children. If you don’t like kids, you’re in the wrong job.

Secondly you have to have knowledge of the curriculum you are teaching.

Thirdly you have to be able to get the knowledge across to different learning styles.

“This resonated with me. If you can do all three things I think you can be a successful teacher,” she says.

When Andy Fraser became Ōtaki College’s Principal, he used the impressive skill set Ms Brown possesses and they brought restorative practices from the justice system into the school.

This led to her being appointed the college’s Pastoral Team Leader, as well as being Dean of Year 9.

She became a highly skilled practitioner of a discipline known as Restorative Practices and Positive Behaviour 4 Learning.

The focus of this, Mr Brown says, is “having a culture of care, where kids have a voice.

“If a child, or a staff member or a parent is unhappy over something, there is a premise that things get sorted. The expectation is that they have restorative chats.

“I wish I had it when I was a parent [of young children] – the skill to be able to manage conflict in a much better way.”

Restorative justice is so important that “we try to ensure that every staff member here is trained in restorative practice. The expectation is that they will have restorative chats at the low level” so matters do not escalate.

As a result of this emphasis on restoration “I don’t recall the last physical fight” at the college, she says. While not saying fights never happen, if they do it is very rare, and she certainly is not aware of one in recent times.

In fact when asked what has been the highlight (or highlights) of her teaching career, Ms Brown says “being in the position I’m in now”, with the focus on restorative practices and relational skills.

“So it’s a lovely way to finish this chapter.”

So what will her next chapter be?

Although she has no particular plans “I’m going to get out there and do what I want to do,” she says.