STAFF IN PROFILE
Interview : TIM MARTIN
Mathematics Teacher and Deputy Head of Arthur Robinson House
Please tell us about your experiences before you started at Scotch .
I have been a Teacher of Mathematics for a little more than a decade . Prior to working at Scotch , I taught in three different co-educational schools in London . Some of my previous roles include Assistant Head of Year , Head of Mathematics , and Assistant Headteacher . I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Leeds , a Postgraduate Certificate in Education and a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education , both from University College London .
Mathematics and education have been longstanding passions of mine and , as such , becoming a Mathematics teacher was something of a welcome inevitability for me . In 2018 , I married the wonderful Maggie Neelands , an English teacher . Seeking new experiences and challenges , we decided to ‘ jump ship ’ from London to Melbourne ; we are very fortunate to have been able to work together at Scotch during the start of this new chapter in our lives Down Under .
Before becoming a teacher , I did a fair bit of globetrotting at every opportunity . Some highlights from my adventures include riding the trans-Siberian ( and trans-Mongolian ) train from Moscow to Beijing , hunting the aurora borealis on a husky sled with my wife in Norway , cycling from Seattle to Chicago ( via Yellowstone National Park ) with my brother , and an epic road trip from Cairns to Uluru . Aside from travelling , I also enjoy playing the guitar , soccer , and walking the dog .
What are your roles at Scotch ? I am Deputy Head of Arthur Robinson House and a Teacher of Mathematics . I have previously been a Year 7 Form Teacher , too , and have coached soccer and badminton .
What do you like most about your work at Scotch ?
I love the variety that comes with my roles ; every day brings challenge and reward , and I am frequently inspired by boys and colleagues . The environment at Scotch College – both its impressive grounds and inclusive culture – make it a very enjoyable place to work .
It is a privilege to work with the boys of Arthur Robinson House and the Hill community , an incredibly welcoming and fun place , where both individualism and camaraderie thrive . In the day school , I thoroughly enjoy discussing Mathematics ( and Arsenal ) with my classes .
What experiences at Scotch have had a significant impact on you ?
There have been many , but a real highlight for me was spending a week with the Adnyamathanha community in Nepabunna as part of the Immersion Program in 2019 . A group of altruistic and adventurous Year 11 boys spent a week working in Nantawarrina , the first Indigenous Protected Area in Australia .
Some of my best memories of this trip include seeing the Scotch boys work so ably with the Nantawarrina rangers with their revegetation and ecological conservation work , a basketball match between Scotch College and Leigh Creek Area School students , and ‘ swagging it ’ under the brilliant stars of the South Australian outback .
Matt Manning , Maggie Neelands ( the other teachers on the trip ) and I were very proud of how well the Scotch boys presented themselves to the Adnyamathanha community , of how supportive they were of each other , and of how enthusiastically they embraced each of the experiences on offer .
How have you coped with the challenges of the pandemic ?
I ’ m trying ! I ’ ve done my best to keep my lessons interesting in ‘ Zoomland ’, but I can ’ t wait to get back to the classroom . I have a deep respect for my students for the maturity , enthusiasm and resolve with which they have approached the challenges of the pandemic , and I am always grateful to see each of them every day , albeit through several small rectangles on a larger rectangle .
On a personal note , as all my family are in Europe , the pandemic has been a somewhat lonely endeavour for me . However , I am very fortunate to have the companionship and support of my wife and the Scotch community , in particular those on the Hill and Hambledon Road ( and , of course , our puppy , Benji !).
What advice do you have for Scotch boys as they prepare for life beyond the boundaries of Morrison Street ?
I ’ d like to pass the buck here , if I may . And , yes , I ’ m aware of the irony .
‘ A man who does not think for himself does not think at all .’ – Oscar Wilde
44 Great Scot Issue 163 – September 2021