KING’ S STAFF
Farewell Harold Russ
“ You have given 29 years of selfless, unstinting service. Your students have been engaged and extended; we have all benefitted from your quiet wisdom, your willingness to help all and sundry, your love of knowledge and understanding; and your eagerness to see those qualities passed on and developed in others,” says David Bridges in acknowledging the work of Harold Russ who left at the end of 2012 to take up a new position at MIT.
Harold joined King’ s in 1984 as a physics teacher and quickly became HOD Physics. After managing both Technology and Physics departments from 1992-1999 he then focused on leading the fast-developing area of technology.
The arrival of NCEA saw Harold, along with others, engage NZQA in a debate over the problems inherent in its form of standard-based assessment. An ongoing battle ensued with Harold trying to change things from the inside. Both NZQA and the Ministry regularly recruited him to help write Unit Standards, Achievement
Standards and assessment resources; more recently, he has marked the NZ Scholarship Exam in Technology.
Beyond King’ s he has contributed hugely to the development of both physics and technology education in New Zealand. In 1991 he helped to rewrite the national physics curriculum and later, to develop the first national technology curriculum. A Royal Society Teacher Fellowship Award in 2002 provided a year’ s leave to research embedded computer systems and to develop a curriculum for teaching electronics and robotics which was subsequently implemented at King’ s. He also introduced Robocup to New Zealand – a robotics competition for school children.
Harold’ s specifications were extremely influential in the establishment of three new buildings – the Hellaby Science building, the initial Technology building and later, the current Design Technology Centre. linda and harold ross
Beyond the classroom he’ s been involved very broadly- running the sound systems for Glee Club, playing the organ in Chapel, rafting trips, volunteering at Ahuroa and, for 24 years, Teacher in Charge of Squash. Variously House Tutor and Pastoral Tutor in Marsden, St John’ s and more recently, Selwyn, Harold has always retained his enthusiasm for classroom teaching. No surprise that he was given an Excellence in Teaching Award by ISNZ in 2006 for Exceptional Professional Performance.
In thanking him, David Bridges sums up,“ This is a huge catalogue of involvement, achievement and service to the College and to Physics and Technology education in general.”
Farewell Robert Snelling
Retiring French teacher Robert Snelling“ has been a civilising, humanising and cultured influence on all, staff and students alike”, says Murray Bean in farewelling the man he describes as unique.
Born in the Waikato, Robert attended Huntly College and then obtained BA at Waikato before finishing his Masters in French at Auckland in 1969. After teaching at Ngaruawahia High School, he moved to UK in 1974, teaching ESOL and French. Returning to New Zealand, he spent eight years at Manukau Tech where he taught reporting and life skills to fitters and turners. He then moved to a private language school in Princes Street before joining King’ s in 1987.
Along with teaching French and ESOL, and some music, Robert’ s main extra-curricular activities have been orienteering and coaching Bible readers in the Chapel. A reliable and loyal tutor in Peart House, he has worked with a team that goes back to the early 90s. He is seen by his peers as“ a man who believes in what King’ s is, what King’ s stands for.”
A number of stories from students past and present, told by Murray Bean, portray an impression of the man –“ the gentle picture of an absent-minded, slightly dotty but hugely endearing person”. He refers to Robert’ s“ great joy in living, his wicked sense of humour, and his explosive and inimitable howl of laughter”.
Students found him highly motivating – describing how he went the extra mile to acknowledge their work or help with pronunciation weaknesses.“ It was because of him,” says a recent school leaver,“ that I really fell in love with the language and wanted to continue.”
And then there is his way with words. He is known for his love of language and carefully chosen vocabulary. Many talk of his deep sense of care and compassion; and a desire to go beyond the shallow and superficial. A true individual,
Robbie Snelling, jessie chester
Robert has been a popular teacher, even though he never set out to be, and a male role model of a different sort, as Murray says,“ One where courtesy, sensitivity and gentleness rule …. au revoir Robert, tu es sans pareil.”
AUTUMN 2013 • KING’ S COURIER 27