Photo recall: Lessons taught with kind words and fairness

Photo / NZ Herald. Photo research / Emma Land

School teacher remembered fondly for his caring nature and for 'bringing The Hobbit to life'

Knee-high socks, shorts and a tie were the order of every school day for W. K. Hicks, right, says former pupil Jo Johnson.

"Mr Hicks wore the same get-up every single day."

Johnson, who had Hicks as a teacher in her final year at Epsom Normal School, is amused by how much has changed in five decades.

"The classroom looks really bare," she said. "I guess these days you'd expect more artwork to be on the walls of a primary school. And no one uses inkwell desks any more, do they?"

You wouldn't expect a teacher to have to build his own bookshelves either, but Johnson's memories are only rosy.

"Epsom Normal School was lovely. It had beautiful pohutukawa trees. Epsom was a real go-ahead suburb at the time."

Johnson is now a development executive with South Pacific Pictures, and her career began with an end-of-year school concert organised by Hicks.

"Rather than disappointing somebody, he got us to vote on nominees to produce the school concert. That's how fair he was. When I sat down and thought about what I wanted to do with my life and what did I really enjoy most at school, that really stood out.

"He was one of my favourite teachers and he was instrumental in putting me on my career path. He was very fair and liberal."

Johnson said he never saw Hicks tell anyone off. "He was a really happy, friendly guy and commanded everybody's respect. I was a B student but it didn't matter."

Another former pupil, Dale McFarlane, said Hicks had very high standards and helped pupils achieve them.

"I'm not surprised the photo shows him building bookshelves," she said. "He was very committed to reading, and I recollect him reading us The Hobbit - my first experience of the book. He brought it to life."