The Teachers I Remember - Part Two

As well as having teachers who taught us the basics we also had specialist teachers who taught us Singing, Art, Sport and Physical Education.

Each teacher came on a specific day and taught each class.

Miss Hazel Goddard taught art, or rather exhibited her talent by drawing a picture on the blackboard which we all had to copy.

Whoever got their picture as close to Miss Goddard's as possible was considered to be very good at art. It was extraordinary!

No room for individual creativity unless Miss Goddard decided, at her whim, that we could draw what we wanted.

Most of our work was done in a sketch pad with our Derwent pencils, or in a pastel book using Reeves Pastels.

The older girls also did painting with water colors.

She may have been a talented artist because she had exhibited in the Herald Outdoor Art Show,,,,or so we were told.

For singing we had Madame Freda Northcote.

Madame Northcote was a delightful woman. She was pretty, very stylish and could sing very well indeed. I have no idea how old she was back then: it's hard to guess.

She taught each class a song that would be featured at Speech Night as well as other ones which we sang during the year. We all learned a Christmas carol for Speech Night as well. We had a professional pianist to accompany us but I cannot remember her name.

I especially recall her teaching us "Getting To Know You" from the "King and I" musical which she performed with us that year.

On Speech Night Madam Northcote dressed up in her finest. She always looked beautiful and ageless.

Madame Northcote is referenced here. This document, page 8, is dated 1982. She is also referenced here.
It is a clipping from the Age dated February 16, 1940 - well and truly before I was born!

We also did Physical Education which I would now consider a mixture of calisthenics, dancing and even a bit of drama.

We were taught by one of the best, Miss Vera Hopton.
 

There are references to Miss Hopton here and here.

The latter suggests a trophy for calisthenics has been named after her.

Miss Hopton was a very pleasant woman who taught us all these things while she played the piano!

I don't recall her ever getting angry with anyone, but then again Madame Northcote didn't either.

We all had to change into our sports uniform for Miss Hopton's classes. This consisted of white shorts, white blouse and white runners. If you were very lucky you wore proper ballet shoes, preferably pink!

Since many of the girls went to ballet and dance classes outside school hours this is what was generally worn.

Miss Hopton also had to prepare a Speech Night item with each class, just like Madame Northcote did, but she never performed with us.

She did, however, play the piano for all the items she taught us.

I am certain we had a sports teacher as well who taught us basket ball, high jump, running etc etc but I cannot remember any names. 

The position changed a bit when I was there. The job of the sports teacher was to prepare us for the annual sports day at McDonnel Park.

We also learned swimming from Mr Fogg at the Northcote Baths. I am sure they have improved since I was there! We all tried very hard to get our Herald: Learn to Swim Certificate and I think we also had a swimming sports day as well.

See also The Colouring-in Book Craze Explained.