For nearly half a century, teacher Jenny Jooste stood in front of the blackboard at De Vos Malan Primary School in Schauderville to educate and shape young minds.
This week the school will be bidding her farewell as she will embark on a well-deserved retirement.
Jooste qualified as a teacher at Dower Teacher Training College and started teaching at De Vos Malan Primary School in 1972.
“It never crossed my mind to teach elsewhere. I have been really blessed to have worked with brilliant principals, fellow educators and excellent learners,” Jooste said.
Being a teacher at the same school for 47 years, she has taught generations of the same families. “I have taught many children and their children.
“I have come to know this school community very well.”
One of her former learners, Marilyn Frolick Langford, has become her colleague.
“It felt a bit strange in the beginning to have my former teacher as a colleague, but then we became very good friends. Where she used to teach me, I have in turn helped her with a few things. It’s been an honour,” Langford said.
Jooste also taught Langford’s brother, Cedric Frolick, who is a member of the National Assembly.
She has taught mostly foundation phase, and in previous years also taught subjects such as handwork, art, physical education, music and needlework.
Teacher Jenny was also actively involved in extracurricular activities such as netball, soccer and swimming. She also participated as a choirmaster in Eisteddfods.
Jooste said that some of her fondest memories were of the sports tours and educational trips to places such as the Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn.
“Looking back, I really enjoyed teaching. Currently the curriculum for the foundation phase is too overloaded, in my opinion, and I believe that going back to the ‘old’ ways will lead to the eradication of the numeracy and literacy problems. There is just too much emphasis on administrative work for teachers. A teacher’s core duty should always be to teach.”
Jenny is looking forward to her retirement and plans to spend a lot of time with her grandchildren and to enjoy her hobbies of cooking and baking.
