Pearls of wisdom to

focus on what is

really important!

45 Years as a passionate educator

There are very few past students who wouldn't have interacted with John Smith. As College Timetabler/Director of Administration for 20 years, John was responsible for guiding students through their subject selections in Secondary School and then somehow, ensuring those subjects could work within the timetables he produced.

People who love the intricacies of timetabling are a rare but wonderful species. Daily Organiser and Timetabler extraordinaire he became, but John’s masterful skills and achievements in these aspects of his role were always founded on an unwavering commitment to do what’s best for the students and their education, but also with considerable and often unseen concern and compassion for the staff and their welfare. 

As Daily Organizer and Timetabler much of my time was spent working on my computer dealing with the day-to-day details of the running of the school, and it was always a pleasure to get out of my office and be reminded of the core business of the school - being with students and doing my best to help them learn what they needed to achieve their goals. 

From a purely cosmetic point of view, John notes how the physical appearance of the school has changed dramatically since he started in 2004. There was no CPA or VCE3 building. The College was a maze of gravel paths and mud with very little landscaping. From his office in the admin block he watched the CPA being built (and was then lucky enough to have a cameo role in the first production held in it - Foreigners from Home in 2008). It is a very different place to drive into now.

John exhibited a passionate commitment to his teaching, especially his senior students. He treated them as adults, met with each one of them individually to tease out their goals and dreams and put them in control of their learning. Each one will have left the subject knowing they had learned from someone who really knew them and highly valued them.  

Aitken has always tried to be a place where students (and staff) felt safe and comfortable - and I feel as if we have achieved that more often than not. It is certainly one of the reasons that I stayed for 20 years - I was getting up every day and going to an environment that I enjoyed and that aligned with my personal values.

His vast knowledge in English and History was only surmounted by his immense passion for both. 

But for me the most treasured memories came from being in the classroom with Year 11 & 12 students. 

Every year I would farewell my Year 12 students by telling them the two main things that I really liked and valued about Aitken students - if you were one of my students I wonder if you are reading this and remembering those little speeches.

I liked Aitken students because:

*  You were always straight with me - about your ability, your attitude to my subject and your goals for the VCE exams. You didn't pretend to be an A student if you weren't: you didn't pretend to love English if you wouldn't have chosen it; and you gave me a clear picture of what you wanted out of the year in my classroom. This really helped me to get to know you and to be the best teacher I could be for you to achieve your goals - which many of you did. It also made it easy for me to treat you as adults and to enjoy being in the classroom with you.

* You always knew what was right and wrong, and on the rare occasion when you had done the 'wrong' thing and I raised this with you, you were mature enough to admit that and we moved on from it without getting into an argument. 

A number of things have defined John over the years that not everyone may be aware of. Many past students will fondly recall his colourful and very carefully coordinated shirts, bow ties and socks.

He had an endless dedication, year after year, for exam marking, for the GAT, for English, for IB exams.

John also had a love of and support for the performing arts. He has starred in two Aitken plays, The Boat (2018) and the one that had us all crying, Foreigners From Home (2008). What was always impressive during these experiences was the way he chose to work 'alongside' the students and learn from them during rehearsals and performances as well as analysing the work with them.

He also often worked front of house and backstage. During one memorable production, John and student Matthew Deligeorges were partially hidden on stage, waiting through a long scene before they rotated a stage piece. When the time came for the scene change, young Matthew was seen desperately trying to shout to Mr Smith across the stage to wake him up.

John recalls many special memories, so many that it is hard to know where to start!

Certainly, the musicals - for me the standout was Tommy - I was lucky enough to be working backstage and seeing that from close up. 

John recently returned a copy of The Great Gatsby to the school library, annotated throughout and 17 years overdue!

In farewelling John, Deputy Principal, Mr Kim Forward noted, "John listens intently and thinks carefully before he speaks. His pearls of wisdom have often challenged us and usually brought discussions back to earth to focus on what was really important."

In my goodbye speech I noted that two qualities (being straight up about your ability and knowing right from wrong) would serve you well in life after Aitken, more than a mark on a piece of paper. 

I hope that you have found that to be true. 

In my retirement I intend to attend as many alumni reunions as I can, and I hope to see some of you there.

And a special word to "my historians". You chose the subject because you liked it: I taught it because I loved it: and I will always remember the great discussions we had over the years (and how well you all coped with my sometimes-quirky sense of humour.) Fond memories and best wishes!

We wish John well in his retirement, where he will no doubt get to enjoy more time watching the All Blacks beat the Wallabies in Rugby and the Black Caps do the same in Cricket. And as John noted in his farewell speech, he may just get to work his way through the piles of books he has been planning on reading.

With words from 

Mr Kim Forward and Mr John Smith