Teaching gives Spencer lessons for life With a career spanning more than five decades, educator Spencer Harvey taught students from kindergarten through to university. Recognised for his service and commitment to education, Spencer says some of his biggest life lessons came from his students. Spencer never dreamed of becoming a teacher. "When I did my Leaving Certificate at 16, I had a Commonwealth scholarship to do a science degree at university, but it was out of reach financially. Then, out of the blue, they opened up a new teachers' college in Bathurst and offered full board and lodging plus a living allowance. It was an offer you couldn't refuse. "My time at Bathurst Teachers' College taught me the most important thing – that teaching was for me." Since graduating in 1952, Spencer has taught K-12 across various NSW schools, TAFE, university and with the University of the Third Age. One of his jobs was lecturer at Charles Sturt, educating student teachers. "The students at university who had made a conscious decision that teaching was the life for them were the easiest to teach. "Two groups stand out. Mature-aged students who were at uni while caring for a family, and younger students who were forced to take multiple part-time jobs to enable them to study. The dedication of these students convinced me that they would develop into great teachers. "But I have to say that teaching boys at the Anglewood School for Truants at Burradoo was the most enjoyable time of my career, probably because it was the last time in my career that I could concentrate solely on teaching. "In less than a year, these boys who initially hated anything to do with school worked hard and returned to society with the Intermediate Certificate, which in those days was very helpful in securing a job. "Teaching is not about standing up at the front and telling kids things. It's about enthusing them and getting them to want to learn. My students taught me that the most important activity going on in the classroom is not teaching. It's learning." In 2001, Spencer was named a Charles Sturt University Distinguished Alumnus, and in 2014 received the Medal of the Order of Australia for Services to Education and the Community. "It was the same feeling with both awards – I was absolutely thrilled not so much for myself by for the fact that a teacher would be recognised this way. "Teachers aren't always respected throughout the community as they should be. These awards recognised teaching and how wonderful it is."
Charles Sturt University Alumni
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