Teacher Feature

By Jemma Walters

How well do you really know your teachers? (Besides the classes they teach and times of their tutorials.)

Launceston College is a school of pride and community, a major part of this community is teachers and staff at Launceston College which form the backbone of the learning within our school. But do you ever think that teachers have lives outside of school? It seems as though we as students may forget as we see them predominantly within school walls. Hence, I made the decision to interview one of the most influential teachers I have met at Launceston College, Carl Hinde. Upon my interviewing of Carl, I learnt some interesting things!

Carl is currently teaching Modern History and philosophy; in the past Carl has taught around eight other subjects in his time teaching at Launceston College. Carl’s motivation behind becoming a teacher included a few different reasons, the first being that he had a family connection with the teaching world due to his parents both being teachers, “for the most part I wanted to do something where I could see the results of my work and feel like I was doing something that actually made a difference” Carl explained. When asked about what Carl enjoys most about the classes he teaches he responded with two answers, “first and foremost I like working with students, with people, students’ thirst for knowledge, and students can be a bit cheeky and mischievous and just lots of fun.” Secondly Carl explained how he thoroughly enjoys the content he teaches, and feels very fortunate to teach what he does, especially since he feels “I’m the sort of person who reads a modern history text-book on the weekend for fun.” Carl’s favourite hobby/ pastime outside of his time teaching is such a wide variety of things which he explained meant “I’m not great at them because my time is engaged in so many;” he enjoys mountain biking, being at the coast and bushwalking.

A great way to find insight about someone I find is asking their favourite quote, a quote which means something to them or relates to the way they think/ feel. “True wisdom is knowing that you don’t know much” which is something for us all to ponder on.

Carl’s tip for students succeeding in college included, it is of high importance for students to get over the social barrier of being scared to be passionate and highly committed to their learning. Ask for help! Carl pointed out that teachers are there to help students and that there is nothing wrong with asking teachers for assistance with the content of the courses you are studying.

I am appreciative that Carl took the time to sit down with me to allow the interview to take place and thank you for reading this issue of the LC times Teacher Feature!