Back in the ’80s career options weren’t as vast as they are today for many people in South Africa, which was a factor in Craig Leetz’s choice of a career in education.
However, it is a choice he’s never regretted, and at the end of this month he will say farewell to a profession he’s dedicated 38 years to.
Leetz, principal of Windermere High School, studied education at the University of the Western Cape.
“It was only in the latter years of my studies that I realised I wanted to move into the teaching profession. As many of us of that era found career opportunities were rather limited.”
He kicked his career off at Elsies River High in 1988.
“I was fortunate to have a great team of mentors who helped mould my teaching career. I was thrown in at the deep end in my first year when I had to teach English to matrics.
“This I thoroughly enjoyed as I had a love for reading, and being able to teach literature to senior learners was a joy.
“As the years progressed I began to realise my personality was suited to the task at hand. This cemented my stay in education.”
Leetz moved on from there and became principal of Queens Park High in Woodstock.
When the position of principal at Windermere High School became vacant he applied, and that’s where he has been for the past 15 years.
“When the position of principal opened here I applied for it as I grew up in the area. I thought the experience I had gained at other schools I could plough into this school community.
“A school is never an isolated entity; it is part of a much bigger organism. So the idea was to, in some small way, uplift the school community.”
Leetz explained that the administration of schools has changed considerably over the years.
“It is much more intense and demanding than when I started in this profession. The one thing that has not changed is that there must always be a teacher before learners in a classroom setting.
“Another noticeable departure is the way people speak of learners, how they have changed over the years. I disagree.
“The learners of today have the same outlook as when I was a learner. What has changed is the approach of the parents.”
For this reason he wished to give parents a message: “I urge the parents of today to get involved in their children’s lives and continually teach them right from wrong. Of course, one doesn’t want to generalise about every parent, because there are many families that do a wonderful job even in the face of adversity.”
For him there have been many highlights over the years, yet he fondly remembers one “standout moment”. “A former learner posted on Facebook that he, as a young boy from Elsies River, was so grateful to me for teaching him English as it opened his eyes to the rest of the world. This he posted about 30 years after I taught him.”
Asked what kept him motivated, Leetz said he always believed he could make a difference.
“When I started at Windermere High the learners had a very low sense of themselves. But with perseverence a shift occurred, and learners started believing in themselves, that they are worth far more than they are given to believe.”
He said he would miss the camaraderie among colleagues and the smiles of the learners.
“Learners must understand and assimilate one important thing: It does not matter where you come from, what matters is where you are going.”
Leetz had these words of advice for aspirant teachers: “This is a tough profession. Teachers can choose which schools to apply to. Make sure you know the circumstances of those schools and be prepared for it.”
Asked what he would be doing on Thursday 1 July, his first day as a retiree, he didn’t have to think too hard. “The answer is simple; whatever I want to,” he concluded.
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