Cambridge High School’s headmaster, who moved to East London from Cape Town, will hang up his boots after 40 years of dedicated service to the school.
Spencer Welman’s teaching career in East London began in 1984, and the 64-year-old said he would not trade the experience for anything.
The English teacher and former rugby coach at the school said bidding farewell was filled with happiness and equally with sadness.
“It started with the love of my subject, I was passionate about English and literature. Teaching is unique, it’s a very rewarding profession.”
He said when he saw a position in East London, he took the opportunity and ran with it.
“I had been to all the Cape Town schools during my practical training, so I wanted an adventure, so I said why not?
“When I got here, I quickly formed a relationship with the community and it was fulfilling, that’s why I stayed.
“I didn’t know what to expect when I came.
“All the schools have both bad and good, but what matters is really about building up an identity of that particular school.”
Welman said he was leaving the high school with nothing but beautiful memories.
“I have celebrated lots of achievements with the school, when I was coaching rugby there were some disappointments but there were equally some amazing rugby matches and fixtures that I am very proud of.
“Similarly, as a teacher in the classroom, when your students achieve something you become proud, Cambridge has a choir of 140 learners with many accolades.
“What I am also proud of are not just high achievers, but those who were able to reach their potential.
“When someone comes to you afterward and says ‘Mr Welman, you remember me, you taught me this and that’ and then you are thinking, ‘Wow, I had impact on someone’s life,’ those are special,” he said.
When the UCT graduate chose teaching, he answered his calling.
“I always say this to new teachers, you get people who teach because they want a job and then you get people who teach because they want to teach and I have always been one of those who wanted to teach.
“I think if you have that approach then you can fit in, anywhere.
“Teaching is the interaction between people, that provides you with the reason to get up on the morning because of the people you are interacting with, those are the special people in my life.”
Welman said East London was and would always be his home away from home.
“This is the place where I have dedicated myself, I also found myself belonging, so I never felt I was away from home.”
Up next on his list, is touring around the country.
“What I am hoping is to take next year to adjust to retirement and visit places including wildlife in SA, visit my family overseas and then come back.”
His advice to young teachers was to treat the profession as a calling and not as a job.
“They must not see teaching as a job, teaching doesn’t stop at 2 o’clock or in holidays. A lot of people entering the profession do this and want the reward.
“As a teacher, I am dedicated to the people I am teaching, there is no clocking in and clocking out. Teaching is an immensely fulfilling feeling.”
Head of department Sve Malton said with Welman the school gained a dedicated teacher.
“I have known him for 34 years and I have always looked at him as an example.
“You could always speak to him, he is a very wise man.
“He is a man of integrity, he believes in equality and justice and embraces the whole spirit of the school’s motto, Non Vobis (Not For Ourselves).
“He is normally the first person at school and the last. He has been directly involved in all the activities of the school.
“One of my favourite moments was when he participated in a school production in 2004. He didn’t want to act but they insisted, and it was fabulous,” Malton said.
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