You don’t have to probe Victoria University Secondary College teacher Ray Lawicki for long to realise just how much he loves his job.
It’s a labour of love that has kept him in the classroom for 55 years.
“When man landed on the moon in 1969, I landed at St Albans Technical Boys School as a trainee teacher and I stayed there for the rest of my life,” Mr Lawicki said.
“The school name changed but it was the same school grounds and the same me.”
Mr Lawicki first began teaching both mathematics and science before gradually taking on the role as a full-time mathematics teacher.
“You witness a lot of changes over the years, especially in technology. Once upon a time you did everything by hand, nowadays there are calculators and other things you can use,” he said.
With a career spanning across more than half a century it’s hard for Mr Lawicki to narrow down the highlights of his teaching time.
“Teaching the children of parents that I taught is the most amazing thing. When a student says to me that I taught their father or mother… time’s flown so quickly,” he said.
“For me, my highlight is that I’m a western boy who stayed in the west, teaching students in the west.”
Mr Lawicki said his secret to turning up to class every day for the past 55 years is simple: “You must enjoy what you’re doing,” he said.
“… and I enjoy teaching students mathematics – If you don’t enjoy it you’ll never turn up.
“It’s a challenge but it’s a rewarding thing to see students develop their knowledge. As a teacher the best thing I can ever say is that teaching young kids keeps you young – otherwise I wouldn’t do a lot of the things I do now.
“From my point of view it’s rewarding to see young kids grow and go to university and come back to tell you how they’re going.”
Hannah Hammoud
