Linda Howell retired from her career of 45 years at Lawrence Area School at the end of this term, and said she had to fight hard to contain the tears at her leaving ceremony.
That might have come as something of a surprise to those who perhaps viewed her as the "bossy, stroppy" stickler for traditional "Ps and Qs", she said.
"I’ve always been very strong on manners and mutual respect in the classroom as a foundation for everything else that takes place there — please and thank you go a very long way.
"I’ve been lucky under the principals here that I’ve been able to forge my own path with the children.
"That’s perhaps created a reputation for being a bit bossy and stroppy, but we’ve had a lot of fun along the way too.
"Kids like to know where they stand."
Wairarapa native Mrs Howell arrived at the school with her teacher husband Jeff in 1977 for an initial three-year stint, before she stepped back from teaching to raise her young family of three until 1989.
When care of her youngest allowed, she returned to the school as a relief teacher before taking on a series of part and full-time roles for the next 33 years.
"I’ve taught year 4, year 8, senior IT, health, food and nutrition, social studies and, for the past 10 years, careers.
"The great thing about an area school is you get to try your hand at most things if you stick around long enough."
She said although she had enjoyed each of her many roles, she had found careers guidance particularly rewarding.
"I had one girl who wanted to be a beauty therapist. Nothing wrong with that, but we encouraged her to push herself, and just recently heard she’s graduating as a social worker.
"Stories like that are really rewarding, seeing the children opening their eyes and heading off to experience a bit of the world."
Mrs Howell said she, too, was looking forward to exploring the world now she was retired.
"I’d like to travel more, do some more reading and spend time with family. And I’ve been planning craft ideas for a few years now, which might actually happen now I have the time."
Never shy in expressing an opinion, the teaching veteran decried bureaucratic meddling in education.
"A lack of common sense — wherever I find it — makes me furious. The little office wallahs in Wellington are continually tinkering with things. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."
However, she said children remained, at heart, the same as they ever were.
"Kids will be kids, and parents need to be parents.
"If you support the parents in being good role models for their children, you’ll see them doing a fantastic job, and end up sending some great young people out into the world."
