"What wonderful creatures teachers are!" - yet another lost letter to the editor

I was woken on Saturday morning by the answering machine. The caller had noticed a letter of mine in the Herald, and was wondering if I might be the same boy that he had taught in 5th class some thirty-five years ago. Would I be interested in having a "chat about old times"? Indeed I would. John Morris was his name. A gentleman he was back then, and a gentleman still at eighty-four.

Now I must admit that I've had some good teachers in my time, but a handful of them were truly great - John Keller who taught me piano when I was six; Peter Harwin and John Morris; Peter Seymour; David Oldroyd - they made a huge difference. My belated thanks to them all. Actors and sportsmen, governors general and country singers may all have their uses, but what wonderful creatures teachers are!

Lee Borkman

05 February 2008