Award Winning Teacher Puts Pupils In The Picture

EDUCATION-AWARD

Hamilton, June 7 - Photographs of war memorials make a colourful collage on the walls of teacher Gregor Fountain's classroom.

St Paul's Collegiate, Hamilton, students took most of the photographs on holidays because Mr Fountain believes learning does not end in the classroom.

``I thought it would be neat if kids were learning history when they were driving so we started collecting photographs of World War 1 memorials to see what they perceived New Zealanders died for.''

It is an innovative teaching method that earned Mr Fountain an Australian Scholarships Group National Excellence in Teaching Regional Award.

Mr Fountain and Andrea Devane of Kiwitahi School in Morrinsville were presented with the awards by Education Minister Trevor Mallard at a ceremony in Wellington last week.

A parent who nominated Mr Fountain said he had an ``amazing ability to inspire his students by bringing to life historical events in a way that makes even the most lethargic student interested''.

Ms Devane taught years two to four at Kiwitahi School for the past two years and now relieves there.

She is highly regarded by teachers and parents alike for her positive and enthusiastic manner, which has had a huge impact on school and community morale.

There were 266 nominations for the awards nationwide and 20 regional recipients selected. A national winner will be announced early next year.

Caption: New Zealand history is a passion for St Paul's Collegiate teacher Gregor Fountain, regional teaching award winner.

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