In today's walk around the town of Ħaż Żebbuġ (lit village of olive trees) I did not go through the town centre but rather took to the outskirts and remembered many of the places I used to take my class to during the mid-day break. It was usually just for a long walk but sometimes to play ball or run around in the fields. I spent the first four years of teaching in this town. Part of the history lessons about the town consisted of its origin, why it was named Ħaż Żebbuġ and how it was made up of smaller villages and medieval hamlets. Much has changed since 1982 and as I walked along I wondered what might have happened to the kids that I had hopefully touched with a little love and hope for their future. Along the way I came across an area which seemed to have been untouched by the changes to the town.
BTW the title is Spring in Maltese.
@beverley365 Thanks for the comment Beverley. I do wonder sometimes about meeting the guys I used to teach. Just the other day I was appraoched by a young man pushing a pram he said, "Mr Zammit? You used to teach me ICT," and continued... "many years ago..." :) unfortunately I do not recognise most of the people who were my students but they still recognise me hopefully with good memories!
@ankers70 thanks Suzanne for the comments. I taught for a number of years in primary. I also taught in special schools for six years than moved to secondary school where I taught ICT and Graphical Communications. Later I spent some time as a deputy head in a primary school, moved on to become a school inspector (although in Malta the inspector is called an Education Officer) and finished my career as Director of Education responsible for digital literacy. Should write my memoir some day:)
And your narrative is lovely. Did you teach in primary school?
@elza