World Teacher’s Day: Human biology teacher Alan Hall reflects on 40-year career at Narrogin Senior High School

Narrogin Senior High School’s Alan Hall has reflected on a teaching career spanning more than four decades for 2022 World Teacher’s Day.

The human biology teacher’s passion for education developed during high school after he became a student laboratory technician in Year 9.

Speaking ahead of World Teacher’s Day on Friday, Mr Hall told the Observer he was paid $2 a term by the Department of Education to help his science teacher prepare classroom experiments.

He went on to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science and Graduate Diploma in Education at Curtin University.

In 1980, he was transferred from Perth’s Hollywood Senior High School to Narrogin Agricultural Senior High School, which later became Narrogin Senior High School.

The veteran teacher has taught more than 40,000 human biology and science lessons to more than 2000 students across his 43 years at NSHS.

“The highlight of my career and the reason I have stayed at this school is the quality of the students, teachers and community members of Narrogin,” Mr Hall said.

“I have always believed that the quality of an education is directly proportional to the quality of the relationship between the teacher and the learner.

“This relationship should not be limited to the student in the classroom but it is enhanced by observing them display different skills and personality traits on school camps, excursions, sporting fields and in the local community.”

Mr Hall said he was now teaching the children of his first cohort of Year 12 students.

“I have taught about 20 former students who are now teachers, some even becoming my boss, and have seen many mature into responsible, contributing members of the community,” he said.

“I have also benefited from the medical, trade and service skills of former students.”

Mr Hall has held various leadership positions at the school, including coaching the country week volleyball teams since 1988.

He was on the school board for several years.

“Other out-of-classroom opportunities have included many subject and sporting camps, including organising five international snow skiing tours, more than 30 country weeks, State school volleyball championships and many varied excursions,” Mr Hall said.

“These opportunities have enabled me to take on leadership roles with Narrogin sporting and community service groups.

“The school has given me many opportunities to achieve and the reward of achieving my career goals.”