When Karen Guest began teaching 45 years ago, the classroom and the world beyond were very different places.
The Melton Primary School teacher has chalked up 45 years of teaching this year and remains passionate about the job that has been her life’s work.
Ms Guest said the things that have kept her going this long are working with fabulous pupils and schools who have a clear vision and focus on educating children and their social and emotional development.
“My career started at Lancefield Primary School, it was a very small staff and a small enrolment of children, mainly farming families,” she said.
“My next school was Woodend Primary School, which was starting to grow at the time so there were a number of enrolments.
“After that was Sunbury Primary School and that’s where I spent the bulk of my years, then I worked at Toolern Vale Primary School for two years and then the remainder here at Melton.”
While much has changed in the classroom over the past 45 years, Ms Guest can see the value of shifting with the times.
“I remember coming home you would smell of chalk after doing those lovely big drawings on the board,” she said.
“The biggest changes I would have to say are tech and the use of computers and iPads in classroom settings, the children’s uptake of technology is very adept, just like using a pencil for us.”
Ms Guest said this use of technology has smoothed the pathway to remote learning during the lengthy COVID-19 lockdowns, which would have been a much bigger challenge in years gone by.
“Who would have thought that this is what our world would become?
“We’re fortunate we do have that technology access, because years ago we would have been driving around and delivering packs to their houses.
“Children are very resilient and the parents have been doing an amazing job.”
Despite the challenges of this year Ms Guest has no intention of leaving the classroom behind any time soon.
“You have to have vast reserves of patience and energy, to keep up that motivation and passion is just so critical,” she said.
“It’s a big responsibility and I’m so proud of my colleagues, seeing the passion they put into their work.”
