Pittwater High School, Sydney Australia - 1970 to 1975
yes, I know this is ancient history for some people. Anyway, when I started high school, Mr King was one of the young Maths teachers, just recently out of teacher's college. A local lad, and a keen surfer, he drove an orange VW beetle with board racks permanently on top.

In 1974, at the start of 5th form, (year 11) I was in his maths class - level 2F for those who remember the previous NSW senior education system. Plus I started doing extra work for 1st level maths. At the time he was doing his Master's degree part time, which involved some computer programming. So when the school got its first computer (actually, a glorified programmable scientific calculator), he was the staff member responsible for finding out how it worked. This would have been around August 1974. He asked me if I would be interested in using it, finding out how to program it.

Decades later, I am still gainfully employed in finding out how to program computers. He was the catalyst for setting my on a great career, one which has given me enormous satisfaction, and taken me halfway around the world.

I understand he's still teaching at PHS - he constantly refused promotions that would take him away from his beloved northern beaches.

So - Dennis King - awesome teacher. Thanks mate, you probably didn't realise what an inspiration you were (and no doubt, still are.)
(Maclir, Thu 24 Mar 2011, 12:30, 4 replies)

Huurah for Dennis King!
Does he have a lupin-obsessed English cousin, Dennis Moore?
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 24 Mar 2011, 12:43, closed)

Dennis Moore
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Riding through the night
Soon every lupin in the land
Will be in his mighty hand


I seem to recall later in that episode there was another outburst of the Dennis Moore theme, with the words:

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
He's not in this bit
(Maclir, Thu 24 Mar 2011, 13:20, closed)

Hahahahaha yes
Ace.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 24 Mar 2011, 13:46, closed)

Only a handful of kms from where I live.
My kid's got a good teacher, but bloody hell school here is hard work for the parents. Every week, another begging letter, another request for materials and another 15-20 pieces of homework for a five-year-old. Not to mention paying $4500 a year just for being foreign...
( Colonel Boris "...a desperate Buzzfeed imitation...", Thu 24 Mar 2011, 13:32, closed)