By Casey Neill
Bern Johnson’s brother inspired her to take on a career in teaching.
The family she found at St Anthony’s Catholic Primary School kept her there for 43 years.
The Noble Park teacher is retiring at the end of the term.
“I came here in 1974, straight out of college,” she said.
She was 18 years old.
“I had a brother who had learning problems,” she said.
“He had a hard time with teachers at school. He was bullied.
“He had a speech impediment and he had physical problems as well.
“School was just a horrible place for him.”
Ms Johnson jumped at the offer of a teaching scholarship.
“I didn’t want children to have the experience John had,” she said.
“His experience has impacted greatly on his life.”
She said the first few years were hard.
“You had big classes. I had 54 students,” she said.
“I was only a little bit older than some of the kids myself.
“As you got experience you learnt to really tune into kids and their needs.
“I think what I’ve enjoyed most is helping the kids with learning difficulties.
“What I’ve got from the kids and from the people I’ve worked with, I think I come out on top.”
Ms Johnson said she loved the cultural diversity at St Anthony’s, the friendly and welcoming people and “the way they entrust their children to you”.
“They invite you to be part of their family,” she said.
Students share their appreciation of Bern’s efforts:
Ms Johnson has been to birthday parties, first communions and even weddings for former students.
“The kids have a real association with this place,” she said.
“They all come back and show you their children and their girlfriends.”
She’s watched classrooms and the Noble Park population change over the decades.
“When I first came here we had a lot of Indian and Sri Lankan children, some Eastern European children,” she said.
Next came Vietnamese, then Sudanese.
“Each one of those groups brings something different,” she said.
“A lot of them had very sad stories and needed a lot of care.
“You had to work very hard to understand what they’ve been through to get here.
“People really work hard to get here, but at first it’s a real struggle for them.
“Then they build themselves up and get on their feet.”
Time and again she’s seen families then return to the school with donations for those who followed them, to “pay it forward”.
“They have such high aspirations for their children.
“They want their children to have the best.
“You want to give them the best education.”
She raised three sons of her own during her time at the school.
“Now I’m going to take time out for my grandkids,” she said.
There are seven aged under four years.
“I hope to do a bit more travelling,” she said.
She also wants to try her hand at golf.
“My grandmother was a country women’s champion and I’ve never had the chance to play,” she said.
“My dad was a really good golfer, too.”
She also hopes to return to the school for casual stints and to help out with volunteer program Mercy Connect.
