International College Hong Kong

Jon Rees

Teacher of English, Theory of Knowledge, Human Technologies and Sustainability Coordinator

Why did you want to become a teacher?

I had completed a post-graduate degree in journalism, yet faced with the prospect of covering the grind of daily news for a local paper, “Rabbit Escapes From Hutch” and all of that, I knew I wanted to live and travel overseas. So, off to the university job centre I went. I applied for a teaching assistant for a school in Uganda...and ended up working as Head of PE. I loved the challenge, the collegiality, the responsibility, so went back to get a formal qualification.

What is your first memory from school?

I wrote an adaptation of The Sleeping Giant, a beautiful, sad nursery story. Mrs. Wenbourne, a fantastic primary teacher, went to the trouble of having other students illustrate it then turn it into a real book! Which Tim Dean was sick on. But another was produced and my mum still has it.

What makes a ‘good day’ at school?

The student editors of Insight magazine amaze me with their time management, commitment and professionalism. It’s incredibly rewarding to have students create brilliant pieces of work for their formal assessments, it’s another feeling to have students working with a sense of purpose towards a creative end goal of their volition.

If I walked into your classroom on a typical afternoon, what would I see going on?

You’d see sofas, rugs and cushions scattered around, thanks to the creative re-design that Liam Greenall and Natalie Bailey worked on it. I would hope that you would see engaged students working collaboratively/individually with purpose. You would see a bit of a mess on my desk.

What’s the funniest thing a child has ever said to you?

Can’t narrow this down, but the funniest, most spontaneous, enthusiastic and engaging student I’ve travelled with was Kyle Chu on the Cambodia Service trip. He was a tour de force whose good nature broke down language barriers and got everyone laughing while working hard constructing bamboo houses.

What are your “trapped on a desert island” books or movies?

Wade Davis: The Wayfinders- Why Ancient Wisdom in the Modern World Matters (Hopefully I could use it to plan my exit!) I would gamble on some sort of collected Buddhist teachings as they seem to be the best belief system to focus your mind and are the foundation of the Mindfulness movement. I’m afraid I don’t know which though as I’m only getting into this! You would have plenty of time to mediate anyway. 

Moby Dick: “The Great American Novel” and of enormous length with so much depth to read and re-read.

The Star Wars Trilogy(original!)

What is the hardest thing about being a teacher?

Regardless of the relative freedom that we are provided for innovation with Deep Learning, we are constrained to a timetable. It would be great to find a system that allowed more freedom and flexibility. 

What inspires you?

Sport and travel. I am constantly thrilled, absorbed, and astounded by sporting documentaries or the theatre of a live match. Whether it’s understanding the  context of social-political forces surrounding an event, or just trying to  comprehend the level of dedication and focus of people like free soloist climber Alex Honnold, or historical figures in places I travel.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Probably my Masters in Educational Development as it has most profoundly changed my world view. I didn’t approach it in the right way at the beginning, but stuck with it and I completed it across living in three countries. That’s not ideal, but I learned about work-life balance, dedicating myself to a goal and conducted research in Spanish when investigating my action-research on the impact of an educational NGO in a poor district of Lima.

What would students be surprised to find out about you?

I’ve run 7 marathons.

 

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