It was a bittersweet moment as a teacher for the past 40 years walked through a guard of honour formed by more than 1,000 pupils, and into retirement.
Tears rolled down 64-year-old Erna Anthonie’s cheeks as she said goodbye to Bethvale Primary School in Bethelsdorp — a place she has called home for the past 31 years.
After her college studies, Anthonie began her teaching career in 1985 at Westville Secondary, before moving to Bertram High School.
In 1994, she started teaching at Bethvale Primary, where she spent more than three decades invested in each and every pupil who stepped into her classroom.
A standout memory is having taught three generations of the same family during her time at the school.
“I was privileged to be an educator for so many years. It seems like yesterday that I stepped into the profession.
“I had many highlights during my career. Seeing the kids that I taught excel in life gives me great satisfaction,” she said.
“It is fantastic to see how successful so many of them have become.”
She said a lowlight though was seeing children struggle due to the social ills in their communities, and the dire situations they faced at their homes.
Still young at heart, Anthonie, a mother of two, said she started off teaching needlework and Bible studies at Westville Secondary School.
The subjects were, however, fazed out by the department of education and she later went on to teach English, Afrikaans and science.
Anthonie said anything good taught to a child would never go to waste.
“When a child’s eyes light up when you teach them something new, then you know you’ve reached them.”
Her daughter, Caylin, said despite all her mother’s “other children”, she was always there for her family.
“My mom was always there for my brother and I.
“She helped me a lot with my schoolwork too. I’m very proud of her,” Caylin said.
Anthonie said it was a bittersweet feeling as she was sad to leave the school, but excited for retirement.
“I encourage matriculants to go into teaching.
“It is a place where you shape people and contribute to humankind. Teaching is a noble profession.”
Principal Muhammed Felix said though he had not been at the school for very long, he had immediately noticed the value Anthonie brought.
“To think how many children went through her classroom is amazing.
“She is a remarkable woman who is very humble and professional, and always willing to lend a helping hand and give her best to the pupils and her community.
“The saddest part is that she takes all that knowledge with her,” Felix said.
Pupils Aafiyah Daniels and Nazeerah Hoffman, both in grade 7, said Anthonie was like a mother to them.
They said they would miss her because she was always there for her pupils.
Anthonie said she now planned to do some travelling with her family.
The Herald
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