Meet Jack, the 80-year-old classroom helper (From Thisisdorset)
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Meet Jack, the 80-year-old classroom helper
3:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in Latest By Katie Clark
BIRTHDAY: Staff and pupils of Mudeford Infants School celebrate the 80th birthday of Jack Kynaston
A classroom volunteer is still helping out at school - at the age of 80.
Jack Kynaston has been volunteering at Mudeford Infants in Queens Road, Christchurch, for the past 15 years, helping youngsters with their reading as well as starting a dominoes club. To mark his 80th birthday, he was presented with a special cake by headteacher Duncan Churchill.
A former local policeman, Jack started helping out five mornings a week when he began bringing his granddaughter into school.
And as well as building impressive backdrops for school performances and wooden cars for the pupils to paint, he also keeps the staff entertained with his jokes and quips.
In honour of his special birthday, school governor Sarah Wood baked a masterpiece of a cake complete with edible dominoes for Jack to share with his year one class.
He said: “It’s a lovely surprise. I genuinely love everything I do here. It’s a pleasure to watch the youngsters grow up during the year and see them go on their way.
“I’ll keep coming as long as my wife lets me. Some of the things they come out with are brilliant. Every day is different here.”
Head teacher, Duncan Churchill said: “Jack is so well-known in the area. He started volunteering and he has been here ever since.
“Jack has seen two head teachers come and go. He is truly high-valued here and at the beginning of every year, there is a competition for who will get Jack in their class. He is very popular.
“The children love him. They can have a different relationship with him than they can with us, and for some he is a lovely grandfatherly figure for them. We are so lucky to have him.”
Comments(10)
lostnfound
says...
3:28pm Wed 12 Sep 12
brenpike
says...
3:51pm Wed 12 Sep 12
well done
l'anglais
says...
5:29pm Wed 12 Sep 12
brenpike wrote:nonsense......
he deserves a medal histime and work are completly unpaid
well done
Someone else who should be being paid is receiving dole because this fellow is filling a hole left by cuts in the public sectors.
As a retired policeman lets see if he can fill in for a Friday night stint in Bournemouth Square.
Move over old timer..gissa job..I could do dat
INDIKARAMA
says...
5:40pm Wed 12 Sep 12
Was Charlie
says...
6:21pm Wed 12 Sep 12
l'anglais wrote:There is no job. He's a helper, not a classroom assistant. If he wasn't there, nobody would be doing what he's doing.
brenpike wrote:nonsense......
he deserves a medal histime and work are completly unpaid
well done
Someone else who should be being paid is receiving dole because this fellow is filling a hole left by cuts in the public sectors.
As a retired policeman lets see if he can fill in for a Friday night stint in Bournemouth Square.
Move over old timer..gissa job..I could do dat
manana
says...
7:28pm Wed 12 Sep 12
yasinac
says...
9:38pm Wed 12 Sep 12
l'anglais wrote:How rude! This man donates his time, patience and experience FREE to this great community school. In a time where many households lack a positive male role model, Mudeford school provides this in abundance, with male teaching and support staff.
brenpike wrote:nonsense......
he deserves a medal histime and work are completly unpaid
well done
Someone else who should be being paid is receiving dole because this fellow is filling a hole left by cuts in the public sectors.
As a retired policeman lets see if he can fill in for a Friday night stint in Bournemouth Square.
Move over old timer..gissa job..I could do dat
A positive story of a group of people celebrating Mr Kyneston's birthday and coming together to show appreciation of the hard work he has put in. L'anglais you need to learn some manners and respect.
yasinac
says...
9:48pm Wed 12 Sep 12
lostnfound wrote:I don't think you took this story the right way, and yes many older people could do a lot of positive work in educating our young but the point of the matter is they don't!
Why the amazement? We don't all go ga-ga at 80, some of us still teach computing and I expect that a lot of us 'mature' people could teach the youngsters a thing or two!
If more people did what Mr Kynaston has done maybe our children would grow up with a stronger work ethic and a respect for what has gone before.
By calling in the Echo the schools' intention was perhaps just to publicly thank him for all his hard work and recognise an important birthday.
billd766
says...
1:39am Thu 13 Sep 12
l'anglais wrote:I am sure that you could do the work that Jack does for free and you are willing to commit to 5 mornings a week, every week of the school term.
brenpike wrote:nonsense......
he deserves a medal histime and work are completly unpaid
well done
Someone else who should be being paid is receiving dole because this fellow is filling a hole left by cuts in the public sectors.
As a retired policeman lets see if he can fill in for a Friday night stint in Bournemouth Square.
Move over old timer..gissa job..I could do dat
Better still why don't you put your time where your mouth is. I am sure that a school near you would welcome you. But do remember come rain, shine or snow unless the school is closed, once you commit you HAVE to be there.
rudolph_hucker says...
3:20pm Wed 12 Sep 12