Saint Andrews Scots School Spirit.
In December 2009, Christine Glascher retired from teaching, but she is far from ending
her long, close relationship with St Andrews. It is a relationship with many branches,
stretching back several generations. Her grandson, who currently studies at Punta
Chica, is the fifth generation to enroll as a pupil. Christine´s relationship with St Andrews
has encompassed all possible perspectives. Her husband is an ex- pupil, but the
connection goes back even further. Her aunt, Lillian Crease, also an ex pupil, travelled
to London during the Second World War, and served as a nurse during the Blitz. She
took this decision for love, to follow her husband who had, like so many St Andrew’s
students, decided to enlist and serve during the war. In 2005, Lillian was invited to
unveil the commemorative plaque, which is a central part of the school patio. For many
years Christine was a school parent, and is proud that all her four sons graduated from
St Andrews. However, for many of us, she is best known for the twenty three years she
worked as an English teacher.
Christine comes from a family of teachers. Her grandfather founded the Liceo Britanico
in Salta. Like Christine, her sister is also a teacher, and is currently working in Santiago
in Chile, while her cousin founded an institute of English in Chubut province. The family
tradition is being maintained, as she has a son who teaches art in a neighbouring
school in Buenos Aires, and her niece is working in Mexico. Between them, they are an
example of globalisation in action.
Christine´s professional career at Saint Andrews began in Punta Chica, when she took
the brave decision to return to teaching after a career break to start a family. Initially,
she worked with second grade, an experience she recalls as causing her some alarm.
Returning to the classroom after ten years can be tough, but working with such young
and energetic pupils is truly daunting at times. Within a year, the Head of Primary, Mr.
Smith had recognised her value and had invited her to work with Year 6 students in
Olivos, a role which she thoroughly enjoyed. She recalls with pleasure the joy of being
able to teach literature as well as language as she began to work with the older
students. However, there were also tough moments, especially commuting between
Olivos in the morning and Punta Chica in the afternoon. This was further complicated by
having to return to collect her own sons from the Olivos site at the end of the day. She
described with a smile how the sight of the train barrier coming down over the railway
crossing would often be a concern at the end of a long day, separating her for those
extra few moments from her sons, who would often be the last pupils waiting at the
school gate, hand in hand with the school porter who would ensure their safety until her
arrival.
Fourteen years ago, when the school was reorganised, Christine seized on the
opportunity to move up into the middle school. She leaped at the chance to progress,
and to develop professionally. She trained as an IGCSE moderator for the Cambridge
exam board and recalls with great satisfaction the pleasure she derived over the years
working with the range of literature texts and the variety of the syllabus. Indeed, her
enthusiasm and commitment to professional development remained constant
throughout her career; she continues to describe the pleasure of attending ESSARP
training courses as “a good investment” despite the long journey to the centre. She
ranks the opportunity for lifelong learning and the relationship she often formed with
students as two of the greatest pleasures of her career. She believes that teaching is a
career unlike any other, with the possible exception of medicine, which requires teacher
and student to develop a human bond and genuine understanding. Christine was
particularly fond of working with challenging students, both those who were
academically very able, and in need of additional stimulus, and those who may have
been experiencing a difficult adolescence for one reason or another. “I see myself as a
kind of aunt”, she said, which may explain why so many of her students are still missing
her reassuring presence around the school.
However, Christine is very clear that although there are many aspects of St Andrew's
which will be forever with her, she is thoroughly enjoying her new life. Sunday nights are
very different now, with no need to sit down and plan what do to with that class first
thing on Monday, and she certainly does not miss the marking. She has had the time to
welcome many visitors, to take advantage of a low season holiday and beat the crowds,
a real luxury for an ex teacher, and above all else, to enjoy time with her new grandson.
Despite the changes, some things will always endure, the bonds of friendship are
important, and Christine still sees many colleagues regularly. For her, the sense of
belonging is vital. One of her final comments sticks in the memory, as she describes the
pleasure she used to feel when travelling when she spotted the car sticker on the beach
at Mar del Plata, or deep in Patagonia, and knew that the she was part of a large but
united community. Some links are too strong to ever break, and Christine will always be
a part of the school. We look forward to seeing her new grandchild enrolling and
continuing the tradition.