Ms Jan Pocock had a very different life before she decided to pursue teaching. Her passion for literature and her love for the students have enabled her to enjoy her role as a Teacher Librarian at the School. This year will be Ms Pocock’s 15th year at the School. Ms Pocock reflects on why she became a teacher, all the aspects she loves about it and for literature itself.
I started my teaching degree when I was 21 years old. I had spent the years since leaving school travelling and working in the North West of the state breaking horses, mustering and working on stations. While this was a most magnificent time, I did not think I could continue to do this into my old age.
I enrolled to do an English Major and a Physical Education Minor and then had to enrol across University of Western Australia and West Australian College of Advanced Education (now Edith Cowan) as my subjects were not a usual combination. As I explained to the staff at enrolment – they were the only subjects I could do!
Initially I wanted to become a teacher because I loved the subjects. I stayed a teacher because I love the students. I am inspired by their enthusiasm, their willingness to give things a go and their sheer delight in living. Every day I am grateful that I come to work to do something I love, with a community of learners who I love. I have changed my role often but I have never considered leaving education.
The Teacher Librarian role became available a few years ago at Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. I have a passion for both children’s literature and young adult literature and the difference reading makes to children’s lives. Children and young adults who read are grounded, see others’ perspectives, travel in their minds and generally have greater empathy. I love that reading enlarges people’s worlds and gives greater understanding of the world community.
My joy in the library comes from seeing every student in the school from Kindergarten to Year 12, watching them develop, grow and graduate. I delight in the joy of someone who skips in with a book that has thrilled them, changed their perspective or made them think about things in a different way.
I look forward to more students reading as well as more writers and illustrators coming to speak to and inspire the children. We are constantly implementing changes to make the library more accessible and the collection as up to date and relevant as possible.
My reading style is eclectic. I am a judge on the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Younger Readers Panel so I read a lot of books for 8 to 12-year-olds. I try to read as much of the new young adult selection as I possibly can so that I can make genuine recommendations to students and then I read for my own pleasure. I love a good murder story! Psychological thrillers are also a favourite and then sometimes I just like to read something soothing. I delve into historical fiction at times and I do love a cracking adventure. It sounds like I will read just about anything!!
