Teacher Anita Hudd reflects on 50 years teaching in SA primary schools

When Anita Hudd started teaching there were still chalk boards and desks with ink wells. Five decades later she reflects on how school has changed – and the one thing that’s stayed the same.

When Anita Hudd first stepped in front of a class of students teachers were still using chalkboards to teach cursive handwriting.

Since then the 71-year-old has clocked up five decades of moulding young minds in South Australian primary schools.

“The five to seven year olds are my passion. They’re fresh … you can just make all the difference,” Mrs Hudd told The Advertiser.

The grandmother of two is one of 72 teachers or school support staff being recognised for 50 years of service with the SA Education Department.

Another 153 staff have served 40 years and 163 have reached 30 years.

Together they have spent a combined 14,610 years in classrooms across the state.

Teacher Anita Hudd with Reception students Pranish, 6, and Abigail, 5. Mrs Hudd has spent 50 years teaching in SA primary schools. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Mrs Hudd is finishing her career at Salisbury Primary School, but it all began just after her 21st birthday in a Year 5/6 class at Williamstown Primary School in 1973.

“When I first started we had chalk boards for practising handwriting. It was proper cursive with a looped F and looped K, that required lots of practice,” she recalled.

“A lot of people think that handwriting is not important because we can use a keyboard but I don’t agree. We do daily handwriting at Salisbury (Primary).”

Mrs Hudd’s first Reception class, at Parafield Gardens East Primary School, had 36 students. Today there are about 19 or 20 children in the junior primary classes she takes as a relief teacher.

Teacher Anita Hudd with her 1976 class at Parafield Gardens East Primary School. Picture: Supplied.

In her first classroom students sat at “the old desks with the ink wells that were still there”, although they were modernised soon after.

These days students are trialling artificial intelligence and Mrs Hudd remembers when iPads were introduced.

“They were in great demand because students didn’t have them at home. We had to put a timer on,” she said.

“Now the younger ones (teachers) think ‘How could you ever teach without them?’.”

Mrs Hudd has taught in the city and the country and every subject from maths and science to physical education, English and German – her first language.

“I was 7 when I first came (to Australia),” she said, revealing she didn’t speak a word of English and learned “by immersion”.

“I remember crying because I just could not connect with anybody,” she said.

“There wasn’t any support for migrant kids, we just had to sink or swim. It’s just wonderful how we’ve grown in that area. We have so many different cultures at Salisbury Primary.”

Teacher Anita Hudd on an excursion to St Kilda beach with Reception students in 1976. Picture: Supplied

Mrs Hudd’s two daughters followed her into the field, one becoming a high school teacher and the other working in education administration.

After taking a few student teachers under her wing Mrs Hudd believes they would benefit from more hands-on support in the classroom, including mentoring for their first year.

“It would be really helpful if they were with a different mentor for each Term so they could see multiple ways of interacting with students,” she said.

There is also wide variation in students when they arrive at the school gates for the first time.

“Some students are so school ready when they come … other students don’t know how to open their lunch box or use a pair of scissors,” Mrs Hudd said.

“I love inspiring kids and being there to build their self-esteem and confidence.”