Bray Park State High School’s Stuart King retires after more than 50 years in education

School will be a little different today for students and staff from a southeast high school, who bid farewell to a beloved teacher after 53 years of service.

A legend of education has decided to put away the books after more than five decades shaping young minds.

Bray Park State High School will be a little different from now on as staff and students head back to the classroom without their beloved teacher, Stuart King.

The popular science and maths teacher has called an end to his career after 53 years.

Mr King attended Brisbane State High School and was offered a teaching scholarship to the University and Teachers' College.

After the two-year course, he started work with the Department of Education at 19 years of age.

“I think it was one of the biggest flukes of my life, other than meeting my wife,” he said with a laugh.

“It came out of the blue really. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but it happened and look where I am now.”

Bray Park State High School has bid farewell to Mr King. The popular teacher is putting away the books after more than five decades in front of the blackboard.

The father-of-two has taught all over the state with stops at Noosa, Proserpine, Keebra Park, Sunnybank and Thursday Island before finishing up at Bray Park.

“I really enjoyed teaching in Proserpine. It was a really close community, both the school community and the community itself,” he said.

“I got a promotion to go up there as subject master from Keebra Park and we wanted our girls to be brought up in a country-ish sort of area.

“I think it gave them a lot more opportunities and they really enjoyed their schooling up there and I enjoyed being the subject master.

“It was a great experience and we played lots of sports and the girls were in to everything.”

Bray Park State High School principal Peter Turner said Mr King taught with passion during his time in class.

“His legacy and impact will be long remembered, especially in his contribution to volleyball and chemistry teaching at Bray,” he said.

“All the very best for your well earned retirement Mr King, we salute you.”

Mr King has taught a whole generation of Bray Park students. Picture: Chris Higgins

Mr King also served as the science head of department from 1988 to 2006, as well as Deputy Principal.

He said he would not have had it any other way.

“School is what you make of it, in my view,” Mr King said.

“You work hard and you treat the kids with respect and they give it back to you.

“I haven’t been at a school that I haven’t liked and it’s been hard to leave some of them … I’m still in contact with a lot of staff and past students.”

The grandfather of five has some sage advice for any budding teachers.

“To me, teaching is one of the best jobs anyone could ever do but you’ve got to love the job,” he said.

“If you don’t want to be a teacher and you haven’t got that drive to really enjoy teaching then get out now.

“You’ve got to want to teach, you have got to be able to communicate really well with the students – if you give them respect.

“When I first started teaching so long ago, teachers tried to demand respect … and that’s not the case any more.”

Mr King said as times changed, how he taught also evolved.

“The kids have got at their fingertips all the information they want and so you’ve got to get that relationship with them,” he said.

“The content stuff comes to you over time.

“Kids can be really difficult, but it’s how you react with them and treat them – you get what you give in my view.”

Mr King said while no teacher signed up for the recognition, it was always nice to hear good feedback.

“It’s a really good job. I suppose it’s your life really — all you need is one student or a parent to email or talk to you in the shops and say thanks,” he said.

“It’s the little things make you want to keep going.

“I’ll miss it but I’m being selfish now. My wife has put up with me for such a long time and I’m going to spend a lot more time with her while I’m healthy.

“We’ll do a little bit of travelling, we don’t know what we’re going to do – we’re going to organise everything and downsize.”