Jane Bovill: Retiring Riverside principal says schools are easy to blame, but do not exist in a vacuum

She’s been in schools since the age of four – first as a student, then teacher, then principal. As she sails off into the sunset, this is what renowned Tasmanian educator Jane Bovill wants you to know about the system.

Riverside Primary School staff farewelling long-serving principal Jane Bovill (centre) with T-shirts honouring the departed leader. Picture: Supplied

A legendary school principal who arrived at school at the age of four and never left is sailing off into the sunset after a four-decade career in public education, signing off with an impassioned plea to not blame schools for whole of society issues.

Jane Bovill, who has been principal of Riverside Primary School – Tasmania’s largest primary school – for 12 years, was farewelled at an emotional school assembly on Friday.

Prior to her time at Riverside, she was principal of Waverley and St Leonards primary schools, assistant principal of Summerdale Primary School, and senior teacher at Punchbowl Primary School.

In addition to her early-career roles as a classroom teacher, Ms Bovill also spent time as an education consultant working with schools across the state.

Ms Bovill said she never left school – she’s been there “since the age of four” – because the “most joy you get is from working with children”.

“Even on the worst day some child will say something to you that makes you feel really good, like, ‘You look beautiful today, Mrs Bovill,’ or, ‘You’re the queen, Mrs Bovill’,” she said.

“I’m a bit shell-shocked that I’m actually leaving school.

Riverside Primary School leaders Jack Pierce, Cassidy Gibson and Holly Bennett presenting retiring principal Jane Bovill with her farewell gift. Picture: Supplied

“And so it’s quite a hole left when you’re not a part of a school community.

“I was quite emotional and very teary, but I’m leaving with a great deal of pride in what’s been achieved at the school.”

Ms Bovill cited the introduction of “inclusive practices that differentiate for students” of differing needs and abilities; the phasing out of traditional “oval and asphalt” zones for new outdoor learning and play areas including basketball, chess and a nature space; and the balancing of “inquiry-based learning” alongside traditional literacy and numeracy as her finest achievements at Riverside.

Asked about the state of education, in light of the most recent data – from a 2012 OECD literacy survey – suggesting almost half of adults in Tasmania struggled with basic literacy, Ms Bovill said schools could not be considered in isolation.

“We are a product of our community. In the last 10 years there are much higher rates of anxiety and wellbeing issues that impact parents and families and students, and the resources for dealing with those have dried up,” she said.

“There’s a shortage across Australia of the sorts of services that schools need to support them and the community needs to support adults.

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“There are lots of people working way beyond their job description to support children in schools in many different ways.

“To support them with learning you have to support them with mental health” – which can mean teachers going so far as finding something to eat for students packed empty-handed.

Ms Bovill, who has worked in communities of varying socio-economic status across her career, said schools are a “whole of community issue”.

“There are so many schools doing great things and we don’t often celebrate that, schools seem to be the place where you blame people,” Ms Bovill said.

Department of Education, Children and Young People Deputy Secretary, Schools and Early Years, Trudy Pearce, said Ms Bovill’s 44-year career was “illustrious and esteemed”.

“During her career, Jane was known for her innovative educational mind, always focused on doing things better,” Ms Pearce said.

“She demonstrated an ability to assimilate and pull things together. Known as an instructional and people leader, Jane somehow managed to find simple solutions to complex problems.

“She cares deeply – and that care was at the centre of everything she did for her students and their families, as well as the broader community.”

Ms Pearce made a particular note of Ms Bovill’s iconic Book Week constumes, including Cruella de Vil from 101 Dalmations and the caterpillar from The Very Hungry Caterpillar.