JAMES ‘JIMMY’ RODGER

Pupil 1966-1972

Maths Teacher 1976-2013

I started as a pupil in 1966 when the roll was about 600. I was fortunate to have inspirational teachers such as Jean Longmuir, George Allan and Stuart Ross. Those with nick names earned differing levels of respect – Claude Annabelle, Bunty, Lolly, Pa Broon, Zooney, Zeike, Goof, Butch and Barney.

Highlights included the school football team winning the senior shield at Hampden Park in 1967 and the junior team winning the Cameronian Shield in 1968.

I was proud of the fact that I won prizes most years and I was awarded school colours for cricket 5 years in a row. In sixth year, I was vice captain of Rochsoles House.

One of the low points was being belted by Betty Pearson for being a bit of a smart alec adolescent – thoroughly deserved! She didn’t speak to me for two years but my involvement in school shows changed that and we have been lifelong friends.

I left school in 1972 and returned to teach Maths in 1976. I was fortunate to teach in a department where my colleagues became my friends. Many of us taught in the department for over 30 years.

Looking back, I can see how difficult it was in my early years with 1800 pupils and a lack of differentiated teaching material. The heating in the House Block was a constant problem.

The sudden death of John McDonald at the time of the meningitis outbreak and the Lockerbie disaster in 1988 was a particular low point but it gave me the opportunity to take over John’s roll in Career Education, which in time led me to be involved in Work Experience, Enterprise and being part of the UCAS team that processed university and college applications.

This was a rewarding part of the job, and many pupils went on to be doctors, dentists, lawyers, vets, teachers, accountants and those who had no idea what they wanted to do when they left school have had successful careers in a range of areas.

Following my retirement in 2013 I did supply teaching until the pandemic and now I maintain my relationship with the school by doing supported study and exam invigilation.

In my 48 years (and counting) relationship with the school, I may have come across nearly 10,000 pupils. Sadly, not all have excelled themselves and I know of several who have spent time in her Majesty’s Institutes, but Airdrie Academy is comprehensive in the best sense of the word.

One of my most embarrassing moments came during an HMIe inspection in 1994 when I failed to identify Mrs Jane Bowen – Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of schools. It was late in the day, and I was mopping up a water spillage as there were no cleaners around. She walked past and I explained what I was doing. Twice she said to me that I should fetch a janitor, so I gave her the mop and told her to mop up while I did so! Later in the day I found out who she was (to my horror) and made a grovelling apology. She did say, however, that she was impressed with my initiative.

The highlights of my time at the school include my involvement with school shows, foreign holiday trips with Jack Heron and Brian McLean and success at both local and national levels with various Young Enterprise groups, but the interaction over many years with pupils, staff and ancillary staff has been very special.

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