I’ve begun the long process of sifting through my late father’s study, and amongst his many filing cabinets I turned my attention to the files that were titled ‘Christian’. In one particular file, I found old school documents of projects and excursions I had been on or taken part in and the odd report. My History report for Year 11 Modern History reads:
‘Christian seems to be just “turning the corner” as an academic; he appears more confident in his abilities, more involved with the subject and more willing to speak up. Terrific potential. W. Bussey’
I currently teach Year 11 Modern History at Carey.
Bill Bussey was an American teacher from Maine who had been posted on exchange for a year to my school. Bill Bussey to this day is fondly remembered by myself and friends for the profound impact he had on our love for learning and History. After reading this report I googled his name and found this perfect example of the Bill Bussey we experienced still thriving and inspiring students today:
In what has become an end-of-year tradition, Bill Bussey, longtime English teacher and provost, conducted a virtual student book toss during one of the last virtual assemblies of the 2020-2021 school year. Typically, Bussey would physically propel some of his personal favorites, current best-sellers and an array of classics from the stage of Lawrence Auditorium out to a sea of students lunging to catch them. Last year, student names were drawn out of a hat and announced virtually. Here are the titles and brief descriptions of the books that the lucky winners took home for the summer.
(Make sure you do see the list of books! My favourite book of all time, All the Pretty Horses, is mentioned.)
We would sprint to History class during the day because we were guaranteed ‘story time’. I can still recall Mr Bussey telling us he lived in the same town as the author Stephen King and his description of this author – ‘wearing a crumply hooded jacket, appearing as a loner or stranger in a social setting’, who was ‘always carrying a notebook and pencil’ – captured our curiosity and drew us into his lessons. When studying the Cold War, inevitably Mr Bussey would create excitement with tales of espionage or of East Germans using hot air ballons or tanks to get across the Berlin War. This caught our interest into that period and friends and I still read and discuss the historical moments and times that help us gain a greater understanding of today. He would always challenge and question us as to what was written and for what reasons but most importantly, he would inspire us to learn and grow.
We need great teachers who push and care about us. We knew he cared and he engaged us forever. After reading this report on the weekend, it also came to me why I do attempt a story of sorts for my students in American and Modern History each lesson and I know many students have captured their love for learning with our teachers in so many disciplines, subjects and lessons! As a Deputy Head I regularly check corridors and classrooms and am in awe of the many teachers who are conducting experiments, challenging students with debate and theories, sharing a dialogue between teacher and student that would make Socrates proud! Students are driven, focussed and eager to learn: a great educator cultivates this.
Christian Gregory
Deputy Head of Senior School – Student Wellbeing
