Jimmy Coroneos: A lesson in the influence of a passionate teacher

Ok, you might remember that recently you and I did a podcast about the influence teachers can have in kids’ lives. Do you remember that one?

Well in that segment I mentioned a Maths teacher at our school by the name of Jimmy Coroneos, who seemed to have an incredible impact on some of the kids he taught. OK now hang on to this. I’ve just had a letter from Bruce who was taught by Jimmy and this is how it reads.

Dear Dr John

 I’ve been listening to a few of your Humble Heroes stories and heard Jimmy Coroneos’, name mentioned. I was one of the fortunate students who was taught by this remarkable man, and in no small way, he had a huge impact on my life.

Jim was born in Gunning NSW, the son of Greek immigrant parents from the Island of Kythera. Jim was educated at the local Primary school then Goulburn High, before gaining a scholarship to Sydney University.

I first met Jim when he was my mathematics teacher at Fort Street Boys High School in 1957.

Passion, energy, and focus were Jim’s hallmarks, and he passed these values onto his students. We knew he really cared whether we understood our mathematics basics. Jim’s legacy was his effort in the lesson, his preparation beforehand and of course his maths students. I remember Jim pacing back and forth across the raised platform at the front of our classroom as he explained a mathematical principle before turning to the blackboard to write down an equation in his copperplate hand. He produced endless sheets of mathematics problem sheets for us as homework, it was heads down to complete these sheets, but you knew if you did the work, you would be rewarded by good results. 

Jim Coroneos’s homework sheets were so good they were later published as Mathematics textbooks for all NSW schools.

With passion and energy, he also coached our Fort Street 2nd XV to the final of the Rugby comp in 1958; which we lost to a Catholic team. I can still remember his voice from the sidelines in the final, urging us on to “pick up the bloody ball” .

Most of Jim’s Mathematics 1 and 2 A class at Fort Street achieved an honors pass in the 1958 Leaving Certificate, setting some sort of a record.

Actually, this Honours ranking, looked good on my CV and was a big factor, in gaining an Engineering Cadetship with CSR with whom I stayed for almost 30 years.

I remember one afternoon in 1959 when in first year Engineering at Sydney University, my mate Bill Thomas and I returned to school to thank Jim for his efforts. I think he appreciated that.

Regards

Bruce Flood

What an impact and how wide Jim’s influence has been, but the reverse can also be true – for every teacher turned off teaching there can be countless kids turned off learning.

Take care.