MOUNT Maunganui teachers are launching their own version of Baywatch this summer as they ditch the books and join their students at the beach.
Eight Mount Maunganui College teachers have all chosen to don their togs these holidays and become volunteer lifeguards at Omanu and Papamoa surf clubs.
Allan Mundy, head of
science, said it was a coincidence that so many Mount teachers chose to spend their summer holidays patrolling the beach.
"It fits in well. There's no doubt about that," he said.
Seven of the teachers would make up the 110-volunteers at the Omanu Surf Club, while the eighth would be at Papamoa.
Mr Mundy, a teacher for the past 15 years, said his two lives had crossed over various times in 25 years of surf lifesaving.
He could recall at least 15 times when he has plucked a struggling swimmer from the sea - and discovered it was one of his students.
"Some of them were happy to see me. It just depended how in dire straits they were," Mr Mundy said.
Even the deputy principal, Ady van der Beek, would be making up the ranks of volunteer lifeguards who would patrol a couple of times a month until the end of March.
He said it was not unusual to find so many teachers offering their time to community organisations.
"I reckon the skills you learn here can be of benefit in teaching. There's always going to be moments of injuries and stress that require training and calm and that can be used in the classroom."
Despite some rowdy children in the classroom, Jane Townsend, head of physical education, found it hard to judge which would be the tougher job.
"You get to know new people. It's a really nice active way to do something for the community.
"If the surf's big though, if there's rips, it's really, really full-on."
