If you want to make a 12-year-old run for the hills, invite them to dance the hokey tokey, and follow that up with some maths puzzles.
So why, against the odds, has retiring Havelock North Intermediate teacher John Fullwood made these notoriously uncool - and old school - pastimes something his
pre-teen students actually enjoy?
"Get the First XV rugby boys on your side, then you're away," he says.
The first lesson was key, as students learned the traditionally-appropriate way of asking "may I have this dance", and realised they would not drop dead from acute lack of coolness.
Believe it or not, dancing is actually "extremely popular" at the school, he said.
"The year 7s come in and they are very apprehensive about this dancing thing. Then they realise this is a lot of fun."
As part of their physical education curriculum, they learn to dance the gay gordon, maxina, hokey tokey, "ball in the jack", rock'n' roll, line-dancing, limbo, cha-cha. More than 20 dances all up.
Dancing has now become somewhat of a school tradition, thanks to Mr Fullwood, who was invited to the Havelock North High School ball to facilitate a half-time line-dancing session.
"You put on the music and everyone stands around and looks at each other but, by the time line dancing music has started, everyone is up and away," he said.
He also popularised maths, after helping establish the region-wide Mathletics competition for Year 7 and 8 students, earning him the title "Mr Mathletics".
Mr Fullwood retires from 47 years teaching, first in Wellington, then 34 years in Hawke's Bay 'from Takapau to Te Pohue".
He turned down a job as a principal to join the Havelock North Intermediate school community, a move that he does not regret, and in 2002 he won a Ministry of Education award for National Excellence in Teaching.
The school community farewelled him yesterday .
"When we announced I was retiring, I was quite moved by the reaction of the children."
Though he leaves to notch up a greater golf game count than he has ever known, students will still see him around the school working half the hours.
He says it was certainly his time to step down, as he recognised his students as the children of some of his former students.
"You know you've been around a while then," he said.
If you want to make a 12-year-old run for the hills, invite them to dance the hokey tokey, and follow that up with some maths puzzles.
So why, against the odds, has retiring Havelock North Intermediate teacher John Fullwood made these notoriously uncool - and old school - pastimes something his
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