Some of us look back on our school
years as a carefree, nostalgic time.
For others, it was no picnic. But
every now and again, a teacher
comes along who changes
everything. These four women had
teachers whose lessons went far
beyond textbooks and exam papers- and they’d like you to meet them.
ccordingto
FAIRLADY’s
CreativeDirector,
CarynMcArthy,her
highschoolartteacherwasthe
solereasonshemadeit through
whatwouldotherwisehavebeen
a horriblehighschoolexperience.
‘Shewastheonlyteacherwho
didn’tsayI wasgoingtoland
upsellingtoothpasteat
a supermarket,’shesays.
‘WeimmigratedtoCape
TownfromZimbabwewhenI
was15,’Carynexplains.When
shestartedat SansSouciGirls’
HighSchool,shestruggledto
adjust.‘That’sanawkwardage
tomakesucha bigadjustment.
Aswithemigrationanywhere,everythingfeelsforeignand
peculiar.I thinkI literallywept
everydayforthreemonths.’
‘I’veneverbeena massively
academicpersonandI think
a bigproblemwasthatthe
teachersfocusedtoomuchon
academiaandnotenoughonarts,
culture,andmusic.Theyweren’t
veryforward-thinking.’
‘I wasneverliftedupormade
tofeelgoodaboutmyself,’says
Caryn.‘TheonlyplaceI everfelt
fantasticwasintheartdepart-
mentandwithmyartteacher,
MsInnes,whowasabouttwo
bricksanda tickeyhigh,butwas
a forcetobereckonedwith.’For
Caryn,theartclassfeltlikean
escape;it wasina beautifulroomAN ARTSY ESCAPE
Caryn McArthy and Barbara InnesBY CAROLINE PETERSEN PHOTOGRAPHS BY LIZA VAN DEVENTERA
Caryn and Barbara sharing
a glass of very good red at
RED! The Gallery in Steenberg
shopping centre.34 Fairlady/September 2019