Copyright 2009
92988p Elliot Wolf Courtesy Sheryl Benjamin
A Message for the Matric Class of 1969, King David High School Linksfield
For most of you the significance of the year 1969 is that it signalled the end of your twelve-year school careers (in most cases!) For me, however it marked my second year at King David High School, (my first year without my twin brother Jeffrey, who was transferred to Victory Park at the end of 1968) and the year in which, much to my surprise, I was appointed as Deputy Principal. Though this promotion was welcomed, it was certainly unexpected. I remember vividly that towards the end of 1968 at the end of a Latin lesson, Milton Levine mentioned privately to me that he predicted that I would succeed Mr Sandler as headmaster. Of course, at the time I paid little attention to the prophecy and regarded it as a flight of schoolboy fancy. 1969 was also my first ulpan experience, when I led a From III group to the Midrasha of Sde Boker for over 3 months, an experience of Israel that is forever imprinted on my mind. I remember meeting Ben Gurion at the kibbutz of Sde Boker, when in fact the KD pennon was presented to him and this, as Naomi Perkel?s daughter Beth will confirm, still stands on his desk in the museum in his name.
Of course, I remember many of you as students, and cherish my teaching days at King David. Whether I was teaching English or Latin (with the crème de la crème!), I found my students responsive and stimulating, and thoroughly enjoyed the interaction with their lively, curious young minds. After teaching only boys at Parktown Boys? High for ten years, I must admit it was with some trepidation that I faced the co-educational environment of King David, but the girls soon put to rest my carefully camouflaged anxiety.
When I reflect on the five-year period (1969 ? 1973), I realize that possibly those years were the most enjoyable of my 34 years at KDHS, because I still had the opportunity for a great deal of teaching together with some administrative responsibility. In retrospect, I now know how privileged I was to be the headmaster for 28 years of a truly great school, which provided me with so many opportunities for great reward and fulfilment. I realize now how fortunate I was to enjoy the loyalty and friendship of wonderful teaching colleagues and to play a part in the formative years of a student body that reciprocated my support, interest and concern with respect and devotion.
I express my gratitude to you for convincing me in those early years of my teaching career at KDHS that there was no better school than King David for a young Jewish teacher like me. How right you were, for King David certainly has always ensured with its balance of secular and Jewish education in an environment conducive to critical thinking that its graduates are well prepared for the challenges they face on leaving its sheltered environment.
On my retirement in 2001, I was invited to join the King David Schools? Foundation, and after 34 years at KDHS and passionate in my belief in the advantages of Jewish education, I was happy to give of my services as a fund-raiser to help deserving students with scholarships/bursaries in our own schools, and to finance our Outreach programme for disadvantaged schools, mainly in Alexandra. Inevitably, I still miss the vibrant ambience of KDHS, but as a man now in his seventies I realize that my present position is less pressurized and more suitable to my age, albeit less stimulating!
I wish you all well ? may your futures as imminent sexagenarians be blessed with good health, great happiness and fulfilment.
Elliot Wolf