Mathematics is not everybody鈥檚 favourite subject.
It can be challenging, dull or simply not interesting enough to engage today鈥檚 teenagers.
Thankfully, students in the senior school at Swan Christian College have a Head of Mathematics who is experienced, well-travelled and on the cutting edge of new techniques in teaching for today鈥檚 students.
David Hunter is the sophisticated, knowledgeable and affable gentleman that puts parents at ease when discussing their son or daughter at teacher interviews and exudes a level of flamboyance that brightens up even the most mundane departmental meeting on a dreary Thursday afternoon.
鈥淭here are seventeen people who teach Maths across Swan. I enjoy the interaction between all of us at the meetings. It鈥檚 a hoot! You would be amazed to know that Mathsa teachers do have a sense of humour!鈥�
David spent almost twenty years at Penrhos College before coming to Swan to lead the Mathematics Department. He has seen a variety of workplaces (teaching in the Cocos Islands with the Education Department, St Mark鈥檚 Anglican and Newman College) and charted the evolution of teaching mathematics across a career that spans more than thirty years.
He began studying Engineering at Curtin many years ago, but it was his involvement in the local youth group at All Saints鈥� Dianella that brought him real joy. The switch into teaching mathematics was exactly what he needed, and it is still the reason that he teaches at Swan today.
鈥淭he Christian ethos of Swan, and of 无码变态, is extremely refreshing. Caring, loving, the values of forgiveness and raising each other up 鈥� these are the things that I love and value about my role here.鈥�
Do today鈥檚 teenagers really engage with this subject though?
鈥淭oday鈥檚 parents understand the value of this subject in opening doors for future study. The subject itself is growing in the ways that mathematics can be applied to real-world problems and that鈥檚 great for engaging students in project-based activities where mathematics is required.鈥�
Was is a change coming from Penrhos College across to Swan?
鈥淚ts enjoyable to teach boys again! They have a wonderful outlook on things and they can enjoy a laugh now and again. Swan parents are aspirational and they want their children to be supported during these critical years of life. The concerns for their son or daughter鈥檚 future is very similar no matter which school you are teaching at. Our goal is to provide those answers for these parents based on experience, training and an understanding of what works in the classroom.鈥�
Today, David is still worshipping at All Saints鈥� Dianella with his family, so many years on from making the wonderful decision to teach students as a career choice. 鈥淚 was very fortunate to heed advice in my younger years that has served me well in relation to my life choices. It鈥檚 a wonderful church and I hope it can continue to grow me and the people around me for many years to come.鈥�