The loss of a great teacher can leave a gap that can never be filled by anyone else. When Robin Williams’ Mr Keating was leaving the school in Dead Poets Society , some of his pupils stood up on their desks and said “Oh Captain, My Captain!” in what is perhaps the most iconic scene in the film. It even made me wonder, if real students who ever do such a thing for their teachers.
Well, the boys at Palmerston North Boys’ High School took it one step further when their beloved Physical Education and Maths teacher, Mr. Dawson Tamatea, passed away. During his funeral, the entire school performed a highly emotional version of the haka (a traditional Maori war dance) as a sign of respect.
You can tell from the boys’ dedication how popular the teacher was. Dawson Tamatea taught in PNBHS for 30 years.