In 1976 I started as physics teacher. at a secondary school in Amstelveen. The physics department had an amanuensis (technical education assistant), Dick Vader, who was also an avid photographer. Of course we are both retired, but still in touch. Recently he sent me a collection of photos taken by him during my first decade of teaching and I can not resist the temptation to publish them in this blog.

I was a hippie in those days, 32 year old when I started, with long hair, that was already beginning to thin 🙂

1976-1977, Dick Vader is assisting me to make dry ice, for use in physics experiments

My first year was not easy. As a flower-power hippie, I found it difficult to exert authority. Fortunately I had a small group of final year students, where I could relax after hectic junior classes.

Preparing a demonstration of an alternating current motor

Look how they are watching the demonstration. A teacher’s dream.

I was still smoking pipe in those days. Not in the classroom of course, But no restrictions in the staff room and even the students were allowed to smoke in their own student canteen, and outside the school premises. Those were the days ;-). Soon I changed to cigarettes, to smoke pipe you need to be more relaxed

As I played the flute in those days and there was a school orchestra, of course I joined. Here with a French language teacher.

Still in my first year teaching. Explaining electrical circuits. I should have cleaned the blackboard better 😉 .

1977-1978 My second year. Feeling more settled.

Not 100% sure what I am doing here. Probably showing the existence of the critical point of carbon dioxide.

1980-1981 Helping my students with their homework.

In 1980 Rubik’s Cube became a popular toy. Once I had a competition with my students who could solve it fastest. I remember that I was not bad, but I didn’t win.

A teacher also has administrative duties (left). Not sure what I am doing in the right picture. Reading a stopwatch? My blackboard is still a mess. Pictures from around 1982

1983-1984 Here I explain a bit of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity. Not really part of the physics syllabus, but I liked to show my students a glimpse of what they would learn at university (if they decided to study physics 😉 ).

1983-1984 Students in their final year had to do experiments themselves and report about them.

I had also to do experiments myself.

1987 I don’t remember what I am doing here and why my students are so interested to watch me.

This was the last photo , taken by Dick Vader. I continued teaching for another 15 years.