Bobby-Jack Bowen Butchart admits he wasn't always the best student as a young boy.
“I misbehaved. I didn’t pay attention in class,” he said.
It’s this background that has drawn Bobby-Jack back to the classroom. He is keen to make a difference to students who might be in a similar situation.
Classrooms are full of different personalities and abilities and it’s important to have empathy and engage with those kids who have challenges in their lives.
“The shoe is on the other foot and hopefully I can inspire students so they don’t slip through the cracks,” he said.
Mr B, as he’s known to his students at Woodbridge School where he's undertaking placement, followed a different pathway after secondary school; working in the building industry and later in IT.
His decision to become a teacher was also about lifestyle.
“I enrolled in the Master of Teaching (Primary) course after completing an undergraduate degree in fine arts with UTAS."
As a new parent it was about life choices. I hope to spend quality time with my children as they grow, and guide them as much as I will guide my students.
Being a mature-aged student wasn’t without its challenges and Bobby-Jack relied on University support to keep him motivated.
I’ve had a lot of demands balancing two or three jobs, volunteering with arts organisations and having another child, but they are demands you rise to because you want to achieve the end goal.
“It’s a terrific environment to study in and I’ve valued the support I’ve received to keep me on track by providing me strategies to support my learning."
“It’s been a great experience and I’ve studied with wonderful people who have all worked together incredibly well as a cohort,” he said.
Bobby-Jack studied both full-time and part-time, on and off campus and he’s not looking to end his formal education just yet.
“I’m now looking to do my PhD in a few years,” he said.
“I’m sure many of my old childhood teachers would be very surprised to hear that, and to know Bobby-Jack is becoming a teacher!”
Become the teacher you want to be with the University of Tasmania's professionally accredited and nationally recognised Master of Teaching (Primary).