AS
the world's oldest full-time teacher, Sydney priest Geoffrey Schneider
knows a thing or two about how to bring the best out of students.
The secret, according to the 99-year-old, is "a mountain of patience".
"If
things are going wrong, don't start shouting. Just proceed quietly and
things will settle down eventually," said Father Schneider, who turns
100 in December.
"Their books will eventually open."
The
Jesuit priest has taught at schools in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth,
shaping the intellects and values of leading figures of Australian
government, business, academia and sport, including Tony Abbott.
But
as most workers switch between jobs or eagerly plan their retirement,
Father Schneider yesterday signalled no intention of ending his 47-year
tenure at Sydney's St Aloysius' College, where he is touted as the
world's oldest full-time teacher.
Nobody has so far come forward to challenge that title.
"Retirement?," he says.
"So I can read the paper every morning and then forget what's in it?
"That's what a retired friend told me happens to him," he said, recounting a recent visit to a home for retired priests.
"At
3pm there's afternoon tea and if you don't turn up in the first minute
they come knock on your door and say, 'It's tea time now'.
"Really, I shouldn't be frightened of it, but it just doesn't appeal to me. I just feel I can be more useful here."
Father
Schneider's thousands of former pupils also include Liberal
frontbencher Joe Hockey, ABC political correspondent Mark Simkin and
Wallabies star Pat McCabe.
Asked
whether Mr Abbott was an unruly youngster, Father Schneider chuckled he
could never "invent anything better than has been in the news of late".
He politely added neither Mr Abbott nor Mr Hockey were particularly "troublesome children".
Father
Schneider's ripe age has some particular advantages, such as his lived
experience of 20th century history and a handy grasp of Latin, preferred
by some older Catholics.
He enjoys a fierce popularity at St Aloysius'.
In
the early 1990s, Year 3 students were asked to name a new building
after their favourite Jesuit saint. Innocently, they chose "Saint"
Schneider.
"I didn't worry about it at
the time, really, but after that we received a direction that the
Jesuits were not to have any buildings named after them while they are
alive," he said.
"I don't believe it
wasn't a direct consequence of what happened, but they managed to name
the building before that order came down."
Father Schneider is also the namesake of the annual Schneider Cup, which recognises excellence in soccer and rugby.
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Father Geoffrey Schneider when her turned 100 in December 2012 and still taught at St Aloysius College. He was the world's oldest teacher. Photo: Dave Swift
