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 Iran in March 2006
Fredrick Töben's
personal
comments on education
German love,
culture and and generosity, or Schadenfreude?
One of my life's defining moments was my three years spent at the Merzschule in
Stuttgart, December 1970 to December 1973, where I was fortunate enough to have
Helge Merz as a 'boss' and mentor. This Rhodes scholar from Germany taught
by example.
I did not even know that Cecil Rhodes included Germans in his scheme of things
when he set up his scholarship specifically designed to bring students to Oxford
University where they would develop a balance between their physical and mental
prowess.
Helge recalled how during the war as a serving officer on the Eastern Front, he
received from his tutor at Oxford a telegram for his birthday!
When I left the boarding school in December 1973 to continue my studies at the
University of Stuttgart students presented me with a drawing and a record
collection, Der Ring Des Nibelungen.
The text in the drawing stated that after three years of exciting and strenuous
boarding school work the boarders made this presentation in the hope that during
calmer moments I would fondly reflect on the times spent with the boarders.
These prophetic words were written on 17 December 1973.
Now framed, the drawing presented to me by the Merzschule students on my
departure from that school in December 1973, that's 33 years ago. Their words
were prophetic - I would remember them, and pleasantly recalling a basic
teaching fact: by your pupils you'll be taught.
When ten years later, December 1983 my principal at Goroke Consolidated School
declared me an incompetent and disobedient teacher, I deeply reflected on those
strenuous and maturing times, something others would term 'soul-searching'.
Following German philosopher, Immanuel Kant's thoughts, I always acted in such a way that my
actions could become a universal law - the famous Categorical Imperative - and
so I always attempted to ensure that my actions transcended any subjective,
baser emotional content, such as hatred or envy of others.
With such a mental framework making up my Weltanschauung - a world view - I realized that the
Victorian Education Department principal was a fraud and an imposter educator -
and I told him so. The result, of course, was dismissal. I refused to resign
because I had not done anything wrong.
I then spent most of the next decade trying to clear my name in Victoria's
law courts. My wife began to
blame me for problems that emerged from her own personal maturing process. I
stated that I needed to clear my name because then she would have nothing on me
to scapegoat about. She still bolted and took off with my teacher friend.
Ultimately the dismissal was declared null and void, but because I was a
temporary teacher I did not get my job back.
The court case taught me how corrupt legal officers of the Education Department
were. Had I not tape-recorded the formal hearing with the Director General of
Education, Dr Normal Curry, then the Regional Director's, Dr Ken Boston, moves
against me in support of the principal, Raymond McCraw, would have succeeded.
Six weeks before the set date for a hearing, and after five law firms had
tentatively looked at my case and were worried, we were
ready to proceed. Then in the Interrogatories the Education Department's
legal officer, George Drossinos, stated that I had been given Natural Justice,
that I had, in effect during the Formal Hearing, "been given every opportunity
to respond to the allegations" made against me. My legal counsel of one year
threw in the towel because he did not wish to take on a case that he could not
win.
Then I recalled that my brother had given me his mini tape recorder with which I
had taped the formal hearing at which my 'witnesses', including two former
school principals, my brother and a teaching colleague - who later became my
wife's second husband - gave evidence that the principal was a divisive man who
had split the school community because it was his job to close the small country
school, something locals vehemently objected to.
Fortunately, after over three and a half years I managed to locate that small
precious tape, which then proved otherwise, and a young barrister ran with the case -
and in court the Director General " shifted ground", i.e. a euphemism for
telling lies in court - committing perjury in fact.
John Collins, my former school principal at Edenhope High School, had been in
charge of staffing - and despaired at the direction the unions were taking state
education. When my troubles began at Goroke Collins had retired from his
position, and soon thereafter ended it all by suiciding. I recall sitting in his
office in Nauru House where he lamented that all he had done with his life was
sit in an office while I had seen the world and literally broadened my mind. He
was proud of my achievements that he had a hand in nurturing.
The Boston-Curry Party
tells the story of my demise.
It was during this time that I also met Mohammed Hegazi, the Egyptian-born
Australian who had been sent out of the classroom by his principal and
transferred to the Correspondence School on account of his 'incompetence' in
managing 'unruly students'. The fact that each time he was posted to a school he
had a Jewish principal was no coincidence. The system was removing anyone who
did not adhere to the Jewish influence, through the teachers' unions,
read mis-education and 'Jewish literature'.
Mr Mohammed Hegazi
A brilliant maths and science teacher, Mohammed Hegazi succeeded, as did others
I subsequently met, to get his children through a corrupt education system that
favoured those ' in the know' and sympathetic to things Jewish, and replicated a
class-ethnic thinking that to this day I oppose.
On Monday, 23 January 2006, while visiting our assistant director, Geoff Muirden
in Melbourne, I happened to read The Age, a copy of which John Bennett,
president of the Australian Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was studying. Therein I
found the following Obituary:
Calming influence with love for things Greek
George Drossinos
Legal Officer
10-4-1946 ― 7-12-2005
By JOHN LIVI
The Age, January 23, 2006
George Drossinos, who for 24 years provided dedicated and enlightened guidance
in the legal services branch at the Department of Education & Training, has died
of cardiac arrest in St Vincent's Hospital after collapsing at a work meeting.
He was 59.
Drossinos began work as legal officer in the Department of Education & Training
in June 1981. Before that he was a legal officer in the criminal law branch of
the Crown Solicitors Office.
His early years in the department mainly involved providing legal services to
the schools division. He quickly developed an expertise in this area and
gradually moved into all aspects of the department's operations. Drossinos'
detailed knowledge of the workings of the government and the operations of the
department as well as his extensive knowledge of the law, gained him successive
promotions within the legal branch. His last position was that of principal
legal officer.
Examples of the more important matters he handled personally were the
development of the legislation on work experience and workplace learning for
students, the introduction of preschool and child care in government schools,
the standardisation of school council cleaning contracts and issues affecting
the department involving cabinet, the ministers of senior officers.
He played a big role in the management of the legal service branch,
significantly contributing to the induction of the legal staff and continuously
providing help and guidance to his colleagues. His door was always open and his
warm, friendly yet astute and experienced manner were his trademark. In the
office he was like the still waters on a calm lake, providing the serenity and
calmness we all need in life.
Drossinos, who was born in Karlovasi on the island of Samos in Greece, arrived
in Australia with his family when he was seven. His father Paul, who came from a
family of renowned goldsmiths and silversmiths, soon established jewellery
stores in Richmond and Fitzroy.
Aged 20, Drossinos was greatly affected by the sudden death of his father.
Earlier, he had attended Fitzroy High School and, after completing his law
degree at Melbourne University in 1975, he was admitted as a barrister and
solicitor. through further studies he also qualified as an accountant.
He maintained the highest standards of integrity and behaviour, both on a
personal and professional level, and was widely described by colleagues as "a
lovely gentleman".
Drossinos treasured his Greek background and ensured he passed on this wonderful
value to his children. one of his many plans in life was to study his genealogy
after his daughter Irene left a message one day saying: "Check this out, daddy.
We might be royalty!" While surfing the internet she found a reference to a
Count Drossinos in the 18th century.
He was involved in the Greek community for more than 30 years. As a founding
member of the Samian Social Club he worked tirelessly on the committee for 23
years, most of which he served as president. The club's headquarters in Queens
Parade, Cliffton Hill, is testimony to his leadership and commitment.
Besides leading and revelling in the social activities at the club, from Greek
music and dance to interaction with other members, he was deeply committed to
its philanthropic aspects, especially raising funds for local charities as well
as for people on the Aegean island of his roots.
He delighted in returning several times with his family to Samos and had planned
to spend time there in retirement. On one of his trips he came across a book
titled Samian Studies that listed notable hand-made ecclesiastic objects
and icons found in churches and monasteries on the island of Samos. He was proud
to find out the large contribution of the three generations of the Drossinos
family (1850-1950) and visited the churches and monasteries where these
exquisitely detailed gold and silver objects were displayed. He was also happy
to see the family tradition carried on by his cousins John and Andreas.
Two of his favourite activities while on the island were attending live
performances, especially Greek tragedies "under the stars" at the ancient
theatre of Samos, and climbing up the more than 300 steps to the cave of
Pythagoras.
Drossinos will be remembered as a principled, wise and cautious person, with the
courage to stand up for what he thought was right.
He is survived by his wife Mary, children Irene and Paul, and his mother Filio.
John Livi, the chief legal officer at the Department of Education
& Training, prepared this tribute with help from the Drossinos family.
George Drossinos
Fredrick Töben's right-of-reply
During the 1990s I had a chance meeting
with George Drossinos and wife at the GPO corner of Burke and Elisabeth Street in
Melbourne. I accused Drossinos of having "killed my teaching career", and his
response was that he just followed orders from Jew John Livi.
Such is life!
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