Morgan Rangi
Maths teacher
Nga Puhi, Ngati Hine
“Quite often we get embarrassed to admit we are smart at a subject that’s not the favourite of others. When I was younger, I was a bit ashamed to be smart at maths. But if you have a talent or gift for it, then make the most of it. For me it opened up opportunities which I wouldn’t have had, if I’d decided not to pursue those things. Use it and make the most of it.”
It was at high school that teachers first noticed that Morgan Rangi had an aptitude for maths and physics.
Morgan who is now teaching maths at Mt Roskill Grammar in Auckland, says he mucked around a lot at school until he was put into an accelerated learning class with some difficult maths to tackle.
“I’d come from a bilingual unit where all my mates were,” he said. “I did everything I could to try to get out of the class, then one of the teachers said they’d had enough and she gave me really hard maths. That was the first time she’d seen me work. She said she could literally see my brain ticking over.”
After leaving Bay of Islands College Morgan won a Rotary International scholarship to the United States where he helped the physics teacher run classes. He returned from the US to study maths and physics at university.
Clear that he didn’t want to go on to post graduate research work, he applied to train as a teacher after seeing the TeachNZ ads on television. "I loved maths and physics and I enjoyed being with people. I applied and got a TeachNZ scholarship. That was a factor in my carrying on with teaching studies, which I absolutely loved.”
His position at Mt Roskill Grammar is Morgan’s first. He describes the students as buzzy, fun and neat to be with. “A lot of them are hard working and they do want to achieve. I think that’s why we get good results here.” He also credits the school's support systems and structures for his positive teaching experience.
Yes it can be a battle getting kids to engage in maths says Morgan. “Some students walk in with a negative attitude towards maths. But I try to keep it real. I don’t expect all my students to go on and be amazing at maths, but I tell them that it’s a subject that they will need in everyday life, for keeping bills up to date, savings, going shopping and getting discounts – simple, but real things like that.”
But the rewards are never far away. “I had a kid last year who was an average student, but this year he got an excellent pass. When I told him his face lit up. It’s moments like those that are rewarding – when the kids really get something out of their learning.”
Enthusiastic and energetic about teaching, Morgan wants to keep on teaching for another 15 years. “I love teaching, I love being in front of the kids. I love to talk, play and be active,” says Morgan who admits he’s partial to any sort of sport especially golf and basketball.
A born educator, he intends pursuing his Masters degree in education because he’s interested in maths and computer technology. Morgan sees himself eventually lecturing at university.