After a reading homework, he always set a written test, usually ten questions. He followed this up with further questions round the class. Answer him correctly, and he moved to someone else. Fail to answer and he returned to you, again and again. So, the less you knew, the more questions you received,. His method was relentlessly effective, identifying triers and learners and exposing the idle and indolent.
In my third year history class was a boy I shall call Brown - physically tough and aggressive, he always sat at the back. Hating history, Brown announced his intention of ignoring it. Those of us who knew Jack’s methods awaited developments with interest.
Jack’s system quickly pinpointed Brown, as he scored zero in two tests. Reaction was swift. After two weeks, Brown, now having been moved to the front, was instructed to write notes on each reading homework, handing them in before the test. Failure to comply would earn him a visit to school on Saturday morning, to complete the notes. Brown lived in a remote village. Saturday commuting would have been a big problem. He complained - but he complied.
Writing those notes produced a big change in Brown’s performance. Now, he scored well in every test, and at question time. Still hating history and hating Jack even more -but despite all his efforts, he learned.
I cannot swear to Brown’s position in the exam. I recall that he came top, but it might have been second. To Brown, it was a crushing defeat. To Jack, merely evidence that his system worked.
Jack Hills is fondly remembered by many.
The portrait of J F T Hills appears by kind permission of Worcester Royal Grammar School.
Can you create words or pictures for this or another page? You don't have to be an expert. Borrow a book from the library to get the basics of the subject you want to write about, but add a little something to make it your own. 100-300 words would be enough: this short piece is more than 100. You can always add more later! Any photo you took or has been in your family for years is a possibility. Is there something distinctively local about it? - not necessarily the place, but perhaps the people, what they are wearing or doing. Send it by email to whe@freeuk.com, or by post to Worcester Writers Circle c/o Worcester Library, Foregate Street, Worcester WR1 1DT.