Philippe Geluck: 'When I saw two former teachers again 40 years later, we embraced with tears in our eyes'

Belgian cartoonist Philippe Geluck reminisced about his school days, recalling how he enjoyed making his classmates laugh even in primary school. He shared anecdotes from his school reports, often marked for chatter, and spoke of a moving encounter with teachers he hadn't seen in 40 years.

Geluck described his early academic career as brilliant, starting first grade with a perfect score. However, he noted a gradual decline over the subsequent 12 years, eventually settling near the second-to-last position. He explained that the teaching methods increasingly failed to hold his interest, leading him to do only the minimum required while dreaming of other projects.

Despite the waning academic focus, Geluck retains excellent memories of his primary school years. He spoke highly of his teachers, whom he admired and who inspired him to perform his best. His secondary school experience, however, was less positive, marked by subjects like mathematics, algebra, physics, and chemistry, which he found uninteresting. He associated these subjects with their teachers, leading to less connection.

Geluck also touched upon the cultural shifts of 1968, a time of questioning established norms. He contrasted this with his private school's strict dress code and discipline, which he found restrictive. He specifically remembered his first teacher, Madame Thielemans, who taught him the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic, calling the discovery of knowledge "marvelous."

He recounted an incident where Madame Thielemans would sometimes fall asleep in class due to narcolepsy. During these episodes, Geluck would playfully entertain his classmates. He also mentioned an emotional reunion with two former teachers decades later, where they embraced with tears in their eyes, highlighting the lasting impact of his early education.

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Madame Thielemans, ma première institutrice parce qu'elle m'a appris les fondamentaux : lire, écrire et compter. Tout à coup, on a l'impression de découvrir la culture, les bases de la civilisation, c'est émerveillant.