Just clowning around

Muritai School teacher Stephen Eames has good reason to allow his pupils to clown around in the school playground.

The 38-year-old teacher has spent the past few years getting his year 7 and year 8 pupils to master the art of riding a unicycle, the one-wheeled contraption popular with clowns, jugglers and street performers.

But Mr Eames, who describes himself as "a bit of a clown", is using the unicycle as a motivational challenge for pupils.

"The main reason is the spinoff effects - building up perseverance, resilience and self- esteem," he says.

The children are usually on their unicycles during lunchtime and, with Mr Eames' guidance, they have built up their skill levels without any injuries.

"It is not like a bicycle where you can go over the handlebars - they can easily jump off a unicycle."

Mr Eames has been unicycling for more than 15 years, buying his first one to provide himself with a personal challenge.

After bringing it to school a few years ago, he developed the idea of using it as a tool to boost confidence in some of his shyer pupils.

He says parents have commented on how the fresh approach has raised their child's happiness and confidence.

The school is looking at adding another five unicycles to the four it already has, and Mr Eames is now hoping to begin a new sport at the school - unicycle hockey.

- © Fairfax NZ News