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EDITORIAL

Wafted by the lovely aroma of pine – grass, nestled in a plateau among Red – gum and a multitude of various species of rare and not so rare plants, shrubs, vines, blooms and fruits, so carefully selected and planted with loving husbandry in this wonderful location, is ‘Guru’ so fondly known to a long line of alumni. This enchanting educational institution, brings, nostalgic memories of better times, better days of unique educational facilities and opportunity, and the endeavour to recreate it for the successors.

The Old Boys have rallied round to put together their resources and most importantly time and thinking to create an Institution where the glory of the past will be restored to suit the modern era, hopefully, for an improved present and a better future; and help the Headmaster and Staff to this end. But in the knowledge that by definition a ‘Golden Age’ defies reinvention and each generation must create one for itself in its own terms.

It is indeed an act of faith. A recognition of the tremendous potential and hidden talents or various categories waiting to bloom; holding fast to a vision of total Personality Development with Academic Excellence, a firm commitment to moral and cultural values, with its fine Thomian blend of the oriental and the occidental and the public school emphasis on sport for character development and social interaction. This Magazine hopefully marks a watershed in the regenerative life of the school. The last Magazine published believe it or not was for 1985 by the then Headmaster Mr. Patrick Gunawardene. The College Magazine had been in abeyance since 1975 and was revised in 1982 coming out regularly, edited by the Headmaster himself, till 1985, and then it ceased.

In a way, the fact that was not published for long periods, tells the story of the school. When the history of the school came to be, written to mark the Golden Jubilee in 1992, the absence of the Magazine was sadly felt. A magazine is the repository of the school’s contemporary history.  It is analogous to the identity card of the individual. It manifests the existence and identity of the school.

And it should  be borne in mind that ideally, the Magazine is created by the students themselves. May be Gurutalawa boys should try in due course. In the meantime the Magazine has been produced by, as we have observed,  the Headmaster or by Senior Members of the Staff with literary dispositions. This issue is being sponsored by the Old Boys Association, who also have helped actively in its compilation.

But who ever assumes responsibilities for its publication the Magazine in the final analysis is for the boys of the School, a record of their own achievements, the means by which they can identify with the School and in retrospect when they leave it behind; know that they themselves will be an indelible part of its History.  

We hope that this new beginning, will inspire the boys, to express themselves freely and with confidence by contributing to the published material, and strive in both their Academic Studies and their sports and other extra curricular activities to receive honourable mention within the covers of future issues, and have their photographs both individually and collectively adorn its pages, so that Gurutalawa will be a place to be visited and revisited with love and pride in the years to come as they will truly feel that they are a part of it, their Alma Mater.

The Editors.

S.T.C. (G)Magazine 2002/2003

VOLUNTARY TEACHING AT GURUTALAWA

I am one of three volunteers from Britain who have spent some time working at St. Thomas’ College, Gurutalawa. We have been working in the primary school (keble) assisting Mrs. Anandappa, the English Teacher, and Mrs. Serasinghe the grade 1 teacher. During the school day we split ourselves between any English lesson that was taking place and helping out in Grade one. This meant singing songs in English, preparing activities for classes and talking to the students. Many of them found it difficult to understand our accents at first, but they soon got used to us. We also looked at written work, making corrections and trying  to improve handwriting. If we had a free lesson, we could  correct books or relax.

After school we helped with the extra tuition – elocution and “Active English” and then were free for the day (unless of course there were still more books to correct) We agreed with the boys that if we were sitting on our porch, they could come and talk to us or get help with their English homework. This meant  we had visitors of all ages, full of questions about life in Britain and how we ended up in rural Sri Lanka. After a few weeks I started making some of the less able students come and see me before prep for about 30 minutes, to work  on their weaknesses. We also played badminton and basketball with the boys (who were very nice about my lack of ability and general unfitness.) Volunteers with talents for cricket, rugby or hockey could assist the coaches during after school practices.

After dinner (with the Keble boys, same as lunch and breakfast, unless we wanted to cook for ourselves or were invited out) we could lock the door and read or write letters to people back home.

The  weekends, apart from Saturday morning Elocution, preparing for exams, were ours to spend as we wished. Thanks to various invitations, I saw a working Tea Factory,  the view from Haputale (Said to rival the more exotically named World’s End), a Kovil,  Badulla and Bandarawela. I  also had delicious meals at many different houses, where my hosts worried far too much that things would be too hot for me. On Sundays there is a service in the Chapel (If you wanted to go) and the boys often go for walks in the evening so we could see the beautiful countryside that surrounds the school.

I thoroughly  enjoyed getting to know the boys, the staff, the old boys and even some of the parents who would stop and talk to me after collecting their children from school. I have lots of new pen pals and friends, so I would like to thank  everyone for helping to make my time in Sri Lanka so memorable, and I hope that more volunteers will follow us, the pioneers, in the future.

Note

Elizabeth Searle, come to teach through the good offices of the British Council and the initiative of Mr Gamini Fernando  on behalf of the S. T. C. G. O. B. A. Her impact was considerable and it is hoped she is the first of many who could make a positive contribution to the acquisition of English Language skills by the students and exposure to another  cultural values system through interaction at a personal level with one of its representatives.

Ed.