In 1959,when we were eighth graders, we sat the Northern Province Teacher's Association (NPTA) examination.This led to our promotion to High School where we were in a new class with a new timetable.We were especially excited about our English lessons and sir was our new English teacher.
The first time sir took our English lessons, he was an excellent role model as a smart young man wearing a bush shirt, pressed trousers and, in general, was neatly dressed. As well as his immaculate presentation, he made a strong impression through his clear, ' received pronunciation ' ( what some may call ' posh English'. ) This clear pronunciation was alien to us as we had not heard such accents. Sir also never mixed any Tamil words and spoke throughout in English.Either by accident or design,his wearing of light sun glasses and the squint in his eyes meant that we did not know who he was looking at while he was talking and he was quick to master the names of all his students.
Sir was an effective educator who had excellent classroom management. This meant that the atmosphere in his class was attentive. There was the understanding that we had to do our work but he was firm but kind. He developed our confidence in English by ensuring all explanation was in English and, gradually, our confidence grew in speaking and writing English. An observation I made was that his commitment to correct language extended outside of the classroom where he would speak to junior staff at school in pure grammatical Tamil.
He amazed us young students by appearing to have a photographic memory of our English book, as he never carried any teaching notes and appeared to know where we had finished at the last lesson.Sir also encouraged us to become self- reliant learners as we were encouraged to carry a small Oxford English dictionary. We were quite often made to check the dictionary to improve our command of spelling and definitions of words.
As a teacher, he kept us on our toes and, quite often, students were asked at random to stand up and read the set text.He used this opportunity to correct pronunciation, diction and the emphasis of our reading. When the reading was finished, he would summarise the reading to consolidate our understanding.
One situation I can remember where this happened to me was when I was reading a passage from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. As I was reading the word 'Quay ', I read it phonetically( as I saw it written) and sir said, 'Royce stop stop '.I was a bit surprised.Sir leapt up to the blackboard took the chalk where he wrote the following:
QUAY = KEY
The students were a bit confused. Sir made us all write in our books what he had put on the blackboard. He instilled in us this important lesson that written English is not always phonetic and we need to be wary of exceptions such as these.Sir also intstilled in us the importance of English as a world language and helped us improve our command of the language which I believe has served us well later on in our lives.
Later on, we were thrilled to notice that he was our school chaplain. Every Wednesday morning we walked in line to our school church, St John the Baptist Church and sat quietly. This weekly service was also attended by the girls from our sister school, Chundikuli Girls' College. A memory that sticks in my mind was the tuneful singing voices of the choir girls and sir's reaching the roof of the church. His sermons were clear and simple which led to understanding for us. Later, I became the chapel prefect and was much more involved in our school services.
My association with sir did not end at St.John's College, Jaffna. The Johnians and Chundikuli girls who entered Peradeniya university were thrilled to invite him as Chaplain of the University. Obviously this led to regular attendance of his services.However, soon after service I got back to our halls of residence, in my case Mars Hall to not miss the dinner !
Once sir noticed that I had not attended service for two consecutive Sundays. During the middle of the week, he came to Mars hall and knocked on my door.I opened the door and was surprised to see him. He said he had come to see his 'Lost sheep !' I explained to him that I had to be at the maternity ward delivery room in Kandy hospital to record the deliveries I had taken part in in the record book.
After I started working at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, our contact was lost sadly for a while.However during Christmas periods, greetings were exchanged.
When I got married , I requested he helped conduct our wedding.Sir kindly agreed and delivered the sermon. It was the icing on the cake for my relationship with sir.He was also very well known to my wife's family as well.My wife's father was the late Rev Snell.Sir conducted the funeral service of my wife's brother Haran Snell. Haran was also at Peradeniya University. He also conducted the funeral service of my mother in law.
I knew sir's parents , Dr and Mrs Richards and his siblings. His sister was Mrs I R Ariyaratnam and another sister I knew as Sita Richards ( Mrs. Wijeyarajah). I have seen his brother as well. Mr and Mrs Ariyaratnam's children were known to me and to my younger brother.My younger brother was also at Peradeniya University. We all lived down Navalar Road, Nallur Jaffna. Quite often during my school days , I have seen sir riding his bicycle up and down in his cassock.I last met him few years ago in his cathedral bungalow.
Sir was a great English teacher, disciplinarian and maintained a high standard of Christian attitudes. Aunty and children should be very proud of him. We will meet again.
Dr Royce Arasaratnam
Bedford.
United Kingdom
In 1959,when we were eighth graders, we sat the Northern Province Teacher's Association (NPTA) examination.This led to our promotion to High School where we were in a new class with a new timetable.We were especially excited about our English lessons and sir was our new English teacher.
The first time sir took our English lessons, he was an excellent role model as a smart young man wearing a bush shirt, pressed trousers and, in general, was neatly dressed. As well as his immaculate presentation, he made a strong impression through his clear, ' received pronunciation ' ( what some may call ' posh English'. ) This clear pronunciation was alien to us as we had not heard such accents. Sir also never mixed any Tamil words and spoke throughout in English.Either by accident or design,his wearing of light sun glasses and the squint in his eyes meant that we did not know who he was looking at while he was talking and he was quick to master the names of all his students.
Sir was an effective educator who had excellent classroom management. This meant that the atmosphere in his class was attentive. There was the understanding that we had to do our work but he was firm but kind. He developed our confidence in English by ensuring all explanation was in English and, gradually, our confidence grew in speaking and writing English. An observation I made was that his commitment to correct language extended outside of the classroom where he would speak to junior staff at school in pure grammatical Tamil.
He amazed us young students by appearing to have a photographic memory of our English book, as he never carried any teaching notes and appeared to know where we had finished at the last lesson.Sir also encouraged us to become self- reliant learners as we were encouraged to carry a small Oxford English dictionary. We were quite often made to check the dictionary to improve our command of spelling and definitions of words.
As a teacher, he kept us on our toes and, quite often, students were asked at random to stand up and read the set text.He used this opportunity to correct pronunciation, diction and the emphasis of our reading. When the reading was finished, he would summarise the reading to consolidate our understanding.
One situation I can remember where this happened to me was when I was reading a passage from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. As I was reading the word 'Quay ', I read it phonetically( as I saw it written) and sir said, 'Royce stop stop '.I was a bit surprised.Sir leapt up to the blackboard took the chalk where he wrote the following:
QUAY = KEY
The students were a bit confused. Sir made us all write in our books what he had put on the blackboard. He instilled in us this important lesson that written English is not always phonetic and we need to be wary of exceptions such as these.Sir also intstilled in us the importance of English as a world language and helped us improve our command of the language which I believe has served us well later on in our lives.
Later on, we were thrilled to notice that he was our school chaplain. Every Wednesday morning we walked in line to our school church, St John the Baptist Church and sat quietly. This weekly service was also attended by the girls from our sister school, Chundikuli Girls' College. A memory that sticks in my mind was the tuneful singing voices of the choir girls and sir's reaching the roof of the church. His sermons were clear and simple which led to understanding for us. Later, I became the chapel prefect and was much more involved in our school services.
My association with sir did not end at St.John's College, Jaffna. The Johnians and Chundikuli girls who entered Peradeniya university were thrilled to invite him as Chaplain of the University. Obviously this led to regular attendance of his services.However, soon after service I got back to our halls of residence, in my case Mars Hall to not miss the dinner !
Once sir noticed that I had not attended service for two consecutive Sundays. During the middle of the week, he came to Mars hall and knocked on my door.I opened the door and was surprised to see him. He said he had come to see his 'Lost sheep !' I explained to him that I had to be at the maternity ward delivery room in Kandy hospital to record the deliveries I had taken part in in the record book.
After I started working at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, our contact was lost sadly for a while.However during Christmas periods, greetings were exchanged.
When I got married , I requested he helped conduct our wedding.Sir kindly agreed and delivered the sermon. It was the icing on the cake for my relationship with sir.He was also very well known to my wife's family as well.My wife's father was the late Rev Snell.Sir conducted the funeral service of my wife's brother Haran Snell. Haran was also at Peradeniya University. He also conducted the funeral service of my mother in law.
I knew sir's parents , Dr and Mrs Richards and his siblings. His sister was Mrs I R Ariyaratnam and another sister I knew as Sita Richards ( Mrs. Wijeyarajah). I have seen his brother as well. Mr and Mrs Ariyaratnam's children were known to me and to my younger brother.My younger brother was also at Peradeniya University. We all lived down Navalar Road, Nallur Jaffna. Quite often during my school days , I have seen sir riding his bicycle up and down in his cassock.I last met him few years ago in his cathedral bungalow.
Sir was a great English teacher, disciplinarian and maintained a high standard of Christian attitudes. Aunty and children should be very proud of him. We will meet again.
Dr Royce Arasaratnam
Bedford.
United Kingdom
