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Let all citizens strive to be part of the nations cure - Retd Principal

The nation today is in great peril facing an epidemic of crimes - horrendous murders, blatant rape, fraud and deceit all of which are trying to prostrate the nation. The most vital need of the hour is for all citizens, irrespective of political colouring to get off the sidelines as mere spectators and get actively involved in eking out a cure, said Prince Casinader, former MP for Batticaloa and retired Principal of Methodist Central College, Batticaloa.

He was the Chief Guest at the annual celebrations of the Past Pupils of Vincent Girls National School founded in 1820 as the first Girls School in the Batticaloa District.

He said "To shirk our duties as citizens and pass the buck declaring that this problem's solution is meant to be solved by Chandrika or Ranil, or the Police or the Government is a cowardly and treasonable stand. It has to be all hands to the plough."

Casinader said, One wonders whether there are parochial sections of our citizens, clapping their hands with joy at these problems undermining the Government of the day, for such problems are not exempt from boomeranging on them and the future of their children too.

He said today the accusing finger for the present impasse points unerringly not on the judges, or the lawyers or the Doctors or farmers or businessmen or the clerks, but on two segments of our people - the teachers and parents.

Casinader said is the Mecca of teachers, parents and the students exclusively focused only on the child getting the maximum credits, and distinctions in the academic field to the utter neglect of his being tuned in the development of human and spiritual fields, is the query we have to answer. Its a happy thing that the demand for computer education is being catered for, but let it not be lopsided where we produce only mere robots shut off from development of human values.

The words of the Scottish poet are relevant where in his poem he states - "Let knowledge grow from more to more, but more of reverence in us dwell, that heart and mind according well, make one music, but vaster."

He said it would be salutary is our Education system will emulate the services of Guidance Counsellors appointed to many schools in the west, who are well trained, to whom would be directed by teachers and Principals of Schools, students who have delinquent tendencies for 'Guidance' and 'Counselling'.

Mr. Casinader thanked his old school and the President of the PPA cum Principal Mrs. Subha Chakravathi for inviting him and his wife to this function.

The function wound up with the staging of a Drama involving the role played by former Principals of this School and the partaking of lunch.

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