Tuesday, 1 March 2005  
The widest coverage in Sri Lanka.
Features
News

Business

Features

Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

Mihintalava - The Birthplace of Sri Lankan Buddhist Civilization

Silumina  on-line Edition

Government - Gazette

Sunday Observer

Budusarana On-line Edition





An Inspector calls

"The chief inspector of schools is due to visit our school next Monday," said the office clerk, who was quite devoted to the work given to him under any given pressure, to the newly appointed principal. He was seen as a person, who does not take things seriously.

"What did you say?" asked the principal who was reading the newspaper.

"The chief inspector of schools will be here on Monday."

"So what do you want me to do?", the principal laughed loudly.

"A pandal? What do you mean by a pandal?"

"That is our usual welcome sign as you enter the school premises." The principal laughed again. This time louder. Some teachers were alarmed as to why the new principal is laughing so much.

"Why do you laugh Sir?", asked the clerk.

"I have never done that in my whole life but I have seen principals of schools doing that but now I am the principal of this school I don't want to go against my conscience."

"But the inspector likes and favours such things and he will at once approve of anything you say without taking anything seriously."

"What more do you want me to do?"

"The custom is to get some children sing a welcome song and that can be done easily through the music teacher and a dance item and that too could be done through the dancing teacher."

"What more?"

"Then of course we can arrange a party for which food could be prepared through the domestic sciences teacher."

"What more?"

"That is all for the moment."

"The lighting of the oil lamp and the offering of the betel sheaf?"

"Those are the easiest things but without the pandal and the rest of the items the inspector will not like the simple ceremony." "Why?"

"He will think that he was insulted."

"There is no apparent reason why he should think like that."

"But that's the way it happens."

"Alright let's wait and see."

"But if you are punished?"

"I have undergone the worst punishments of getting transfers to remote difficult areas but I don't mind repeating once again. Oh how I love those remote areas. We meet the real people in those rural areas and not in these urban areas."

On Monday morning the chief inspector of schools of the division came with one more official to the school. The inspector did not see any signs of his being greeted honourably and venerably. The principal was chewing betel and walked to see the inspector.

The clerk had made arrangements to get a team of small children to usher the inspector to the school from the main gate. But it had no grace, which the inspector had seen earlier in other schools. The inspector looked worried and desolate but did not utter a word about it.

"Are you the new principal?," he asked.

"Where did you serve earlier?", he asked another question.

"In this country of ours," the principal said for which the face of the inspector was flushed.

"I am asking you about your previous place of work."

"Oh, I see Ampara."

A silence ensued between the two. Two girls came forward and offered a sheaf of betel on to the inspector and the other to the other official who came with him.

"I don't want to accept," said the inspector in anger.

"Then give it to someone else," said the principal taking everything easy. The sheaf of betel was thrown out by the inspector to the bewilderment of many onlookers.

"Oh, god that is something never done in this country," said some teachers in dismay. The time to light the oil lamp came. The usual tall brass oil lamp was not seen. Instead a row of small clay oil lamps were seen kept on a small table. A gesture was made by the principal to light the clay lamp.

"You do it, why should I?" said the inspector.

"I don't light oil lamps instead I kindle the lamp of knowledge in children," said the principal.

"Do you have a log book in this school?", asked the inspector.

The principal looked at the face of the clerk. The clerk ran as fast as possible to a room and brought a log book and handed over with great honour to the inspector. He turned the pages to see that there is nothing adverse written earlier.

The inspector was thinking for a moment as to what he should write. Then he stood up and wanted to go to some other areas of the school but determined not to do by watching the wrist watch.

"I think I am getting late," he told the other officer.

"Are we going to the ministry?", he asked while the principal was just waiting to see what is happening.

"Sir, we have arranged a tea party for you, please accept it," said the clerk on behalf of the principal. The principal as usual was smiling to himself at the absurdity of all these things.

"No we don't want tea now, we have an emergency meeting related to the updating of schools," said the inspector leaving the school premises.

"Sir, you should have been little more honourable to those high ranked officials," said the clerk crestfallen.

"I don't know what it means by being more honourable."

"Perhaps he will punish you."

"That may be possible but the worst punishment is once again a transfer to a remote place."

A punishment was imposed on the principal followed by a series of interrogations on the part of a disciplinary action of insubordination by the unit of a ministry where questions were asked on the following lines why did you not erect a pandal for a superior high ranked officer next perhaps only to a minister.

The answer on the part of the principal was that he will not even erect a pandal for a minister, as it is not mentioned in the establishment code. Why were you not courteous when a superior asked questions.

The answer on the part of the principal was that he had not been taught how to be courteous all throughout his life as he had been living in rural sector for the most part. The questions and answers were written in short and later typed and sent to the minister.

"So what is the punishment imposed on you?", I asked the retired principal who narrated his true story and a person who seems to be having some principles. He said with his usual smile reflecting the past experiences.

"Once again transferred to a distant difficult school with immediate effect, which I built without the interference of the so called bureaucrats and honourable administrators."

(This is a true story narrated by an educationist and a trade unionist A. B. C. de Silva)

www.ceylincoproperties.com

www.Pathmaconstruction.com

www.srilankabusiness.com

www.singersl.com

www.peaceinsrilanka.org

www.helpheroes.lk


News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries


Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager


Hosted by Lanka Com Services