Joyce Goonesekera:

She is to be admired and followed

"The adult learns from the child. That is the principle of the Montessori method of teaching," are the humble words of Joyce Goonesekera of Montessori fame.

Fondly known as Aunty Joyce by many who have had the privilege of knowing this amazing personality, she has been the cornerstone of the Montessori Method in Sri Lanka.

Having had the proud opportunity of learning under the Dutch born Dr. Maria Montessori herself, when she went to India for training, Aunty Joyce came back to Sri Lanka determined to establish the AMI Montessori method in Sri Lanka. It was her determination that paved the way for the establishment of The Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children in Galle, which was her hometown, and then later at Charles Drive in Colombo.

Wanting to share this gift of knowledge with whoever was equally passionate about working with children, she founded the AMI Training Centre along with the Good Shepherd nuns at St Bridget's Convent Colombo. Owing to this, many have received the best training possible to manage proper Montessori Houses of Children, with the child in mind.

Dr Montessori's method of teaching was way ahead of her time, which is obvious by the fact that her method is still followed throughout the world. This is because, for Dr. Montessori and for Aunty Joyce, it is the child who was important.

Aunty Joyce was a petite lady full of life and bubbling with energy. She had that special aura around her that one could not help but love her simple ways, her humility and kind personality.

She once said: "I started teaching in 1941. I have learnt from my children". It takes a lot of courage and humility for someone in her late years to admit to having learnt from her children. She used to say that one must never force children to work.

The duty of the adult is to show the child and let the child follow. She advised that children must be allowed to express their personality. The environment that she built for the thousands of children that came under her wing for guidance and education is simply amazing. Not only did she teach them their ABCs and 123s but also humane qualities that make them whole as good human beings.

"I am a Buddhist but I observe and respect all religions," she said.

Aunty Joyce's words are a breath of fresh air at these crucial times in our country where religious tolerance is a pressing need and a desperate plea.

The Joyce Goonesekera Montessori House of Children on Lauries Road, Colombo 4 continues to be the secular Montessori that Aunty Joyce built where children of different faiths, races, and nationalities learn in harmony, whilst practicing their respective religions. The foundation that Aunty Joyce laid was with the correct attitude and it is our duty as adults to maintain that and enhance it so that her name will resonate in everything we do for our children. Today, June 19, we remember Aunty Joyce on her 102nd birth anniversary with many fond memories of a person who made a magnanimous change in the Montessori education of Sri Lanka.

She is to be admired and followed. She had fulfilled a great task by laying a solid foundation for the education of children in the most crucial years of two and a half years to five.

She always followed the words of her guru and mentor Dr. Maria Montessori. "Be humble with the little ones; there is a whole world in their souls which they cannot express, but it is a world that can help you understand the movements of their spirit and that can also help you, adults, to understand each other." Thank you Aunty Joyce for the gift of education you have left behind and most importantly for living your life through example, leaving us to follow in your footsteps.

Saumya Fernando

Hilary Abeyratne:

Honourable in word and deed

Towards the end of last year, Trinitians all over the world were saddened to hear the passing away of Hilary Abeyratne, one time Vice Principal of Trinity College in Australia.

It was an inestimable loss to those who had the good fortune to know him intimately. Hilary was the second son of well-known pediatrician Dr. Lloyd Abeyratne.

Hilary's association with Trinity dates back to the time he was a student, then as teacher in 1945 upon graduation, then back again at Trinity in 1951 which was a reinvestment of the best of Trinity traditions.

In 1952, Trinity had a galaxy of distinguished teachers and its new Principal was Oxford educated Norman Walter. Oxford educated Rev. John Elliot was the new Chaplain along with Hugh Smith who taught English and English Literature and Bunnett who taught Geography and Derek Juke who taught Art.

In 1952, Hilary Abeyratne's first assignment was class master of the then JSC class which stood on the embankment upon which now stands the newly built Frazer Block. The JSC class comprised students who were celebrities such as S.M.L.Marikkar, Jayantha Dhanapala and W.R.Breckenridge who later became Principal.

Hilary nattily dressed with matching tie and shirt, took our lessons in History. It was a delight to listen to him as we students sat at his feet and listened to him in wrapt attention as he transported us into those great periods of Human History - of how the Turks captured Constantinople in 1452, of Louis the XIVth and the accompanied French Revolution of the Industrial Revolution in England and the achievements of King Parakramabhahu.

Each one of these lessons was a gem of thought in learning and knowledge and surpassed those in higher seats of learning. Lessons in Civics were equally interesting when he spoke of "we the people" of language, religion, race and caste. He threw himself whole-heartedly into the life of the school and kept the lamp of learning bright.

In 1954, he became the under 17 Rugby Coach and the skills he imparted to the boys was such that the Royal vs Trinity Bradby Shield Match of 1956 played at the Race Course was a delight to watch with the boys playing a scintillating brand of Rugby with a series of scissor passes, dummies and midfield drop goals that would have warmed the hearts of many and old timer, and this match is being spoken of even today. In 1956, he wedded an equally tall lissome lass from the Kandyan Hills. It was a treat to watch them take the floor of the Queens Hotel Ballroom during the annual TCKOBA dinner dance.

As a cricketer he always believed in the straight bat which brought him a century against Royal in 1940. He also had the uncanny knack of spotting off beat talent and was 1st XI cricket coach from 1951 to 1956.

Honourable in word and deed and generous to a fault. Hilary held warm in friendship the many he knew. We all felt his sense of loss very deeply but some small measure of consolation may be found in the words of poet Walt Whitman: "He is not gone he is just away with a cheery smile and wave of the hand he has wondered into an unknown land, and left us wondering how very far the land is".

Ranjan Abeysekera