The Educator

They say that if you give children a good education, you give them the best start in life. What they then do with that is up to them.

What does a good education constitute then? Well to begin with, academics, of course. Maths, English, English Literature, History, the sciences, languages. It includes deadlines, exams and a bit of sweating. You would be forgiven for assuming that sourcing the best academic education then, costs money. And indeed, we would be hard-pressed to find parents who wouldn’t pay for a good education for their children if necessary. Our parents sure did.

But our parents perhaps didn’t expect their children to receive far more than good, solid academics. Although a lot of money might have gone towards our education, we came out with far more than money can buy and a lot more than words can say.

We were taught discipline. We were taught manners. We were taught appreciation. We were taught to be honest and true to ourselves. We were taught to respect fellow human beings, regardless of gender, background, ethnicity or education. We were taught that our capabilities are only limited by our self-belief. We were taught to believe in ourselves and in each other. We were taught to appreciate our differences and utilize our strengths. We were taught a lot more than Maths and English. An education then, is not merely academics.

Our educator, the man who poured his heart and soul into his vision, was as successful as he was only because he worked tirelessly with passion and spirit. It is who he was. Strict, disciplined, scary are words that were associated with him during our childhood. When it was time to fly the nest, we all suddenly felt strongly that words such as compassionate, caring and loving were more suited to him.

What our educator created was more than a couple of schools. It was more than teaching children how to add up or how to read and write. He provided a second home to us. He provided us with many siblings and parents each of whom offered unique and important values. Our school was our family. What he founded was not just our education. What he founded is who we are and it is something we will carry forever within us.

Although in body, he might have left us, in spirit he will always remain; within the school buildings, within each and every one of us. We carry him on within each and every one of us. With every difficult decision we will each have to make. With all times of frustration, with every moment of success and achievement, he will be there. His legacy will live on for generations to come. He has a left a far more lasting impression on all of us than A Level maths would ever have done.

He was a true educator; in all dimensions of the word. He was the educator.