 They have served and served well. They have helped shape character and personality, yet allowed creativity and individuality. They gave their lives to the education system. This is reminiscent and this is their story. We started school at age four. But being a brilliant student, I found myself moving up very quickly. For example, when I was about ten years old, I was exposed to an exam called where I had to obtain the Javui scholarship. I was successful, but my mother decided that she would not allow me to go and live in castries. But this did not deter me. I continued on and by age twelve I did a standard six exam. That was the exam available at the time. That was all and succeeded. But whenever you have finished this exam, you have completed this exam, that would be the end of the school for you. But most definitely they wanted you to remain. So there was what you call a monitor, being a monitor to prepare to act as a teacher. So this I did, but it's just as if you had to operate, perform as a teacher as if you were getting paid, which you did not mine at all, helping in the school. And also you could do the exam, teacher's exam. And that is why when my appointment and there was a vacancy, I was appointed in 1957. 1956, sorry, 1956. I was appointed, since I have done the three exams, I was appointed Pt3. That was what it was called at the time. And then I carried on until I got a transfer from the Denver Infant School, where I all started on this journey. Came up to Larissus School and I obtained what you call the CA, a Certificate Assistant. So you see it was progressive. I was encouraged to apply to enter the Teacher's College, which was at San Socio at that time. That was in 1964. I was so encouraged that even I was with child at the time. My third child, I had to go because I was always reminded that there is potential in me for handling a school. But then this was required. These qualifications were required. So I went into the college and I was successful which towards a trained teacher. So I continued on where I was appointed as the first principal of the Denny Riviere Combined School. We started the school with 65 students which they took from the Larissus School, 65 students. And it grew rapidly. My first head teacher at the time, head teacher was Ms. Eva Mongru. She was really instrumental in getting me through or at the beginning. And we had people like Mr. Jones Mondesi and we have Georgiana Sajoussin. He's one of them. Mrs. Theophilus and all of these and many more. Oh, I want to mention Mrs. Mariam... I'll tell you. Gill. Mrs. Gill. Oh, I really try to emulate her. My main challenges was with the performance of the Ministry of Education at that time. What was expected of us and what was forthcoming in terms of maintenance of the schools and other supplies. What I did not really like was on the spot check and they would be right there and they would be able to observe right there that the school there was an overcrow... For example, for example, there was an overcrowding problem. And it's just as if they ignore it that wasn't there at all. And anyone would tell you that I had to be like a pioneer just pressing on to get more space for the children. This school had a very large population almost 800 students. It was an infant school at the time. However, with such a large number of students and a large staff, she had full control over the school. I explained to the parents. I put it to the parents to let them know what our problems were like and that is in terms of the ministry and in terms of the whole pattern of the economic structure. I found that we, the principals, for me, I had to be concerned about the children's health. All of that was left to us. When we examined the whole thing, children were not able to come to school because they would explain that they had no food, they had no meals or whatever, and we had to chip in there. I knew her in my prior teaching years and now that I'm a teacher for 23 years, I can take back a lot from her. Patience for the children that we have before us, kindness to those around us, and this need to understand the person that you work with. There are times I, as a principal, would have to go when I realized, when I checked the attendance because we had no help of attendance officers at that time so we had to do it all. And when I checked the registers or discussed with the teachers, we realized that there are children who would stay home. Sometimes I would have to visit the homes and maybe have extra uniforms in my position and bathe up these children in the river. And give the parents an allowance just to take the children to school and they don't forget, they keep thanking me up to now. So that in itself was a challenge and that is how we had to cope with it. There was no such thing as school feeding program so you had to find a way from your pocket to feed those children. I used to go to the river to come by school whereas my family couldn't supply to give me lunch, breakfast, and bread. Miss Nikolas took it as a responsibility to make sure that she'd given me the bread, the lunch, and sometimes bread first. It came to a point when she even took me in to live with her until I left the school. Once more I would like to thank Miss Nikolas for taking good care of me at the school. Thank you. My family was as large as six boys. Yeah, I would do it. There are times on mornings, early in the mornings I would drive down to one thing I made sure I could drive. That helped me a lot. I had a vehicle. During that time the government would give you advances to buy your vehicle. That helped a lot. And I would rush the boys, those who went to St. Mary's College. They all went to St. Mary's College. I rushed them down those when they had the time. Very early in the morning, reached Rigi and back to school for nine o'clock. I would do it. And the rest were with me at my school. Well, I had to manage because my boys never took any extra lessons from anybody else but me. As a matter of fact, she was a no-nonsense principal. You have to be, I don't know, compassionate yet a tough cookie and dedicated. That is why now I have this chronic disease, kidney failure, you know that? And I don't regret it. And by not regretting I think it carries me on because I knew the challenges which I had faced before and not paying attention to my high blood pressure because my first option was the school. And that's the fact. But I'm happy today I had to manage when it's like you got to do what you got to do. As a past student of the Denny River Combined School, before known as the Denny River Primary, under the leadership of Mrs. Francilia Jackson, at the time known as Miss Nano, I recognized that as a student we were afforded free lesson sessions. Why? Because Miss Nano, known to us, did not only care about our well-being as student in terms of finance, but she saw it as we being totally developed and saw the need for lessons to helping, to aiding the children of the society. So she gave us lessons free of charge. And mind you, I, anyone can attest to that, that I would give fine time to give children extra lessons. The children at the school, not all of them, those were preparing for exams. And when I say extra lessons, it was not about money. Once I see herities, help is needed, I do it. There is hardly anyone's journey which will be complete. It can never be completed. Because when I watch the way I, the children at my school, behave while they were at the school, over the student, she was what you would call a disciplinarian. I tried my best because you could see it. You could notice that they are lacking this kind of discipline. And you try your best to do it, to help them with good discipline. But these are the very, these are the very, I wouldn't say boys, young men who are challenges, who are challenges. So to me, I was wondering if there wasn't something, some more I could have done. But as I act now as a JP, Justice of the Peace, when they come to me for assistance, I believe there was something else. There was something more which I could have done. For example, for example, but it wasn't completely my fault. Because I always believe at the school, we could have faced the realities of life. For example, helping children to fill out forms and this, you know, all of this. But the emphasis was very much on the syllabi. You have to follow the syllabi. She would go from class to class. It's like jumping from class to class. It's like even if the Scherman record book was there, but she would see to it that she herself would be there to see what you were actually teaching. But if I had my way again, in fact, I really wanted to start, wait not for my condition, I really wanted to start a program of just calling them in and doing certain things that would help them through in life. Number one is filling out a form and giving them an insight into investment. What investment is all about? Because I believe our young people today, when you listen to them, they seem to just look at somebody and evaluate them as rich. But they do not understand about how the intricacies of investment leading the person towards that goal. That's one I think they should really touch at the school. I saw the differences coming. One, when they came up with the rights of the child, the rights of the child, they came out with this document and it's the introduction of the document that in itself could have been misunderstood. I can understand we have to, the corporal punishment thing, aspect of it, that's out. It's a good thing and we need it to be guided accordingly. But when you listen to the children now as compared to before, the children before were more dependent on how well we educators could carry them through. But the children now are very much on their own. See them coming on the television, talking about their rights. How many do you hear, talking about responsibilities? How many do you see that? I, so and so, I am responsible for my behavior. How many times do you hear that? But before, in our profession, before, we had the leverage to nurture more parent support and I think the parents would understand much more than now because at my school, parent support was 100%. When I say support, it may not be financial but getting involved in different projects. Everything now is just as if people want to say, oh, the government will provide that to the children. Okay? All of it, oh, the government should provide, but there was no such thing. For example, in the development of a school library at my school, at my school, I did not depend on the government or the ministry or other agencies. One of the first things I did, I did a survey of households because I knew too well there may be one parent with more than one child at my school and we went out to teach the staff. I must say the staff and myself, we took time to go to the city, go to the bookstores and see what books were available. Science books and others came back right down the titles and then for each household, we provide the household with a title, book title and also tell them, told them of the course and where it was available and you wouldn't imagine that came down very well. That's just one example and other activities, getting involved in activities, I was good and the children's behavior, you know, much better before. I'll tell you, I'll tell you where I really saw it coming. We would take the children on outings and the last time I really took them out was at Fondo. I usually go with the teachers all day and it was becoming difficult to manage the children. Imagine for all these years you have to be ready to go to school by 8, 8.30. I mean, it's just messed in you so you wake up in the morning on the first day and you're getting ready as well then you realize that is not so. Then progressively you get into the habit of staying at home but what you really do you remain active. For example, gardening. I love gardening and in the community here where I live the children would continue coming to me so I would encourage them after school I would still give them little extras but gradually that's how it left me and more so I was not feeling well because it's from that time I was coming down with this kidney failure so to me it was rather convenient because sometimes when I walk past a school maybe at break time or midday I'll begin to look at myself how did I manage this watching the children and how I realize not realize but to me there was where I was accountable for every child at the school how did this happen how did I manage you know I'd ask myself and I'd rather not go near a school or I stayed 25 years oh no 30 years as a principal what happened I acted about 5 years at the Larissus Primary School and when we talk of primary school like at my school that's from infant right up to standard 6 at my school at Dennerview when I left there was an enrollment of 606 children and you have to manage that my proudest moment was when the results I understand common entrance exam and to see that maybe that year my school did very well achievement and also I was having fun with my students that meant a lot to me but the proudest moment was what would I have done differently looking back oh I would try my best to encourage I would try my best I would continue along those lines having the ministry to realize that not all children are academically suited and for them to look towards vocational and technical much more of that because what's the use of you having these children already some children would look at you and tell you they can understand that they can't manage it and you can see they can manage it no matter how you try I mean the academics and then you still try to push them into the secondary school to continue yes they must have the academics but then it must be matched up with their potential towards the skill yes towards the skill and that would auger well for our country that is what I would do continue to encourage the ministry help the children to know God to think of God putting God in their lives and they are a bit more respectful these children pass I mean when you listen to their conversation it doesn't auger well for the country yes that is what I say and something else before I leave when I grew up our teachers not the parents because my parents wouldn't speak a word of English but our teachers were concerned about our level of English especially in speaking oral English they were concerned the children say anything it's not all the children but most times things like I what's like I does you see that I does thing it bothers me and much more and when sometimes you try to talk with them you're right here on the compound I would talk to the little fellas when they use these I does and it's like so what we can do better better can be done because you are what you are by the way you speak you present yourself because everywhere I go when you speak overseas and so on the first thing they want to know where you're from and what has been your profession or they ask you and the way you write the presentation yeah God first let them know about God let them let them get involved in discussion pertaining to the reality of life let them have this discussion and of course deal with the anger management aspect of it I feel honored that I got the opportunity to have had her as a principal thank you very much she was one of those right now that I can thank for where I am today once again let me say she was one of the greatest principal we ever had I would say Miss Nanu thank you very much thank you