The boys rejoiced whenever a teacher did not turn up in class. They knew it would be a free-format class where they could do whatever they wanted. Shirley, the class monitor, took over, acting like he was the teacher in charge.
Shirley’s command of the classroom was like a lullaby to the unruly students. He had a no-nonsense voice, and it carried an unmistakable authority. He didn’t need to shout or raise his voice to get the students’ attention. He spoke, and they listened.
On the other hand, the meek teachers were constantly struggling to control the class. They would shout and yell, but the students would ignore them. They were like a dog that barks but doesn’t bite.
Shirley, on the other hand, was like a lion. He was also powerful and confident. He knew he could handle any situation, and the students knew it too. That’s why they listened to him.
Shirley’s methods differed from meek teachers but were also more effective.
Ultimately, Shirley’s command of the classroom was more powerful than the teachers’ shouts and yells. He got the students’ attention and kept them focused on learning, and that’s what mattered.
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Jayantha, the class monitor in the next year, ruled the class with a gentle hand. He towered over his classmates in his slacks, a natural leader who earned their respect. He could tame the wildest boys with a word or a look and keep the class in order when the teachers were away. He had a way with words used to help his friends craft their excuses for skipping school. He was also passionate about penpals and shared his treasure trove of foreign contacts with the boys.
Occasionally, Basil stepped in and took charge of the class. He had a different idea of fun. He turned the chairs and desks into a daring obstacle course and performed gymnastics. The boys watched in awe as he flipped and twisted in the air. They had never witnessed such acrobatic feats before
Basil performed flips, twists, and jumps while balancing on the chairs and desks. He even did a handstand on the top of a desk. The boys cheered and clapped as he performed.
When Basil was finished, the boys were exhausted but happy. They had never had so much fun in a class before. Basil was a natural gymnast, and he acted like a seasoned performer.
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The next time a teacher did not turn up in class, the boys looked to Basil to take over. They knew that he would put on a good show.
Cyril Stanley A story of gratitude — Denzil recalls a friend who looked out for him in his budding years in Sri Lanka Denzil Jayasinghe 11 min read · Aug 27, 2022 1 Give us a bit of background on how you met Cyril. It was the seventies in the sleepy village of Dalugama , my ancestral hometown, some ten kilometres from Colombo. With their flared bell bottoms and Afro-style hair, it was easy to notice Cyril and his younger brother Edward. I’d bump into the duo in the neighbourhood as I walked home after a day at college. A casual hello greeting turned into a conversation and an evolving friendship with the duo at an age when making friends was effortless. However, it was Cyril who reached out to me first. What did the brothers look like? C yril was a younger version of Smokey Robinson and his brother, Edward, a junior Lionel Richie but darker. Both had curly hair, grown long, copying the Afro-American idols of the seventies. Smokey Robinson, Cyril Stan...
A Child of Curiosity How inherent inquisitiveness became a key driver in learning experiences. Denzil Jayasinghe · B orn in the mid-20th century, I am a product of the post-World War II era. My parents, who were teenagers when the war commenced, married in the 1950s. As a representative of the baby boomer generation, I was born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac. My birth took place at Zoysa Nursing Home, a renowned institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka, around 5 in the morning. Sri Lanka, known for its tropical climate, is a beautiful island nation south of India. This climate appealed to me, and I sought similar weather in my twenties, spending them in Dubai, where the winter resembles an Australian summer. Raised by religious parents, I held them in deep affection. However, the church teachings posed a paradox for a young mind, instructing one to love God more than one’s parents. I initially adhered to the Ten Commandments and other societal norms in ...
20 quick-fire questions * If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? Your life would not turn the way that you planned. It is OK to be naïve and stupidly young. What do you like doing in your spare time? Writing and reading. Both complement each other. What would you change your name to? My family's name is Jayasinghe. ජයසිංහ in Sinhala in the original script. Phonetically, it is pronounced Jaya-Sinha in Sri Lanka. But in English, through generations, it was spelt Jayasinghe, which sounds differently in English. I would change its spelling to Jaya-Sinha to align it with its original sound. Perhaps my grandkids in Australia could do it. What’s your favourite time of day? The morning hours. I am most productive in the mornings. What is your biggest weakness? I could get carried away with what I could be doing. Sometimes, I must pinch myself to stop what I am doing. What is your favourite colour? Green. Always from my kid days. Would you believe I had...
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