From Algorithms to Adam’s Peak

From Algorithms to Adam’s Peak

A day in the life of a schoolboy in 1970 in Colombo

“From Algorithms to Adam’s Peak” by Denzil Jayasinghe, published on Mediumin July 2024, offers a vivid account of a day in the life of a schoolboy in 1970 Colombo. Through detailed descriptions of classroom scenes and engaging portrayals of teachers like Mr Fernandopulle and Mr Nathan, the story captures the essence of school life, from the monotony of mathematics lessons to the joy of learning English literature. Jayasinghe interweaves humour and observation to create a nostalgic and relatable narrative about the universal experiences of childhood, education, and the anticipation of weekend freedom.

As he lay in bed, Denzil thought about the fun things he would do over the weekend — playing games with his friends, going outside, and enjoying his time off. But first, he had to get through the day’s classes.

By 7:00 am, Denzil was sitting at his small desk in the room he shared with his grandmother and sister, getting ready for school. He organised his belongings, carefully packing his pens, instrument box, and books into his bag. Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, he quickly slipped a comic book into his bag, a small act of rebellion that brought a mischievous smile.

Mentally reviewing his schedule, Denzil felt a mix of emotions. He would start with an Applied Mathematics class, working on algorithm problems with Mr. Fernandopulle. Then, he would attend an English class, exploring literature and learning new vocabulary with Mr. Nathan. Finally, he would end the day with a Religious Knowledge class, studying the Gospel of Luke with Brother Michael.

Denzil enjoyed mathematics and English but was less enthusiastic about religion. He remembered Brother Michael’s dramatic complaints about chest pains and Mr Chapman’s strict demeanour. Despite this, he looked forward to seeing his friends and learning new things.

As Denzil entered the school grounds, he joined his classmates, exchanging greetings and last-minute homework comparisons. The first bell rang, signalling the start of Applied Mathematics.

Mr Fernandopulle arrived late, his dishevelled appearance — greying hair mussed and white shirt partly untucked — drawing stifled giggles from the class. Not even the older boys like Niran, Rohan, and Deelipa dared to laugh openly. Instead, there was pin-drop silence as everyone opened their black algorithm books, purchased from the school bookstore for 3.50 Rupees.

Mr. Fernandopulle’s monotonous drone soon had Denzil fighting to stay awake, the teacher’s voice grating on his nerves. When homework was collected, the boys took turns going up to the platform to place their red exercise books on the table. As Mr. Fernandopulle scrutinised their work, Denzil couldn’t help but gaze at his teacher’s face, finding it amusing up close. He noticed Mr. Fernandopulle’s hair was unkempt, with more hair on his hands than on his head and a balding patch.

The bell rang with relief, and the class quickly transitioned to English. Mr. Nathan’s commanding presence demanded attention as he stood at the front, surveying the boys with piercing eyes. The large windows to his right offered a stunning view of the expansive grounds and the majestic Adam’s Peak Mountain in the distance, creating a striking backdrop.

Before the lesson began, Mr. Nathan removed his brown jacket and placed it on the chair. Denzil enjoyed English class despite knowing he wasn’t the best writer — that title belonged to Jayantha, a master of the language. Jayantha’s writing skills were so impressive that his peers often asked him to write absence letters, which he crafted effortlessly with his fountain pen, mimicking the tone and language of their fathers’ office correspondence.

As the lesson progressed, Mr. Nathan’s patience grew thin. With his back to the class, he wrote on the blackboard until suddenly stopping, turning around, and reprimanding the boys with a frustrated tone. “Wretched idiots,” he exclaimed. Though the boys didn’t understand the meaning of “wretched,” they remained silent, avoiding Mr. Nathan’s gaze.

The final period was Religious Knowledge, which the boys eagerly anticipated. Brother Michael, their class teacher, was known for his unique blend of kindness, toughness, and a dry sense of humour. He taught religion, regaling the boys with detailed stories from the New Testament, parables, and Jesus’ resurrection of the dead and healing of the lame and sick.

However, his storytelling was often disrupted by Mr. Chapman, the headmaster, who routinely supervised the classes by walking down the corridor, his army boots thundering on the wooden floor.

As the final bell rang, signalling the end of the school day, Denzil felt relief and excitement. He had survived another week of classes, each with its challenges and moments of interest. Packing up his books, he joined his friends, their chatter filled with weekend plans as they left the school grounds behind, ready to embrace their hard-earned freedom.

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