The privilege of being a “Heartian”: Sacred Heart Convent, Galle turns 125
View(s):It has been nearly 50 years since I concluded my school career at the Sacred Heart Convent (SHC), except for the last two years which were at St. Aloysius College next door. But I consider the Sacred Heart Convent in Galle my alma mater. As the school marks its 125th year this is my felicitation – a walk down memory lane.
My entire school career was at the Galle Convent From the mid sixties to the early seventies. I vividly remember being introduced to Sister Cuthbert in the nursery then passing through the Primary School which was housed across the road from the main school and referred to as “punchi iskolay.” This was Sister Bernadette’s domain. I proudly walked through the high gates of the main school to Standard Three.
I felt proud – it was an ego boost to be in the “loku iskolay.” During my years in the middle and upper school, Rev. Sister Adrian was the principal – an Irish nun who adopted Sri Lanka as her homeland. She was a rare personality; beautiful, kind and compassionate with an ability to reach out to young adolescents. Under the soft exterior was a tough and extremely observant personality. She knew when we had something to hide and what it was too.
At Sacred Heart Convent we learnt the “3 Rs” – “reading, writing, and ‘rithmetic” and a lot more besides. The dedicated teachers who received us as we passed from one level to the next saw to it that we gained knowledge. Geography classes with Miss Kathleen were like going on a world tour. We not only toured Sri Lanka but also the rest of the world. The text book was for extra study. Buddhism was introduced in grade five and I remember Miss Hewardene’s Buddhism class where she saw to it that the four years we spent not studying the subject were covered in that one year. Studying Pali with Rev. Sr. Earnest was remarkable.
Not only did I learn to almost speak a dead language, but also I remember her to this day when I read Buddhist stanzas. It is a pleasure to recall memories of all my teachers: Miss Orline, Miss Ida, Miss Elizabeth, Miss Nancy, Miss Bala, Miss Satha, Miss Malini, Mrs. Abeywardene Miss Padmini and many more.
The school had a rich multi-ethnic community. In the morning some of us walked to school. Others came by bus or train and walked from the main bus stand or the railway station. There were those who were dropped off by the occasional school van – a rarity in those days and of course the cars and the buggies. The Muslim girls arrived in curtained vehicles. But once inside the high walls of the school there were no divisions. Ethnicity, caste and creed were immaterial, the only division being the four houses: King’s Own, Queen’s Own, Nazareth and Caritas.
These divisions were marked only during inter-house events. Unlike today, when practices for sports meets were held only one month before the event and then forgotten thereafter until the following year, sports practices for track and field events as well as netball were held every school day. Those who did not participate in sports, played active games like “thachchi”, “katti paneema” etc. Extra activities like music and dancing were paid for. But there were many other team activities like drama, singing, debating, general knowledge and spelling which were practiced regularly. Tuition in those days was thought of only if one was weak in a subject. Thus staying after school for extracurricular activities was normal. All this gave us the chance to make friends.
School to me was not only about subject matter, which was taught very well. It was also about how we were taught to compete fairly and that it is as honourable to accept defeat and congratulate the winner. The nuns instilled in us little habits that had a big impact on our attitudes. Good manners were practiced so it was second nature to be courteous and polite. Ethnic harmony was a byword within the school premises. The school held classes in English and Sinhala medium. But Revd. Sister Adrian split the English lesson into two classes. English knowledge improved and also the ethnic diversity led to enduring friendships.
A compulsory weekly extra activity was attending the class clubs during the middle school years. Presided over by the respective class teachers they were conducted professionally with elected office bearers and regular meetings. Some of the projects undertaken were visiting the Van Reeth Home for Elders, talking to the inmates, writing letters for them and reading to them. Another project was visiting some children’s homes within Galle where we sang and performed little plays for the children.
The “schools takeover” during the sixties was a tough period when the church authorities decided not to hand over the Convent and St. Aloysius’ College to the Government. The schools were classed as “non fee levying schools” and only donations were permitted. It was a tough time for the administration as staff members left to join the Government service and many bright students left to attend schools with better teachers – according to them.
During this period, students helped to buy paint to colour wash class rooms by holding sweet sales in the Convent canteen. We marketed and sold our mothers’ specials to our school mates during the interval and the funds collected were used to buy paint in a colour of our choice. The nuns and the priests along with the welfare committees of both schools organised carnivals and all proceeds went towards administration expenses of the schools. I remember how ethnicity took a back seat during these events. Enjoyment in adversity.
The education at SHC extended beyond academic knowledge. We completed our school careers not only with academics but also with the ability to do our best. Today we have become good housewives, mothers and career women. As I look back on the highs and the lows I had experienced and the way I faced challenges, I realise how much the years spent at school have influenced my personality. And I conclude with a quote by Albert Einstein – “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.”
I wish the best for my school, the Sacred Heart Convent in Galle.
- Mayanthie Jayasinghe