Educationists confronted by near impossible task, former Headmaster says
View(s):Lawyer N Y Casie Chetty who was the chief guest at the annual prize giving of S Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia underscored the necessity of value-based molding and education for students.
He said he was speaking the sage words of Bishop Chapman made in 1851, but in a totally alerted social and cultural context in Sri Lanka and globally.
“I am deeply apprehensive that educationalists in today’s Sri Lanka are confronted with an almost super human challenge of inculcating decent values and a moral foundation to the students entrusted to their care. The social cultural milieu has altered so drastically and radically both within
Sri Lankan and globally that the task confronting educationists presently is well-nigh impossible,” he said.
Mr Casie Chetty, a former Headmaster at S Thomas’ Preparatory School, said the problem is exasperated as the dominant principle in an unbridled consumer-ordinated materialist society is the incontrovertible fact that possessions and material wealth have conquered our lives. “Add to this the culture which permeates society today, that getting ahead of others by whatever means, whether legitimate or not is desirable and acceptable , endangers a society devoid of all morality, values and decency,” he said.
He said these trends can be seen in the sporting arena as well. “Even in the sporting arena such despicable attitudes have unequivocally entrenched itself. Sports is not indulged in as a character building exercise, but as a win at all costs, by fair means or foul, whatever means resorted to, method of advancing one’s interests over a fellow rival competitor or the interests of one’s school, team or nation at the expense of adhering to honourable and ethical standards of competition.”
As S Thomas approaches the 175th anniversary in 2026, it should be well worth pausing to reflect on the undeniable fact that the college has carved for itself an enviable niche in the rich fabric of the nation’s education and its life, he said.
“However, it is equally crucial that we critically assess the role it can acceptably play in continuing to produce students of unimpeachable integrity, dedicated responsibility and moral worth possessing such sterling characteristics,” he said.
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