By

The Rev A J C Selvaratnam B.A, M.Div, Dip.Ed

EARLY MISSIONARIES - BRAVE MEN OF FAITH
Education is the handmaid of civilization. But education without God is fruitless.~ The great Tamil poet, Thiruvaluvar wrote:
"Kattaruthanal aya payanenkol vaalarivan nattral thollar enin"

Of what avail is all your learning - if you worship not. The holy feet of Him, possessing perfect intelligence.
Thirukkural 1:2

The early missionaries - Mayor, Lambrick, Ward and Knight - whom the CMS sent in 1817 had a faith to share. Having weathered the rough seas for 200 days in sailing boats they arrived in Galle. In due course, the four dispersed to different parts of the island. The Rev. Joseph Knight went to Nallur. He learnt the Tamil language, established a Training School for Girls and a Printing Press near the site where St. James' Church, Nallur is. His aim was to encourage education in the Mother Tongue, but the locals were keen on learning the language of the rulers.

THE ENGLISH SEMINARY 1823
At Nallur in 1823 a Seminary for the education of boys in English was started; later it was transferred to Chundikuli in 1841, and called the Chundikuli Seminary. In 1891 - the Golden Jubilee - the name was changed to St. John's College, as it was in close proximity to the Church of St. John the Baptist.

PRAYER AND WORK
The early missionaries were men of prayer. "Ora et Labora" - prayer and work were to them both two sides of the same coin. They made the four R's - core subjects in the curriculum - Religion, Arithmetic, Reading, and Writing. Pupils from far and near flocked to study at St. John's. Some of the fine products that the College produced distinguished themselves in the Government Service, the Medical, Ecclesiastical, Legal and other walks of life.

THE COLEBROOKE COMMISSION 1830
The Missionaries established English Secondary schools before the Government. The Colebrooke Commission appointed, in 1830, recommended the Government start educational institutions using English and the National Languages as the media of instruction. The Government responded with the founding of English Secondary schools in areas where the missionaries had not gone. In Colombo, it started, the Colombo Academy - later, known as Royal College. Here. English was the main language of instruction.

THE CENTRAL SCHOOLS COMMISSION 1841
The Government on the recommendation of the Central Schools Commission of 1841 decided to assist denominational schools. Thus there were. very early, dual agencies in education; Government and non-Government; the latter were assisted by grants. assessed on the average attendance of pupils. St. John's belonged to the second category.

THE REV JACOB THOMPSON
The Missionary Principals were teachers and administrators. They lived sacrificially on the stipend sent by the CMS and donated their salary to maintain the schools. They were often 'jack-of-all-traders'. The Rev. Jacob Thompson wou1d help the masons in their work. It is reported that he helped in the construction of Robert Williams Hall. He was a great Builder - literally and spiritually.

In the 1930s it was in Williams Hall. we had our daily Morning Assembly with the Rev. Henry Peto or a member of the Staff giving us a "Thought for the Day". In 1932, Peto went on furlough and the Vice Principal A.M.K.Coomaraswamy acted for him.

I remember well, one day that year. a Special Assembly was called, in the afternoon. When we gathered in the Hall wondering what could have happened. AMK announced the passing of the beloved Jacob Thompson who was a father figure to many. With controlled emotions he shared with us the sad news of the death of his Guru and mentor. He concluded with the words of Elisha when he saw the great prophet Elijah going up to heaven in a whirlwind: "My father! My father! The chariots of lsrael and its horsemen".

THE END OF THE MISSIONARY ERA - 1940
In May 1940 when I was on vacation from Bishop's College. Calcutta. K. C. Thurairatnam the Senior English Teacher at St. John's requested me to act for him, as he was going on leave to sit for the B. A London Examination. The Rev. Henry Peto welcomed me and advised me to do as much reading in Theology while at the Theological College. I very well remember the text of the Sermon he preached at the Second Term Holy Communion Service for the Tutorial Staff: "Launch out into .the deep"- the exhortation given to the disciples who had gone out fishing all night, but had caught nothing. A few days later the Staff had a Felicitation Meal on the occasion of his 20th Anniversary as Principal. He was very happy and relaxed. But that week-end while out swimming. he was drowned. He had launched out into the deep to save another in distress. He had completed his great mission. "Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends". (John 15:13)
A great Classics scholar, a dedicated missionary. a man in whom the love of Christ was reflected.

The REV. J. T. ARULANANTHAM - THE FATHER OF MODERN ST. JOHN'S

The Rev. J. T. Arulanantham became the first Tamil to become Principal of St. John's. Henry Peto had the vision to groom him for the high office. CMS offered him a Scholarship to study in England. There he passed the B.Sc. in Psychology with Second Class Honours and trained for Holy Orders at Ridiey College. He was ordained Priest at St. Paul's Cathedral. London. On his return to College. he was made Careers Master and Vice Principal of St. John's.

Arulanantham proved a tower of strength to Peto in planning the future. The blue print was a large Assembly hail instead of the unplastered Wjlliams Hall. a Boarding House. a spacious Dining Hall cum Kitchen and a Science Block. With the demise of his friend and guide. the dismantling of Williams Hall begun on the eve of the fatal drowning, was stopped. Many decades later Peto Hall was constructed opposite the old Hall. The old Evans House and the smoke-filled, dining-kitchen complex were demolished; the deep well near Evans House filled; the playing field enlarged and the majestic Science block changed the College complex. What Peto longed for: Arulanantham accomplished.

THE WHITE PAPER IN EDUCATION 1944-FEE/FREE
I joined the Staff as Chaplain in 1943. The great transfiguration of the College Campus had begun, but the educational horizon was darkening. Dr. C. W. W. Kanagarara. The Minister of Education produced The White Paper in Education, which offered free Education from the Primary to the University. This was a blessing to the thousands who could not afford to go from the free Swabasha Schools to the fee-levying Secondary schools and the expensive University. But the Assisted denominational schools would have to make the crucial decision whether they were to become 'fee-levying' Institutions or join the free Scheme. The Bill was passed in 1945.

MOTHER TONGUE IN EDUCATION 1946
The medium of instruction in Secondary Schools was changed from English to the Mother Tongue. Teachers who were proficient in English found themselves ill-equipped. There were no textbooks in Swabasha. But the legislation was a blessing in disguise to the child and to education. Educationists all over the world have maintained that a child best responds to teaching in the Mother Tongue. Other languages may be studied but psychologically, originality can be nurtured only through one's home language, the culture into which the child is born.

The corporate unity, however, of English-medium schools where Burgher, Sinhala and Tamil pupils studied together, was disrupted. The stream of Sinhalese and Burgher lads who used to study at St. John's began to dry up.

INCREASED GRANTS OFFERED
The Free Education Scheme was purely voluntary for Assisted Schools. They, however. had to make a decision by 3Oth April., 1948. Later, the date was extended to 1951 with offer of increased Maintenance and Equipment Grants.

St. Thomas', Mount Lavinia and its affiliated schools with Ladies College and Bishop's College Colombo decided not to join the Scheme. Principal Arulanantham conferred hard and long with the Staff as well as with the CMS Governing Body for Schools - to be fee-levying or free. Finally, the die was cast. St .John's with Chundikuli Girls' College joined the free education scheme.

THE 125th ANNIVERSARY 1948
Rumblings in the educational, firmament do not affect Anniversary celebrations. Life at St. John's was at its zenith -dedicated Staff, responsive students. The College was doing well in sports and studies. The excellent Science Laboratories were the pride of the whole Peninsula. In this atmosphere the 125"' Anniversary of the College was celebrated with the Holy Communion Service at 8 am in St. John's Church to which Old Boys, Teachers, well-wishers and students came. The Principal and I conducted it. This was followed by Breakfast in the (then) new Dining Hall.

That evening there was a grand Garden Party at 4 p.m in the grounds. opposite the Vice-Principal's bungalow, which was originally the building occupied by Principal James and Mary Carter. They had vacated it to make way for Chundikuli Girls' School in 1896. St. John's in 1936 reclaimed its own. The extensive grounds were filled by visitors and teachers of other schools. Mr. E. M. Ponudurai excellent at organizing, was in charge.

As Editor of the College Magazine, I wrote the History of the College since the Centenary and included photographs of the Garden Party.

GOVERNMENT CONIROL OF SCHOOLS 1951
The Education (Amendment) Act No. 5 of 1951 was a far-reaching piece of legislation. It sought to bring all Unaided. Assisted and Government Schools, under the control of the Government. The Unaided, independent schools could function in conformity with the educational policy of the Government. Teachers in these schools were allowed to contribute to the Teachers Pension Fund.

THE ASSISTED SCHOOLS AND TRAINING COLLEGES. (SPECiAL PROVISIONS) ACT NO.5 OF 1960
The dual partnership between the Government and the Assisted Schools was verging on collapse. But there was a sporting chance. The Assisted school was given the option to become a "non-fee levying school unaided by government". Fees could only be charged if 75% of the parents voted in favour of charging fees. This was a no-win situation. The management was called upon to make bricks without straw.

MANAGER J. C. HANDY AND PRINCIPAL POORANAMPILLAI
J. C. Handy, former Senior Maths teacher at St. John's and later Principal St. Thomas', Matara was already the Manager of the College. He was the man of the honour. He with M. Vairamuttu. who had retired from the Administrative Civil Service and Dr. A. V. A. Vethanayagarn. President of the SJCOBA, Jaffna visited the homes of Parents, Old Boys and well-wishers. The SJC Welfare Association was started. To it donations were sent. K. Pooranampillai. who for many years. had been Principal of Hartley College, Point Pedro and had retired, was appointed Principal. He brought to his new office, his great experience as educationist and administrator.

THE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS
I was appointed Vicar in 1971 by the Rt. Rev Harold de Soysa. The Bishop felt that the incumbent should be in charge of the religious activities of the whole parish including St. John's and Chundikuli Girls' Colleges. Thus the dichotomy between schools and parish resolved.

The 150th Anniversary Celebrations were an occasion of joy and renewal of friendships. Old Boys and friends gathered together in a Service of Praise and Thanks at St. John's Church, Chundikuli. Principal Pooranampillai preached and I conducted the Service. A Hymn specially composed by me for that occasion was sung. In it was a prayer for the future:-

Bless all who labour here

And teach Thy truth profound;

Give them Thy Presence near

In whom all power is found.

The God of power has wonderfully shielded his College through the difficult and challenging third-quarter of the institution's second century. All praise be to Him.

FRUSTRATION AND FAITHFULNESS 1973- 1998

a) Standardization
In 1971, the Minister of Education introduced standardization on the basis of marks and the region from which the student came, for entry to the University. According to Minister Mohammed:

30% of the places in the University was to be filled on merit;

55% was allotted to revenue districts in proportion to their population and filled within each district
according to merit.

And 15% given to districts deemed educationally unprivileged.

The Minister was specially concerned about pupils coming from remote areas in the island. But admitting such students without adequate basic knowledge was to say the least unwise. Offering scholarships to capable pupils in "unprivileged" areas to attend well equipped Central Schools would have been educationally practical. Standardization contradicted UN policy. Article 26.1 of The Universal Declaration of Human .Rights States:

"Every one has the right to education - higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit"

b)The Cross Fire of War
St. John's has been caught up in the crossfire of war. Life has become dangerous. The Whirr of planes. the whizzing shell, the hidden mine, the raid by Army personnel into the quiet homesteads of people. has shattered the tranquility that settles at the end of a day over the Peninsula. Violence, often, has disrupted life in the North and centres of learning have suffered much. But in the midst of all this, the College has faithfully, carried on.

c) Principal C. E. Anandarajan
In the Third Quarter (1973 - 1998) there have been five Principals at St. John's:- Principals Pooranampillai, Anandarajan. Gunaseelan, Thevasagayam, Thanapalan have each batted well in spite of the body-line bowling they had to face. Each one has faced courageously the educational and political crises, with the support of Staff and students- the Collegiate family. But Johnians all over the world will wish me to remember, Principal Anandarajah, a former student of mine, who died a martyr's death. Courageous, conscientious, consecrated, he immolated himself for St. John's. He died in the service of his great alma mater. May Peace be his.

d) Exile and Return Principal S. Thanapalan
The crisis of November 1996 was unprecedented in the annals of our college. Never before have Principals been forced to vacate premises where they have lived and worked. We praise God for the wisdom that guided Principal Thanapalan and his undaunted Staff during the crisis. They moved out. But all was not lost. The God who, guided Joseph Knight and his fellow missionaries on a sailing vessels for 200 days, brought them back to re-start, repair and rebuild. Once again the school bell rang; the pupils returned to College; youth were back on the playing fields; the sound of laughter echoed across the field. All's well that ends well.

May St. John's continue to be a home of faith and learning in a secular world; an oasis of spiritual, moral, intellectual and caring values as we move into the next millennium.