Three of a kind
Pupils, heads of same school
It is rare to find a school where three of its past and present headmasters started out as pupils, then teachers before ending up as the head of the school.
Well, at John Bissiker Senior Secondary School in Parkside, East London, the trend has indirectly became imbedded in the school’s culture, with the seventh, ninth and current principal being alumni of the school.
This is just one of the many remarkable stories at the school which celebrated turning 80 on Friday.
The school invited some of its past principals, teachers and matriculants to a thanksgiving assembly on Friday, to celebrate and reflect on the journey of the school which helped shape many minds in the surrounding communities.
In a beautifully decorated hall with draping matching the school’s colours – green and white – pupils listened to speakers who shared their fond memories of the school.
Founded in 1939, the school was initially located at St John’s Road in East London, before moving to its current location in Parkside in 1977.
At first it only catered for Grades, 8, 9 and 10 and, in 1948, the school become a fully fledged school with classes up to Grade 12.
The school was named after prominent East London businessman John Bissiker, who served on the East London school board and was also the first chair of the school committee.
Speaking at the assembly, the seventh and one of the longest serving principals, Raman Khandoo, who joined the school in 1969 and retired in 2004, said the the school went beyond just the classroom, with some of the pupils laying down their lives to fight against apartheid.
“Our school was at the forefront of fighting apartheid. We have former learners such as, Leon Meyer and Cliffy Brown who died in the fight for freedom,” said Khandoo.
Khandoo said it was at John Bissiker where many academics, authors and attorneys had been moulded.
One of the alumni of the school is UK-based author, Georgie Calverley, who wrote, A Coloured in Full Flight, The boy from the Barracks, a book that depicts his painful journey of being a teenager burdened by physical adult strife in a hard and sometimes cruel and unforgiving society.
Another former principal, advocate Oswald Crisp, described the school as having a “rich and colourful” history, but now being threatened by lack of discipline and societal ills.
“The school is no longer as tranquil as it used to be, owing to lack of discipline in our society. Back in the days there was mutual respect between teachers and learners and there was utmost respect for the school itself,” he said.
The current principal, Tyrone Vengadajellum encouraged pupils to strive for their best and to aim high.
“As you can see all things are possible for John Bissikereans. We have people in the UK and all over the world. So go out there and do your best, starting with your matric exams,” he said.