Beyond the Blackboard
A Memoir
by
Book Details
About the Book
“Beyond the Blackboard” takes us deeply into the full, rich life of a dedicated teacher. However, it deals with much more than teaching
Mohabir Ramnarine was born into a family well established in Guyana, at the time of his birth “British Guiana”. Like many another teacher, he entered the profession as a very young man in all innocence. He had intelligence, knowledge and wit. He would simply convey these to his eager and willing students and all would be well. That dream turns to reality as he discovers the complexity of the teaching-learning process, strives to enhance his own effectiveness, and reacts to the struggles of his students to find their way to successful lives.
Mohabir’s professional progress is set in a time, and in circumstances, of dramatic change. In the beginning of his story, we are introduced to his country as a British colony. In the course of his career, it became an independent country. This change was not accomplished without social and racial upheaval, which affected the life of everyone, but especially that of educators as the educational system was expected to carry new messages and bolster national pride. In a multi ethnic society teaching was one profession that bridged the divides that existed. Mohabir worked extensively and successfully with East Indian, African, and indigenous.
Since his own education was based mainly on the British model, Mohabir sought educational enrichment by traveling, at great personal cost and sacrifice, to the United States to study at Kent State University shortly after the dramatic student upheaval there. The benefits of his study were bestowed on the students and the educational system in Guyana upon his return.
The story of his professional life is inter-woven with insights into his extensive family, the East Indian Diaspora in the Americas and Europe and personal suffering and tragedy.
About the Author
Mohabir Lakhram Ramnarine was born on June 2, 1930 in Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Guyana. He received his early education at Massiah Canadian Mission School and Tagore Memorial High School. In 1949, he joined the noble profession of teaching. He obtained his First Class Trained Teachers’ Certificate, GTC, Guyana, 1961, Professional Certificate in Education, UWI, Jamaica, 1963, and Bachelor of Science in Education degree, KSU, Ohio, USA, 1971.
In his thirty six years of service in the field of education in Guyana, he served in several capacities including those of headmaster, tutor at the In-Service Teacher Training Centre, and District Education Officer. He was active in The Community Development Programme serving as Chairman and Librarian in his hometown.
Mohabir taught in the rural and urban areas along the Coastlands as well as in the Amerindian reservation along the Corentyne River. He supervised schools in Berbice and Demerara including the bauxite towns, Linden, Ituni, and Kwakwani. After his retirement from the Ministry of Education at the age of fifty-five, he acquired the position of Personnel and Training Officer in a private firm. He returned to the United States of America, and continued his vocation as a teacher until 1998.
His wife, Beverly, BSc. Ed (KSU), Cert. in Nursery Ed (UG), Teachers’ Cert (GTC), served as Head Mistress, Nursery Supervisor, and District Education Supervisor. Teaming with her husband, she worked in the Coastland, the interior of Guyana, and at the head office of the Ministry of Education, Georgetown. She also taught in New York, USA.
Mohabir and Beverly now reside with their son in Brampton, Canada. They may be contacted at their e-mail address: mohbev@hotmail.com