The DBTI
Tugboat by Dr John Rougham (+
24 October 2013) in an article for the Bosconian DBTI
HONIARA:
28 October
2013
-- While it is a
little
unusual for us to provide obituaries or a more general
nature, it is
clear that this good soul, Mr John Rougham, has been a tower
of support
for the Salesians in the Solomon Islands, especially in the
communications field, and more recently at Don Bosco Tech in
Henderson,
where Fr Ambrose Pereira is the Rector. A brief article he
wrote for
the school magazine is possibly the best way to present him
to the
Region at large and to ask, in your charity, a prayer that
as his own
tugboat steams home to Paradise, he may be welcomed on shore
by the
Father's eternal embrace:
'Every young person needs a no-nonsense tugboat. Tugboats are
strong
engine ships with great pulling power and great knowledge just
where
the deep, safe water lies.
Ship captains welcome tugboats' work. These powerful small
ships lead
larger ship safely away from the shore, out of the harbour,
into deeper
water. Tugboats know exactly where the reefs lie and other
obstacles
that can slow down or even sink unlucky ships. In fact, a good
tugboat
is a great help getting to the open sea so the ship can begin
its
journey on the ocean.
Schools act a bit like tugboats. Classroom teachers have much
experience to share with students about the world of work. It
knows
what is needed in the big world to make things work well and,
most
importantly, prepares students before hand to fit in well with
the
outside world.
Sometimes it seems to some passengers on a big ship that the
tugboat is
pulling in the wrong direction. Or it's going too slow or that
the big
ship could do the same job much better, certainly quicker. But
the
tugboat rarely gives much weight to these opinions. After all,
the
tugboat has been in this teaching business for more years than
any of
the students have been alive.
"Sit back, relax and let the tugboat do its job!" says the
tugboat.
When it insists that passengers be on time for class every
day, listen
well to teachers, etc. it knows what it's talking about. It is
well
aware that the Lord made us with two eyes, two ears but only
one mouth.
This means that seeing and listening are four times more
important than
talking.
Take your tugboat seriously. It knows where it's going, what
to do and
how to safely get you started in the big outside world.'
Dr. John Roughan,
School Board member
BOSCONIAN - The School Magazine - 2013
