Eshe’s celebrates 25 years of helping slow learners

According to Steve Williams of the Ministry of Education, one of the speakers at recent 25th anniversary celebrations: “When Dr Lynch came to the Guidance Unit in the Ministry of Education 25 years ago and issued a challenge ‘I want to do something for the differently-abled children’, there was helplessness in my voice because I could not provide what she really wanted. However if she did not have the courage to take that step, we would not be here today in celebration of Eshe’s Learning Centre’s 25th anniversary.

“This is a very, very, very special occasion not just for Eshe’s, but for the Ministry of Education as well… A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which almost every passerby leaves a mark. Today we celebrate marks on children who passed through this wonderful educational system which gave courage, hopefulness, self-discipline, diligence and love.”

The large gathering at the three hour celebratory service chuckled as Williams said that as Dr Lynch persevered in the Ministry she was often called “That Eshe’s lady” who has today left several marks and made a tremendous difference on education as a whole in this country.

“She is a light in special education, a light in leadership — if you want to know how to run a school take two weeks off and go down to Eshe’s teacher education. With compassion she has given her life to children who would have otherwise been deemed outcasts and dropouts. This is a shining example how to run a school and most importantly how to produce well-rounded children. She has maintained herself through criticisms and bashings. We were sending abroad when we knew full well it would have been cheaper at Ariapita Avenue. I am apologising for the late start we had in formally recognising and bringing to bear the power she is in education.”

During the very moving function at the Tranquillity Methodist Church, “That Eshe’s Lady” reminded those around of “motion in perpetuity”. Although one could have called her the guest of honour, she ensured at all times that it all went well.

It is difficult to really understand what Eshe’s is all about until you have had a loved child who despairs of learning, nurtured by Esla Lynch and her teachers. The word “Patience” takes on new meaning when you see them dealing with their special children.

In 1984, Esla Lynch started her school “in boxes” sharing her friend Allison Hamel-Smith’s office at 7 O’Connor Street, with three children and one part time.

Says Hamel-Smith, an educational psychologist, “Using reflection of best practices through absolutely meticulous attention to each child, Eshe’s Learning Centre now has a student body of 136 children” and has been in its own building at Ariapita Avenue from 1991, having moved in 1985 to her family home at Alfredo Street, and by 1989 opened a second school in Maraval.

The national anthem was played by former student, pannist Akini Gill, who recently received a second class honours degree at the University of the West Indies. Each class performed, with love, an item in honour of their principal.

Reverends Nicholls and Blackman of the Methodist Church, which is celebrating 200 years in this country, did scripture readings and paid tribute to their staunch church member, thanking her for what she has done for education in Trinidad and Tobago.

As a child attending the Eastern Government School, Esla Lynch dreaded going to school on Fridays “because that was the day of tests which meant problems and I got licks for spelling. This shaped me so that I did not want any child to live a life where they dreaded Friday. I would arrive at Eastern and disappear without teachers seeing me, or my brothers because they would be going home to tell. I learned the art to pretend I was at school and that is why I tell my students you cannot pull that one on me. They did not even let me sit the Common Entrance exam as I was too slow, too stupid, too dunce. Those are not the only things in life, you can make it even if you do not do it or even if you did not do it well.

“In spite of the licks I was great, as my mother never stopped believing. My advice to parents, single parent mothers or fathers, grandparents: you can make a difference if you work at it and believe it can happen. Collectively, our children will not reflect the social ills of the society we now face. Any obstacle can be overcome. I was a delinquent child at ten. God found people and put them in place for me which shows it really takes a village to raise a child.”

And although the stress of buying the Ariapita Avenue property was great, she says, “It was truly a blessing. I had never been in so much debt in my life. I have to thank the teachers who stood with me. Thank you to the Lynch Family who incidentally all came home to celebrate with Eshe’s. Every one of my brothers and sisters went to banks in North America and borrowed. My mother said they were to give me the money she had in the bank. I told the bank that I did not have much of anything, no collateral, but they gave me the mortgage.

“The joy of 25 years is seeing children taught to become productive young men and women, two are studying to become priests, a third plans to become a priest; to see my graduates, some self- employed, some businessmen, one reads the TTEC meter. Richard has an Associate of Arts degree.

“As teachers we help to shape children’s lives, so I say to my staff that is our joy, the successes of our children. Whatever my children, whether they succeeded at SEA, O levels, or tertiary education, I hear ‘Hi Miss’ all over the city. That is the joy I remember for the 25 years. The parents stuck by me; Esla did not and could not do it alone. The learning disabled must discover their potential as they too can say the sky is the limit and any door is open and they can go above and beyond. Remember all children are gifted, some open their presents later.”