E.A.Tuck – An educationist par excellence

To Sir with Love!

My old fellow Cambrianites will agree the great teacher in our then Principal Mr.E.A.Tuck at Cambrian Hall. Teaching was a gift that came quite naturally to him. Today after over thirty years he last taught me, Mr.Tuck is still remembered as that great teacher we had in school! Besides his many qualities, his selflessly contribution in imparting education stands him apart. Truly teachers like Mr.Tuck are living example and institution in them.

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Mr. E.A.Tuck’s photo of 1980

I am writing about him the way I saw him while at Cambrian Hall. This piece fortunately coincides with his presence in town as an invitee at the ongoing Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Cambrian Hall School where he served for over a decade till the year 1982 to voluntarily opt out for being amidst his near and dear ones in Australia.

As I sit with my pen poised in mid-air, I can almost see the memories dripping through the nib. It was the time Cambrian Hall was approaching its silver jubilee sometimes in 1978-79 when Mr.Tuck advised us all by saying, “The year 1979 usher the Silver Jubilee of this school and with it recollections of the past twenty-five years, and vision of what the future will have in store for all here, must inevitably come to the minds of those associated with Cambrian Hall.” Let us look ahead, he had said, to the year of Cambrian Hall’s Silver Jubilee and in the words of the School Song:

Let us live with dignity

courage, hope and charity.

Let the name of Cambrian Hall

swell with pride within us all.

As we onwards, onwards go

Ever on “To Greater Heights”.

With years gone by when he spoke these words, today every Cambrianite swells with pride to see the school in the league of majors. Mr. Tuck re-visiting Cambrian Hall on its Diamond Jubilee is in itself an occasion. The school looks forward to his blessings, guidance and words of wisdom for onwards path to greater heights. His advice will once again energize the school like it did years back. Needless to say, his charisma and passion for education continues to mesmerize his associates and admirers in India and abroad.

For you who have not been associated with Cambrian Hall or even the today’s generation children and most of the teachers at the school this piece attempts to let the readers know of an ardent educationist like Mr. E.A.Tuck and his magnanimous personality. Educationists like him are pride for their profession. Dehradun is proud that he once taught here.

As student of Cambrian Hall over 30 years back, I remember the children when I was in school always looked upon their teachers and the then Principal Mr. E.A.Tuck with great respect. For us he was someone whose words were like holy sermons, for we knew his unintentional love for each one of us. Such teachers are unfortunately rare then and becoming rarer today. Hence respect for such beings come from within and not a handiwork of any special tutoring.

In the paragraphs below, I will try to mention some of the quotes of Mr.E.A.Tuck while he was in Cambrian Hall for the readers to gauge his personality and his way ahead thinking.

I am sure the readers will appreciate the selfless work and ideals of an educationist like Mr. Tuck that I may briefly discuss here. Through these words the intent is also to assure Mr.Tuck we still remember and practice his teachings, the great moral values imbibed by him and other teachers while at schools. Their hard work on every student definitely has helped parents do all that less work on our character and personality building.

Among the few memories dripping through the nib of my pen, I recollect Mr. Tuck once pointed out the dedication and love of Mrs. Maude Mainwaring, the founder Principal towards the school. Mentioning this when Cambrian Hall celebrates its Diamond Jubilee is very apt. He had said, “As the founder Principal of Cambrian Hall Mrs. Mainwaring had the arduous task of nurturing this school through its infancy starting in the year 1954. She looks upon the school as her special baby”. A lovely thought of Mrs. Mainwaring for there a very few who consider their place of work as their part. This quote equally stands at praise for Mr. Tuck who recognized his predecessor’s contribution to the school.

The era of Mr.Tuck saw Cambrian Hall grow, strengthen and shine on all fronts. It was undoubtedly the "Golden Age" of the school. Proudly once he said, "Each year the problem of trying to accommodate the numbers who qualify in the entrance test is becoming increasingly difficult. Whether this is Cambrian Hall's popularity in a town known for its educational institutions, I cannot say, but our enrolment has certainly grown beyond our expectations." Not taking the credit of the good reputation Cambrian Hall gained under him, Mr. Tuck was always seen his humble self with a no-nonsense approach by anyone. For him work has always been worship!

Photo of Independence Day Celebration at Cambrian Hall in the year 1980. 

Mr.Tuck in black robe reading the school pledge on the occasion. Among 

the then staff members Late. Col. Shashi Shumshere J.B. Rana is also 

seen standing with the chief guest near the flag post.

Working shoulder to shoulder with the school management and trying to lessen the financial load on the school where-ever it could, Mr. Tuck once mentioned during the Principal’s report of the academic year way back in early 1970s, the formative years of the school, “We can overcome the tremendous financial constraints by tightening our belts and so for the next couple of years we will have to live on bread and water – not literally, but for our many functions we will have to exercise a certain restraint.” A very good example portrayed by him that curtailed extravagant expenses for the cause of the school. Undoubtedly not many think the way he did for his workplace. This displayed a true educationist and a loyalist in Mr.Tuck dedicated to the noble cause of building the school in its formative years.

These feelings can only be felt if one sees deep. His level of commitment was exemplary! Today recollecting these memories the respect for Mr.Tuck only grows.

His unmatched qualities of being a fine educationist besides an efficient leader of men reflected in one of his annual reports where he said "I am fortunate to have under me a staff that work happily and in spite of certain problems, are willing to accept the rough with the smooth." On complementing the growing strength and well management of the girls and the boy’s hostel in the school which was something unique in those days, he said, "Managing good hostel for any school is very important. Cambrian Hall is fortunate in having competent staff to manage the hostel.” A fine example of leadership where every person associated with the school gave his best and stood by Mr.Tuck.

To the parents of the children who studied in Cambrian Hall, Mr.Tuck invariably in many of his speeches at the school on many occasions acknowledged by saying, “You have indeed helped me and through me the school. Your continued support can make this school one of the best in the State”. How true! Today, undoubtedly Cambrian Hall stands tall due to the selfless contribution of motivators like Mr. Tuck.

Mr. Tuck’s feelings about Mr. Meredith Doutré his predecessor show his very humane and humble personality. Without wanting a word of appreciation for self while as the principal, he said, “It is he who has put this school on the educational map and made it what it is today. No amount of words will be adequate to sing his praise for he was all that a man of his stature be. With Mr. Doutré’s passing away in September 1971, another spirit of a true “guru” has moved on leaving us poorer by his absence but ever so richer by his experience.”

Even now Mr.Tuck feels equally attached to Cambrian Hall. At his age only a determined soul can travel thousands of miles for being part of the celebrations where he had spent a part of his prime days. He says, “In all humility and sincerity I can say that I was fortunate to have worked here”. A great man! Sir, may you shine forever!

I remember, how as our English teacher when we were in the highest class of the school, the lessons so meritoriously taught by Mr. Tuck that while being taught we simultaneously learned them. His results were ever shining. His teaching was par excellence. Who would not love to once again be a student to such a fine teacher?

Such was his aura that even the naughtiest of the child in class would sit attentively. The morning assembly saw a pin-drop silence the moment he approached. His routine round in the school corridors kept both the teachers and the students on heals. His crisp voice still reverberates in my ears. Off the class his generous attitude towards all remembered with respect. I distinctively remember how his way of appreciating with a pat and saying “Shabash” (well done) to the good work done by class IV employees motivated them.

While academic results are an accepted yardstick to measure the worth of a school, it is not the only one. It is here that according to Mr. Tuck’s vision much that cannot be taught within the four walls of a classroom is learnt outside and the true quality of an individual is often more accurately assessed by his or her quality to accept and read just to a multitude of changing situations. To think and act independently and to develop a taste for all that is worth while around us. He kept balance of studies, games and extra curricular activities a prerequisite for all on the school campus. Sir, we love and respect the same we did when you were our teacher! May you visit Dehradun many more times!