Maths teacher Francis Santa Maria with a poster of his upcoming 80th birthday celebration. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, January 11, 2015.Back in the day, former La Salle Brickfields headmaster Francis Santa Maria used to bark at students who grouped together along racial lines.But such a scenario was rare during his time as a government school teacher from 1954 to 1991, said the 80-year-old, lamenting the lack of integration among students of different races today."During my time as a teacher in government service there was no separation, kids did not even realise they were different from one another."And I was very strict, I would never allow them to get into racial groups," he said, adding that he was sad and disappointed at the lack of racial integration in government schools today.Having been at the job since 1954 when he was recruited as a trainee teacher, Santa Maria has seen it all, and has had what can only be described as a full life, from coping with policy changes in school to his passion for sports cars and keeping up with jazz music trends over the decades.As an educator for 60 years, he has endured many rounds of policy change, some not for the better and which he labelled as being politically motivated.However, Santa Maria, who is an icon in La Salle Sentul where he taught for 33 years before he was promoted as headmaster of La Salle Brickfields, has taken it all in stride.Having started his teaching career before the Independence, Santa Maria went from teaching mathematics in English to Malay in the late 1960s and then to English again when the Teaching of Mathematics and Science in English policy, or PPSMI, was implemented.And this year, Santa Maria, who now teaches at the Stella Maris Primary School in Ampang, will be teaching maths in English for the last time to his standard six pupils, while at the same time, he will teach the subject in Malay to his standard five classes, as the education policy has changed yet again and the medium of instruction has been reverted to Malay.Despite all that, Santa Maria still enjoys teaching, having been attached to Stella Maris Primary School for the past 10 years.Having taught boys during his entire teaching career in government service, Santa Maria, who now has female students at Stella Maris, said that girls were far easier to manage."I'll take the girls anytime," he quipped.
Maths teacher Francis Santa Maria (centre) with former students Magendran Muthiah (left) and Don Darrell. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, January 11, 2015. And where his former students used to shiver at the sound of his deep, gruff voice, these days, Santa Maria is not such a tough disciplinarian as the private school is dependent on students' enrolment to sustain it.His former student Magandren Muthiah, who was also at the interview, remembered how he used to be caned and had his sideburns pulled by Santa Maria.However, the 47-year-old businessman said he was inspired to change for the better because of his maths teacher."He was a strict teacher, I used to get punished by him, I even got the electric chair treatment and he would pull at our sideburns."But he was also very compassionate, there were many poor students in Sentul, and he would help by buying them books and other essentials," said Muthiah.Santa Maria laugh upon hearing this, saying that he remembered Magandren because he would usually remember two types of students – the naughty and nice ones."He was the naughty one, so I remember him, but look at him today, a successful businessman," he said, beaming proudly.Santa Maria also remembered another of his former students who was also present at the interview, self-employed Don Darrell, describing him as small in size and timid in school.Darrell, 48, meanwhile, recalled that he would shiver at the sound of Santa Maria's voice.Santa Maria has mellowed in many other ways as well, and where once he was into fast cars and hung out at jazz bars, today he prefers to stay at home in his condominium, where he lives on his own, and read.His passion for fast cars had led him from a MG Midget in 1962 to a Triumph Spitfire, then a Mitsubishi Celeste and on to his last sports car, a Mitsubishi Sapporo.The boys at La Salle loved his cars, and would offer to carry their maths teacher's books just to get a closer look at them.While he still has his Mitsubishi Sapporo, Santa Maria drives a Proton Satria to school these days.Apart from fast cars, the octogenarian, who is of Portuguese descent, is also passionate about jazz.He has kept abreast of music trends since the 1940s, from the time of swing music and bebop to cool jazz, hanging out at nightclubs where local jazz bands played.These days, Santa Maria, who is also known for being a good singer, has ditched the nightclubs for his personal Thursday get together with a group of friends, taking turns to meet at their respective homes, to listen to jazz music. "No wives, no girlfriends, just us, boys' night out."After listening to music, we end the night with a nice dinner," he told The Malaysian Insider recently.Despite a slower pace of life, Santa Maria is not entertaining any retirement plans just yet, saying that teaching has kept his body healthy and his mind active.When asked if he was not tired after teaching for so long, Santa Maria quipped: "We get so many holidays, so I've had no reason to stop working."And life is good, I get a good salary."In honour of their old school master, the La Salle Sentul Old Boys Assocation is organising a dinner at the Royal Lake Club on Saturday in conjunction with Santa Maria's diamond jubilee as a teacher as well as his 80th birthday.Those interested in attending the dinner can email obalasalle@gmail.com or contact Darrell at 012-344 2798. – January 11, 2015.
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