Francis Fonseca may be the Minister of Education, but his father is the Fonseca family's real authority on education. William Fonseca was a lifetime educator, working mostly in the rural areas, and making his mark in the far reaches of the Toledo District. Now, the elder Fonseca, though long retired, visually impaired and generally not in good health has released a collection of writings that gathers the wisdom of his long career.
It is a book called 'Lessons in Living,' comprising short stories and poems. It is published by NICH and this morning, three ministers and the Prime Minister attended the launching. And though the PM was there. The man taking center stage was the author's son, Francis Fonseca, who read a story about the wisdom of education from a rural perspective.
[Excerpt from Book]
Hon. Francis Fonseca, William's Son
"Then Roberto spoke words to me that I never forgotten, words that I've used often through the years in giving talks and teaching classes on education. Roberto said, 'no teacher, don't care how hard it rains, my son comes to school. He must get education. You see teacher, look at me, I have eyes and I can see. I have ears and I can't hear. I have mouths and I can't speak. I want my son teacher, to see, to hear, and to speak.' As I stood there listening to Roberto, I thought how wonderful it would of all fathers over the country, and indeed the whole world felt that way about their children as Roberto felt about his son and his son's education...come to think about it, education really is about opening up eyes, opening up ears, and opening up books and in the process opening up hearts and opening up minds. Whatever the subject, the lesson, we may be teaching, something vital will be lacking whenever this openness of mind, heart, and the senses are missing in the education of our children."
And Fonseca's daughter, Carol Fonseca also read one of her father's pieces about Hector Hoare and Donovan Reneau, two blind men who inspired the educator as he lost his vision late in life.
[Excerpt from Book]
Carol Fonseca, William's Daughter
"They lived their lives one day at a time, grasping every little opportunity that comes their way each day for them to improve themselves and extend a helping to those who need around them. You would think that Hector has a lot to be bitter and depressed about, not so, Hector himself would very quickly and forcefully tell you that no matter how bad I have it, there's lots of other people out there."
Due to his illness, the elder Fonseca could not attend the book launch.
7NEWS produced for broadcast by News Director Jules Vasquez
Edited and Prepared for the internet by Keith Swift
