Michael Britto
I am the youngest of four children - three boys and a girl. The eldest was born in 1909, second in 1911, third in 1916, and, 8 years later, came yours truly in August 28, 1924. Unfortunately, my Father had passed away when I was only 7 or 8.
The main language of communication in Goa, both written and oral was Concanim/Konkanim, an Indo-Portuguese dialect. However, the official language was Portuguese.
My first school was the ‘Parochial School’ where I learnt to read and write, add and subtract in Concanim. After one year, I went to Portuguese School and, after Primary Education in Portuguese I attended English School__ the rationale being that if you studied English you would be paid well in Bombay, which, at that time, was part of the British Empire.
In Bombay in Grade 4, I took French as a Second Language. The Indian government, at that time, required that all children in Std.4 take Hindi for one year. Let’s see: Concanim, Portuguese, English, French, Hindi...! And, I am only in my early teens! After High School, I wanted to work because my mother was running out of money. My brothers could not support me financially but Santana was keen on my going to University. My brother said that I would get a better paying job if I had one or two years of University Education. After completing two years at St. Xavier’s College, my brother, Santana, said, “You might as well study for two more years and get a degree,” which I did, after taking a loan from my cousin, Conceicao Britto. My subjects for my B.A. were English, Additional English, Moral and Social Philosophy, Psychology, and Principles of Economics. Did it look like I was cut out to be a teacher? I had no idea what God had in store for me.
Fr. Joseph Fell, S.J., Ph. D. (Professor of English & French and Director of Sports for over 25 years.), at St. Xavier’ college, had this to say about me: “Michael Britto is a fine young man, intelligent, always 10cheerful, very companionable....etc. Michael Britto plays an excellent game of Badminton, but not in the least inclined to show off, both when he loses and wins, which he did frequently in tournaments. He was one of the six, out of host of volleyball players, chosen to represent our college in University Tournaments. He also plays a good game of football (soccer).”
At the request of my mother, I spent two years in Goa teaching in a High School in my village, Chinchinim, so that I could be close to my mother. At that time, a British team from Nairobi had come to recruit Graduate Teachers to teach in Nairobi. I was lucky to get a job to teach at the Dr. Ribeiro Goan School. My mother and my siblings were all against my going to Nairobi, saying, “You don’t know anyone in Nairobi, how will you be able to look after yourself?” (You see, I was the baby of the family). I said, “I’m sorry but I have to make my own life...” Thus, I started my teaching career, which was to take me to three other continents.
Teaching at the Dr. Ribeiro Goan School were the happiest days of my life for, that is where I met the love of my life, Alice Botelho, and, Nairobi was the birthplace of our three wonderful children, Malcolm, Anthea, Marwin, who made us very happy and very proud.
Our eldest son, Malcolm, is an electrical engineer from the University of Waterloo. He is married to Sylvia Cesaratto who is in Canada's Foreign Service. Together they have lived and worked in Canada, South Africa, England, Belgium and Panama. (We had the privilege of visiting them.) They have four children, two in high school and two ten-year-olds. Malcolm has his own IT Project Management consulting firm, and enjoys coaching soccer around the world.
Anthea, our only daughter, is a Speech Language Pathologist with Bachelor and Master Degrees from the University of Waterloo and Dalhousie University, and is currently working for a Catholic School Board. She is married to Dan who is with an industrial tool company. They have two children presently in university.
Our youngest child, Marwin, is a University Professor, who has taught for almost 25 years in various contexts and countries. In addition to his B.Ed., he has completed four graduate degrees including a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology. Marwin is married to Sarah who is a Criminology Professor. They have a precocious 7-year-old daughter.
In 1963, I took sabbatical leave and went to England for a one-year course leading to the Postgraduate Certificate in Education of the University of London. I was there for a couple of months before I had to ask my wife to join me, as I was feeling lonely in a strange, cold country. Besides looking after Malcolm and Anthea, providing meals on the table, Alice taught English and Math in a High School which helped us financially. Mr. J Harris, the Principal of Avery Hill Training College had this to say about me: “Mr. Britto taught History and English and succeeded quickly in establishing good contact with his classes. He has a firm but kindly manner and a good voice. He has personal qualities of dignity, kindliness and humour, an unaffected interest in study and an insight into children’s difficulties.” When we returned to Nairobi, I was promoted to the rank of EDUCATION OFFICER B5-1.
“To Whom It May Concern” from various Principals under whom I worked will give you an idea of my activities at the Dr. Ribeiro Goan School.
Mr. P. A. Corbett: “The Dr. Ribeiro Goan School consists of two departments, a primary department of 600 pupils and a Secondary department of 300 pupils. Mr. Britto has taught wholly in the Secondary Department, his subjects being Health Science, History, English and French. He has taught up to the level of the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate Examination in these subjects. He is a competent teacher and first class disciplinarian. In addition to his teaching, he has been most active in the extraneous activities of the school. He has been Cub master from 1951 to 1954 and Scoutmaster from 1955. He has also taken charge of the First Aid in the school in his capacity of Divisional Superintendent of St. John Ambulance Cadet Corps. He conducts regular First Aid classes for children and adults. He has also taken charge of school choir and has been active in all the activities of the school. He is a young man of upright character. He is energetic and pleasant at all times in dealing with the pupils and his colleagues on the staff.” Incidentally, I also had my cadets on duty, before school, during recess, lunch hour and after school to attend to various cuts, bruises, etc.
Mr. N. F. Pereira: All of the above and... “Mr. Britto is interested in music, particularly singing and has trained the school choir on many occasions. He takes a keen interest in sports and in games, and plays both badminton and football exceeding well. He was in fact a member of the Nairobi Heroes Football team, at that time an unbeaten side.”
When we came back to Nairobi, we found that the political climate was very unstable. So we decided to leave Nairobi either for Australia or Canada. Our Canadian papers arrived first - a bird in hand is worth two in a bush -and we immigrated to Ontario, Canada.
In Ontario, the British Government did not give full credit for our Indian degrees, and we were required to take any degree course at a University and get at least C+. Since Alice’s major was English we took English and came up with a B+. In addition, I took summer courses and evening classes and obtained a B.A. from the University of Waterloo.
When I was assigned to the Department of Student Services, I took summer courses in Special Education. Not completely satisfied, I registered at Niagara University, Niagara Falls, New York, and obtained an M.Sc. in Special education, which put me on the top of my scale. My official title was Assessment Resource Teacher.
When I gave my resignation to the Director of Education, Mr. Peter W. Ferren, this is what he wrote to me: “.... From your letter, it is obvious that you have enjoyed the experience of working in a variety of capacities with students of varying abilities during that period of time. I am sure that the students were the main ones who benefited from their contact with you day in and day out because you demonstrated in your teaching and in your life style a person who is totally committed to the development and formation of young people. There is no doubt that your previous experience in India, Kenya, England and here in Canada was a wealth of experience which enriched your personal and professional life and thereby also enriched the lives of the students, the parents and the staff members with whom you associated over these many years.”
From the first year of our arrival in 1969, our whole family was involved in Church and in Community activities. At Our Lady of the Scapular Church, our children served Mass and were Ministers of the Word. Alice and I were Ministers of the Word and Ministers of the Eucharist. We also took Communion to the Hospital and to the shut-ins. We were both actively involved in the RCIA (Rites of Christian Initiations for Adults.)
I am a member of the Holy Name Society of our church and served as President. I was also elected President of the Diocesan Holy Name Society. At our Lady of the Scapular, I was the chairman of Development and Peace and also elected Diocesan Chairman of D.& P.
I was an active member of the RTO (Retired Teachers of Ontario) and served as Editor of the RTO quarterly Newsletter
On my arrival in Niagara Falls, I had joined the Knights of Columbus (a Catholic, Fraternal, and Service-oriented Charitable Organization). I was elected Grand Knight of our Council and later appointed as District Deputy, in charge of four different councils. I was and still is, a member of the Fourth Degree of the Knight of Columbus and was later elected as Faithful Navigator. Now, I am the editor of KoC Newsletter and, in charge of the Second Degree and, a member of the admission committee. I am still active in the council, attend bi-monthly meetings, and assist in the charitable works of the Knights of Columbus.
P.S. When I volunteered to teach the new Hispanic people the Canadian way of life, I realized that we could not communicate. I registered at Niagara College and completed three levels of Spanish.
When my son was getting married into an Italian family, I attended evening classes at a local High School and studied Italian. I gave everyone a surprise by making my speech in Italian.
Finally, when Alice retired I gave her a surprise gift of a month’s tour round the world. She had no idea where we were going Niagara Falls to England (to visit her people) then to India (to visit our homeland), then to China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Hawaii, British Columbia, then to Niagara Falls. We made good use of our languages_French, Italian, Spanish...
N.B. None of the above would have been possible without the encouragement, love, support and personal sacrifice of my wife. Alice. Thank you Alice!
I would like to add this Concanim Song, herewith below.
“Belsaum tujer/tumcher pollom re, Belsaum tujer/tumcher pollom re, Sorguimchea Deva Bapachem”)