Tough love rules

When I attended St Augustine Girls’ High School, Miss (now Dr) Anna Mahase was principal. She ruled with "tough love" – although at the time we students did not see it as love, per se.

She was a disciplinarian extraordinaire, one who intimidated us merely by walking down the corridor, heels clicking on the terrazzo, face serious, eagle eyes scanning the surroundings for signs of rebellion, mischief or school uniform anomalies.

Frantic whispers of “Auntie Anna!” or “Miss Mahase is coming!” sent us scrambling to look orderly and well behaved.

At morning worship, if "Anna" approached the podium with a certain slowness in her step and cautionary facial expression, there would be silence. Who was about to get into trouble? And why?

Once during morning worship, she said gravely: “It was reported to me that a SAGHS girl was seen walking on the sidewalk after school...”

Her eyes had a way of scanning the auditorium of hundreds, landing on each of us in a way that made each one feel that we were "that girl."

“She was drinking from a sweet drink bottle...while wearing her school uniform!”

We were duly cautioned. Never again should any SAGHS. student in uniform be seen drinking from a bottle in public.

“Yes, Miss Mahase.”

One morning I was carded to present at worship. To deliver my chosen topic (Friendship), I took to the stage with an electric guitar and amp, to perform a song by Joan Jett – my musical inspiration at the time.

No sooner had I started than Miss Mahase stopped me.

“What is that you’re singing?”

“Fake Friends by Joan Jett.”

“What are the lyrics?”

“Losing friends, losing friends, you’ve got nothing to lose, you don’t lose when you’ve got fake friends.”

“Okay. Proceed.”

There were rules about shoes; they had to be 100 per cent white. If the back of the shoe had a little coloured flap bearing the brand name (eg Adidas), it had to be removed or covered with white shoe polish or paint.

Recently, while visiting a fellow SAGHS friend, her mother commented to me: “I love how your hair looks, but...would your school accept it?”

We laughed, knowing her reference point.

Ironically, following the incident with the Trinity College graduands and their "rule-breaking" hairstyles (which subsequently led to the quick establishment of the new National School Hair Code), I had thought about school days with Miss Mahase. Were I to go back in time with my hair as "wild and windblown" as it is now, I would probably have been sent home to tame it.

Chatting with another SAGHS friend, I asked what she remembered of our school rules.

She recollected:

* Hair more than shoulder length must be tied up.

* Do not leave school during break or lunch time, or after school while wearing the uniform unless accompanied by a parent. (Rationale: we were ambassadors of the school; our actions reflected the institution).

* Do not run in the corridors.

* Do not lime on or under the culvert.

* Do not pass the culvert unless going to the library.

“We didn’t like the rules then, but Anna was a great principal,” I reminisced.

My friend laughed. “Listen to you now,” she said. “Later in life, you rebels have an epiphany, think fondly back to school days and praise Anna!”

We both agreed that under "Anna’s rule," SAGHS was a well-run ship. Students were respectful, excelled as all-rounders, exhibited academic and athletic prowess and won multiple scholarships annually.

The school rules and rebels of yesteryear were not what they are now. Some students of today will laugh at the above-mentioned sanctions while selecting a weapon to carry to class.

Some years ago, while grocery shopping, I saw a female with a familiar hairstyle and body posture, standing one person ahead of me, at the cashier.

“Miss Mahase?” I said, tapping her shoulder.

She turned. The disciplinarian countenance of yore was lit by a dazzling smile and delighted eyes.

She hugged me and told the cashier: “This is my wonderful daughter! One of the many who make me proud!”

In 1954, first principal Dr Constance Wagar, established the Vision for SAGHS – Proverbs 26:6: "Train up a child in the way s/he should go and when s/he is old, s/he will not depart from it."

That vision, known as the "guiding principle" of SAGHS, was instilled in us by our guiding principal.