Remembering Paul Boffa

The letter Paul Boffa Lives On (April 4) by Jessie Fabri, brought back to me nostalgic memories of when I was a teacher at the Floriana School many years ago.

In 1948 when Dr Boffa was Prime Minister he had to face many problems which included unemployment and an acute housing shortage as many thousands of buildings around the Grand Harbour and elsewhere had been destroyed through bombing. There was also a lack of space to accommodate schoolchildren.

For many years Dr Boffa had pioneered the fight against illiteracy and he was all out to make primary school legislation really compulsory.

During Eastertime of 1948, Emanuel Tonna, our energetic and popular headmaster, invited him to inaugurate some new rooms at our school to improve facilities.

In his short speech, Dr Boffa, among other things, said how praiseworthy the profession of teaching is, and he encouraged the many parents present to support and appreciate our efforts for the good of children. Sandwiches, pastizzi and ordinary drinks were being distributed to us all in the packed hall. There was also a large cake; Dr Boffa told everyone that he would prefer if the cake be sent to the institute at Zejtun, which catered for the poor and less fortunate.

This was done later. The famous writer Henry Wadsworth Longfellow had written "We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, others judge us by what we have done."

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