When Discipline Meets Destiny: Hon. Mary and Rev. Brother Ken Reunite in Kaleo

The 60th Anniversary celebration of the FIC Brothers in Kaleo brought many dignitaries together, but one scene stood out—simple, warm, and deeply symbolic. Hon. Madam Mary Haruna, now the respected DCE for Nadowli-Kaleo, exchanged radiant smiles and heartfelt pleasantries with Rev. Brother Ken, her former teacher at St. Dominic Junior High School back in the early 1990s.

What made the moment even more profound was not only their shared history, but the fact that both hail from Kaleo—a community that has benefited immensely from the dedication and service of people like Rev. Brother Ken. And when I saw the two—one a former teacher now a Reverend Brother, and the other a former student now a District Chief Executive—my hands became itchy and my pen grew restless. I felt compelled to write this piece, not for anything else, but because I believe there are lessons someone, somewhere will draw from this encounter.

Long before he wore the religious habit of the Holy Cross Brothers, he was known simply as Master Ken. As a young teacher at St. Dominic Junior Secondary School, he taught Technical Drawing and Vocational Skills with an unmatched sense of purpose. Many of today’s youth may smile at names of the subjects that have evolved with modern educational reforms, but anyone who passed through his hands knows the depth of his practical teaching and the discipline he demanded.

His classroom was not just a place for academic instruction; it was a space for character formation. He encouraged his students to work hard, stay focused, and prepare for their BECE with seriousness. And yes, he had his cane, a tool he used fearlessly, not out of cruelty, but out of a firm belief that discipline shapes a child more than talent ever could.

If Kaleo boasts a strong legacy in volleyball today, much of the credit circles back to Rev. Brother Ken. He helped plant the love for the game not only in Kaleo but in the surrounding communities. For years, no village team in the district could defeat Kaleo, not even during inter-school competitions.

Why? Because discipline, strategy, and endurance had been drilled into the players with military precision.

Early morning training sessions—sometimes starting as early as 3:00 AM—were non-negotiable. If you were late, you had already failed the first test. Jogging from the school park all the way to where the DVLA office now stands, or towards the Kaleo-Sombo route, was routine. Some endured; some dropped out. The writer of this piece admits with humour that this strict regimen ended his football dreams, not out of fear of the cane, but because he simply wasn’t disciplined enough at the time.

Yet those who stayed the course are today serving in the security services, teaching Physical Education, or living stronger, healthier lives, all thanks to the foundation Master Ken built through discipline.

Many today argue that caning has no place in modern education. But for those who passed through the era of teachers like Master Ken, the results are evident. The cane did not destroy us; it shaped us. Nobody died from being caned in school, but many were reformed by it. Of course, discipline must always be reasonable, guided by love and purpose. But to completely abandon it is to deprive young people of a vital tool for growth.

As Hon. Mary and Rev. Brother Ken reunited at the anniversary celebration, it was a powerful reminder of the true relationship between teacher and student. A good teacher’s greatest wish is always that the student becomes better, wiser, and more successful than the teacher ever was.

And when discipline is instilled with sincerity, students eventually understand that it was never punishment—it was preparation.

As we celebrate 60 years of the FIC Brothers’ service to humanity, we also lift prayers for all teachers, school managers, and educational leaders. May they have the courage to uphold discipline, the wisdom to guide the youth, and the zeal to continue shaping future generations with love and firmness.

Rev. Brother Ken’s story is not a full biography—that will come soon. But today, we honour his profound impact as a teacher, mentor, disciplinarian, and community builder. And countless young people who passed through his hands are living testimonies of what discipline, dedication, and genuine commitment can achieve.

As we mark this milestone anniversary, may the seeds of discipline he planted continue to bear fruit in Kaleo and beyond.

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