Vashti G Hinds

School Daze & Beyond Vashti G Hinds

This book started out primarily as a children's story book, documenting
stories told to me by my mother, followed by my own true life stories from
which, later in life, I drew many spiritual conclusions and comparisons.
I was reluctant to let them go undocumented as they held for me such
meaning and pleasant memories.
As I progressed in recounting the incidents, which are all true, I was obliged
to include some historical facts and physical setting in British Guiana as a
backdrop to the stories. In retrospect, being raised by the whole community
in a British Colony, knowing that the discipline enforced by the elders was
engendered by love in an effort to pass on to us the best they knew makes
us aware that our heritage is rich indeed. On the walls of the Methodist
School in Friendship Village this verse, which was clearly visible to all
students, captured the sentiments of the teachers and village elders as they
encouraged us to reach for the stars:
Good, Better, Best
Never let it rest,
Until your good is better
And your better, best.
ANON
It also seemed natural for me to write about what I knew best - my family.
The writing for me was effortless as the information simply flowed freely. I
hope that this book reawakens some of the precious memories of yesteryear,
and also allows the next generation a peek into the past, dispelling the myth
that we lead boring lives before the advent of television and video games.
Happy Reading.