Remembering Mr. E.A. Temple- Beloved Biology Teacher

the latest photo of Mr. EA Temple who served in Methodist School Sibu from 1960 to 1968.

The Temples lived in Hoover House for a short while. This was where Girl Guides and Sunday School children learned the art of housekeeping and cake making from Mrs. Temple who was the first Captain of First Sibu Girl Guide Company. They also lived in Journey's End and Jasmine (Hose Lane)

In 2006 Mr. Temple came back to visit the school and Sibu where he served for 9 years and left a lot of beautiful memories for all those he came to know. Here he received a love gift from Miss Ida Mamora who taught with him in the Methodist School.

Mr. Temple with two of his students and a colleague.

My Form Five Class with Mr. Temple.

When Mr. Temple came back in 2006 we made him write on the black board (the same one in the 60's and in the same Biology lab). He remembered what he taught and how he taught us!

Family photo on the stairs of the Sibu Girl Guide Hut.



A group photo in Methodist Secondary School's science lab with Mr. Chong Chung Sing a former school staff.

Dinner for Mr. Temple - Bobby Ling and Mr. Yong the present principal of MSS.

Mr. Temple making a speech.

The young Temple family when they first arrived in Sibu.
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Where do I begin to tell a story of a wonderful and inspiring teacher who more than 40 years ago came all the way from the USA to teach in a little concrete school block which was too close to a rubber garden?

When almost every one walked to school and Sibu had probably less than 200 cars Mr. Temple (we never called him by any other name) cycled to school from Journey's End bringing in his basket a flask of tea and some sandwiches lovingly prepared by his wife Mrs. Temple (we could not bring ourselves to call her Lora too).

Mr. Ed Temple was inspiring as well as intelligent and indefatique-able. He taught us soft ball in his spare time and played great basketball. But most importantly he inspired us to sing in a choir. We had always been taught music by ladies but he was the first man to help us learn music. So a lot of boys took up singing as a result. He helped us realise that every minute in our life counts. He was a very disciplined man as a result of having served in the Navy and being brought up in a Christian family. That rubbed off on us and most of his students did very well in science subjects because we learned how to be disciplined science students.

His biology lessons were always interesting and hands-on. He was an educator way ahead of many educational thinkers. He taught us how to map out life cycles of insects (ahead of Buzan) and he got us to love doing practicals and writing patterned notes (experiential learning). He got us to read voraciously all the beautiful hard covered and coloured science books. And we caught his sense of humour which was so contagious!

He was one teacher who great knowledge at his finger tips. He never had to refer to any text when teaching. For that I really admire him.

And outside school hours he provided the model of a Christian husband and a good sportsman. Unfailing and faithful he had been happily married to Lora for 51 years - half a century and a year more of joy and mutal support. He kindly brought chocolate biscuits made by Lora in a Girl Guide Tin all the way from Medina USA for me and my family when he last came back to Sibu. Not many men would do that. And I on the other hand had not been able to reciprocate as few travel to Medina and would do such a favour!!

We still have the Girl Guide Tin to remember them by. And I can only with shame type out "Thank You" here!

When I received news that he passed away after a short illness of perhaps only a week I just could not accept the fact. He had been so healthy and I kind of think that he was immortal. And then I had this pain in my heart : I will miss his personal annual newsletter to friends and loved ones.

But the reality was there and it was in black and white on my notebook screen : "Edwin Allan Temple, 82, of Medina, passed away Tuesday, April 21, 2009. He was born February 7, 1927."

The news printed in the Medina Gazette reads "Ed served God in the mission field for nine years in Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. He loved teaching and made science fun at Highland High School. He was a tenor in the Medina United Methodist Church choir for 36 years. Ed was active in volunteer in mission projects, both locally and internationally for many years. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the U.S. Navy.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Lora Mae (nee Mort) of Medina; children, Becky (Teena) Temple of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Steven (Karen) Temple of Seville, Nancy (Robert) Pitz of Medina; sister, Edythe (Howard) Housworth of Berwyn, Pennsylvania; grandchildren, Shane, Airin, Troy and Brent.
Ed requested that his body be donated to Case Western Reserve Medical College."

And true to his faith in God and belief in science his last request was to donate his body for scientific research.

My very dedicated and committed biology teacher has gone to heaven where he can sing in harmony along with other angels in his wonderful tenor.

Source : Medina Gazette