Today the work starts in earnest. For some students it is a busy day with lots of different lessons. For others it seems quite dull, with only one lesson to teach. Sphelele is sick and needs to stay in bed – I wish I could, as I have a head cold that leaves me sneezing and streaming.
We visit Sicambeni School first. Mr Shumane comes running across the grass to meet us – he is so welcoming, friendly and enthusiastic. Several things strike me about this school – firstly, that space that children could use isn’t dedicated to staff. The Principal and his clerk work in the computer room, and staff share the staffroom space with a small library. The school seems orderly and organised. The feeding scheme seems to operate well and everyone is fed in a specific time. Teachers seem to be prepared to do things for the good of the school – after a teacher died, the Foundation Phase teachers have taught Social Studies and isiXhosa to Senior Phase kids once their learners have gone home. The computer centre is spanking new, with a data projector and IWB installed, but they are still not sure how to use it. There are other computers as well – older ones, I gather - but they are packed away because there is no room yet and the security needs to be upgraded. The spare computer desks are stacked in the back of the Grade 8 classroom.
Classrooms are spread out on the level parts of the grounds. The top blocks, which house the smaller children, were built with donated money, and the lower blocks were built by the department. There is a large veggie garden which is used for the feeding scheme. Mr Shumane is keen to get involved in Environmental Education and is debating planting bananas in one corner so the children can eat the fruit. We talk about investigating which fruit trees would be best suited to the environment and I think about talking to the Bungalows’ horticulturalist – the plantings at the lodge are so well designed and appropriate – there must be an expert behind them.
The student teachers there are engaged but would all like a bit more teaching time. Sphelele is ill one day but quickly catches up the next day. Kevin and Thabo are playing soccer with the kids in the afternoon, but would dearly like to teach a bit more each day.
We take our leave after arranging to meet on Friday to talk to the teachers about what computer training they would like and to have time to talk to the English teacher.
It is break time, and everyone is waiting for the feeding scheme to kick in. The phutu is ready but they are waiting for the maas to arrive. Lerato, Callie, Mdu and Sphesihle are sitting in the sun in the playground, while the other teachers are inside the staffroom.
Many of the children, especially the Senior Phase kids are inside the classrooms, lolling on the desks. Most of the little ones are outside. They play on the road as it is flat. Someone has brought a vine to school, and they play the skipping games children the world over play – two in – one out- another in. The vine breaks, and a boy plays with the shorter end, skipping like a boxer. We look for Callie’s favourite children – Asiphe and her friend with the cockatoo hairstyle. She had come to school on Monday with a perfectly sculpted fringe over her forehead, but they may not have hair on their faces, so it was pushed back and now stands up wildly around her head. Asiphe looks like a perfect little waif from Annie – shirt hanging out, socks half down, a shy little smile. She eventually whispers her name to me and allows Pete to take a photo. And then the game is one – everyone wants to be in the picture. He is kept busy taking photos for the next 5 minutes – even the big kids barge in.
We leave and meet the bakkie bringing the food on the hill.
In the afternoon, we go to Port St John’s to buy card for Sphesihle to make some charts as her classroom is bare – few desks and no pictures. Then Pete takes Kevin and Callie fishing – they don’t catch anything but have a good time. He says he’ll take the others if they are keen to learn.
Wednesday, everyone is settling down and most have a bit more teaching. Callie gives her Gr 8s and 9s some photocopied chapters from a text book and they are thrilled – they can’t believe they can keep them. Many teachers are still away on workshops and there is a local funeral, so our students are left to teach classes on their own. They are all coping magnificently and have amazing dignity and understanding for what is going on. I am so proud of all of them for their dedication and commitment. They are even learning to play tennis – some budding Roger Federers – I don’t think!
The adventure continues – first crit lessons coming up soon. Good luck, guys!
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