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Published: April 20th 2008
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4th Graders
Mdelwa-hlongwane School Wow, today's excursions were very eye-opening. First, we visited the Mdelwa-hlongwane school in Soweto where 100% of the students are black (even though integration is 'accepted' now) and these students are primarily Zulu. After lunch, we visited The Molento Project, in downtown Johannesburg, which is a literacy and language organization, and then we had a group dinner at an excellent South African restaurant.
MDELWA-HLONGWANE SCHOOL
As soon as we arrived at the school, we were greeted by the principle and she took us on a tour of the school. I cannot quite describe the hospitality and the welcoming atmosphere as we walked into the main administrative building. I have found that no matter where we have gone so far, everyone has been so generous and hospitable, this school was no exception. As we walked through the school, which is for grades 1 - 7, every one of the the teachers welcomed us into their classroom to say high to the children. They let us take photos, ask them questions (both the teachers and students; language of instruction is English, so it was easy to communicate with everyone), and look at textbooks to see what they are studying. The students were
Me and 7th Graders
Mdelwa-hlongwane School so happy and eager to meet us. Several of the classes greeted us with a welcome song - I will post the short video I took of one of the classes singing to us. The students were so well-behaved and happy - we even visited one classroom where the students didn't know where their teacher went (a fourth grade class), but they were still quiet and working on their lessons. Imagine a US classroom in that situation - there wouldn't be a student left in that room! We also visited a computer class - yes, they have technology, but the computers are very old and out of 24, only 12 were working, so there were 3 kids to each computer.
After touring the school, we had a meeting with a few teachers, the principal, what we would call the 'superintendant', and an education professor at the University of Johannesburg. It was very interesting to hear their issues and views on multicultural education. A lot of the issues they presented were the same as we have in a lot of the Urban areas of the US -- i.e.: students have a different language at home than in the classroom, so
The Biggest Smile in South Africa
This is a very shy student in the computer class we visited. He would hide from photos that we took of the group, but when I told him he has the best smile, he agreed to let me take his photo. they do not perform as well as they should because they are illiterate in their home language, thus it makes it more difficult for them to learn in English because they have no reading skills base in any language. There is a huge push here to start these children out learning for their first couple years in their home language (i.e. Zulu) so they can develop the linguistic base that they need to succeed while studying in English. It seems that the teachers are very supportive of this approach, but the right people in the national adminitration have not yet got on board. They also have the same problem as we do where the students have many adult responsibilities in addition to being a kid. Many of their parents work in Johannesburg, therefore have to commute back and forth from Soweto everyday (20 minutes to an hour, depending on where in Johannesburg), therefore, these kids are taking care of their brothers and sisters until mom and dad come home. In addition, since HIV/AIDS is so prevalant in this country, there are many kids without parents or with parents who are very sick, therefore they are the 'acting parent' so to
I Am African
Schools are finding that black students are losing their home culture because the white culture is the dominant, successful, and "cool" culture. So, they are trying to promote a stronger African identity in the schools. This poster is an excellent example. speak.
While talking to the administrators and teachers from this school, our whole group felt their passion and intense desire to take their school in a direction that would help the students both preserve their home language and culture while at the same time, acculturate to the dominant culture so that they have more opportunities as they become adults themselves. Although S. Africa has come a very long way politically in a very short time, these teachers were very aware that it is going to take a very long time to achieve higher standards for their kids. At the same time, their vision and determination is so strong, our entire group felt it in our hearts as we talked with them. We are already planning to follow up with this school and maybe get funding to come back and help them with teacher training and getting books and more school supplies.
THE MOLENTO PROJECT
This organization is a non-profit that has agreements with primary schools in 40 countries and 42 education systems. They focus on home language literacy for grades 1-3 and ESL for grades 1-7. This project recognizes the issues that the teachers at the schools are
facing, that their students cannot excel in schools were the language of instruction is English if they are illiterate in their first langauge. Also, most students when they start school do not yet speak English, and there often is not an ESL component to the curriculum. So, The Molento Project makes agreements with schools, trains the teachers at these schools in their programs, and then helps them implement both their "Breakthrough to Literacy" program and their "Bridge to English" program.
This meeting was just as passionate as the last. It is very impressive to see people working with such strength and vision, even though they know they have a long way to go. What I see in them is something I rarely see among educators in the US - here, they recognize how long it takes for change and advancement and create their plans and visions accordingly. In the US, I often see educators (and our government) trying to implement quick-fixes without having the passion and long-term vision it takes to make a permanent change. We could learn a lot from teachers and administrators here, it's like you are stabbed in the heart each time they speak; their conviction,
their passion, and their determination to make the changes necessary for them to reach the social and political status that they should have had from the beginning really pulls you in and makes you feel the need for change just as deep down as they do.
DINNER - Gramadoelas Restaurant
Just has to let you all know that I ate bugs again - these were much better than the bamboo worms I ate in Thailand. We had dinner at a S. African restaurant and it was a buffet of many S. African dishes - YUMMY! On that buffet were some kind of worm that I was told is similar to a caterpillar. It was a bit chewy, but well marinated - once you got out your mind what was in your mouth, it tasted pretty good!
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Linda
non-member comment
I don't care how much the critters are marinated you are a better woman then I!