Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves.

In a recent article, which can be found here, Professor Jonathan Jansen of the University of the Free State discusses the current state of the South African education system. Specifically, he dissects and argues against the current coding system implemented by the Department of Education. This article has made the rounds throughout EwB, but the reason for really mentioning  it at all is that the core argument behind it has constantly cropped up in the last two to three weeks. Here are some of my thoughts on the article itself.

Obviously coming from the U.S., the idea of passing with a 30% (or 40%, 50%, and 60%) is ludicrous. If you only know 30% of any material, do you actually know it? Learners are happy with passing with their 30%, and why shouldn’t they be? They are lauded as an educational success story, they passed, they can be someone. However, by continuing to maintain this 30% they will, as the article says, continuously be behind in school, university and work. This will create a generation of inept, incompetent and quasi-useless work force.

At school, I have had many discussions with teachers and tutors over this new-ish code system that rewards mediocrity. The big complaint being that the learner’s are not really learning anything, and a 30% pass for a class is almost like saying each grade has an automatic promotion. You really have to actively try to fail a grade to not move on. Within the program we continuously try to make the magic number 60%, always saying that you can’t get into university without those numbers. So we try to deflate the idea that 30% is a successful grade and continue to make them work hard to raise their own levels instead of rest on their laurels.

Yet, I do have one grudge against the article. The way it is written seems to blame students for some of the problems. While I believe that their ineptness is a product of the system, they are just working in what they know. It is the governments responsibility to change the educational system to one that is more representative of the actual situation. On top of that, it is universities responsibility to curb their admission requirements accordingly or they will continue to face high drop out rates and attrition. It is common sense. It is impossible to start a ground-up attitude for ALL learners, it just won’t ever happen. This needs to be one of those rare places where a top-down approach is best used. The biggest reason being, why would a learner actively try to change something that does not benefit them. Why would they support something that no matter what makes them a worse looking student.

However, on top of this Professor Jansen must remember that changing the codes isn’t the only thing that must be done. To create better learners, you need more efficient and effective use of resources, better teachers, computers, incentives, schools, field trips or a myriad of other things that could influence a child to want to be better. Its a problem with no simple solution, but one that needs to be fixed immediately if South Africa wants to take that next step in development.

Come Over To The Dark Side...We Have Candy

Yesterday one of my learners from the program brought me a candy bar as a gift. One of the tutors asked me "What happened to the days where students brought teachers an apple? Why did she not give you one of those?".




I told her that along with teaching English and Math, I am teaching my classes how to be awesome. Who wants an apple when you can get a candy bar. Long live deliciousness!

We Are Fezeka

There has been something missing from the EwB blog. An important element that I am not capable of reaching. An aspect that none of us writing here can articulate. We see it, but we have not lived it. This is why I wanted to start "We are Fezeka", an attempt to hear the stories of those that have lived or are living IT. It could be a simple telling of what they did that weekend, or who there favorite athlete is. It could be an in depth dissection of the importance of math or an attempt to express the apprehension of going to a new school. Anything to understand the daily lives of those at Fezeka. If we do not take the few seconds to get to know them, then we miss something.
The very first blog under the "We Are Fezeka" comes from one of our brand new grade 8 learners, who just joined our program this school year. Her name is Dianetsi Mosiuoo, and in an exercise where learners were asked to pick a word from a group and write what it means to them, she chose the word freedom. This is what she wrote.

Grade 8 Learner Dianetsi Mosiuoo

Freedom

Freedom brings peace to our people and our nation. Peace is the first thing that a person should have. Nelson Mandela brought freedom to black people so that they could have peace with white people. 

 Peace make people love you and black people to have peace with white people.

Freedom has bring happiness to black people. Happiness is the joy to black people. Our country has happiness with other countries. Happiness is the joy to white and and black people

Freedom brough respect and peace in our nation to love each other. Respect one another, respect our beliefs and respect our religiouns from our cultures. Respect elders because if we do not respect our elders we will order bad luck for our future and for our nation. Freedom has brought us respect.

Freedom gives us opportunities to have a good education and a opportunity to have good jobs when we group up. Nelson Mandela brought us opportunities to have all things that we want like white people. If Nelson Mandela was not here we should not have the opportunities to have education like white people. Freedom has come with opportunities in our country.

White men can't jump (Or Dance Apparently)

So me and some friends went out to a club called the Purple Turtle last weekend for a night of drinks, dj's, and dancing. My roomate Colleen promptly challenged me to a Krumping competition in the middle of the club. This is, I feel, what we thought we looked like.

This is what we actually looked like.

Speak Loud and Clear

The World Schools Debating Championship is an annual English speaking international debate competition for students going to non-university schools. A vast majority of participants are high school aged learners. A little more information about the actual competition can be found here and here.

Why do I care about this? Well other than the fact that debate is a highly technical and useful skill to have, and the art of debate is quite fascinating, I am afraid my reason for writing about it is a little bit more selfish. This past Monday, Fezeka High School and EwB were privileged to host a delegation of debaters from four different countries as part of the international competition. These students are the best their respective countries have to offer. Since they choose individuals and not school debate teams, you could say that they are the all-star team of their countries when it comes to debate.

Lusanda Ngqose Welcoming The Teams

Coming to Fezeka were debaters from Hong Kong, Romania, Philippines, and Bermuda. All the organizers asked from us were three simple things.

1) Make ready four classrooms for preparation, with two of those classrooms set up as debate areas.

2) Have a 30 minute "Welcoming" prepared for the debaters.

3) Try to procure some sort of an audience of learners for the debates themselves.

Well classroom prep was a cinch, and if you follow this blog at all you know the reputation of Fezeka welcomes (I was told by one of the judges that the choir "Sent chills down her spine" and that the welcome "was quite possibly the best of any school hosting"). However, it is this last item that I want to touch on quickly.

One of the things that we at EwB have tried to instill in our learners is confidence when speaking English. It is not always easy. We have started to lean towards using debates as a way to get them to speak English in front of groups of people and to also use critical thinking skills in forming their arguments. It covers facets that they need help in. In this visit was an opportunity for our learners to see the pros in action, and they were hooked. On top of  learning from the actual debaters, the judges were kind enough to run a workshop for our learners while the debate teams were preparing their arguments. Not only was it a great learning experience for them on a purely academic level, but socially they found their curiosity about these debaters and judges to much. Every time I turned around, there were learners crowding around debaters, coaches and judges asking questions. How did you learn to speak English so well? Why did you argue that? Is it hot in Bermuda? What countries border Romania? What kind of phone is that?

Judges Giving A Workshop To The Learners

As you can see, the conversations started out in a more serious nature and quickly became more familiar. It ended exactly how we wanted. They came together as students, they left as friends. It could not have been a more successful day.

Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.

It is that time of the year again. Time for teachers to write their lesson plans and get their classrooms ready. Time for the administration to create time tables and endure a never ending amount of meetings. Time for learners to wash and polish their school uniforms and follow their feet back to school. Last but not least, it’s time for us here at EwB to get back to work at hand. This past week was the first few days back at school and was a generally exciting time. The Fezeka administration and teachers were a positive combination of still being on a high from the matriculation results from the previous year (over 70%) and coming back to school well rested and excited for the new year. The learners, especially those in the program, were looking forward to continuing their academic achievement and progress through this year. When stepping on campus, Vimbai and I were bombarded with hope and genuine excitement from all parties. Learners in the program were rushing to tell us about how they received code 5,6 or 7 on their final exams and wondering when the tutoring would start again. Others were rushing to Angeline to ask when they could come help out or hang out in the library.

Fezeka Teachers

What this means is that we as an organization have started to put the pieces together in the first, but important, step. That being fostering a communal sense of academic achievement. You cannot teach someone that does not want to be taught. You need to help instill a desire to succeed. Fezeka, especially the learners within our program, have started to create this communal desire to succeed academically. They hang out together, they study together, they are all in the same classes (pure maths and physics for most!) and they cannot wait to continue their successful progress. The light seems to have switched on with these kids. It’s nice to be pestered with “When is the program going to start again Courtney?” instead of the excuses “I don’t think I can go today because I have chores” or “I don’t feel so well” that crops up occasionally. Its palpable excitement, and a great way to start the year.

Christmas is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.

So Christmas came and went, and while I was saying grace to 8 pound, 6 ounce baby Jesus I realized that my Christmas this year had gone as well as it could have gone. Here I was, halfway around the world from any family or friends that I have. Halfway around the world from the traditions and food and weather and people that I always celebrated Christmas with, and I was thoroughly enjoying myself. This was done in two large parts. First, I had fun here with friends doing non-traditional Christmas activities like braiing and tanning and midnight swims in the pool. Secondly, I was able to Skype many people that are important to me throughout the day. So here are some pictures of those that I was able to share this Christmas with, and thanks for everything. It really meant a lot to be able to spend some part of Christmas with you.

Hi other family

I had my Santa hat on, she went Rudolf

Commander Mendoza with his sweet headset

Bro's just braiing