Happy Birthday, Madiba. Today is Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday. What a befitting opportunity to visit the
Verwoerd secondary school in Pretoria. The school bears the name of the man commonly referred to as the "architect of apartheid". The school now, however, is
completely integrated with African, Colored, Asian, Indian, and Afrikaans students, a testament to Mandela's fight. Instruction in this school is dual medium. Students receive instruction (including the many PA announcements) in both Afrikaans and English. The principal speaks of the school as a level 5 schools - or a wealthy school, though I notice few computers or
facilities features that would classify it as such in the U.S. Grant it, their school is a a stark contrast to the township schools that we have passed. We had an opportunity to speak to students who are members of their Global Youth Forum, including their first Black
headboy. The students are all well-spoken and forthcoming, but I am struck by how easily they disagree with each other. Later, I learn from one of the teachers that it is expected that students have an opinion on everything and express it. And, that they did! Many, including the Black students, were not in favor of the country's affirmative action or Black Empowerment Movement. They spoke of apartheid being their parents' and grandparents' struggle. I venture to say that many American students and even some in my generation think the same of our nation's Civil Rights Movement. Others,
including White or Asian/Indian students, saw the need for the country's affirmative attempts as retribution for Blacks. Interestingly where they stood on the issue was not clearly drawn by racial or gender lines. The students, who would fall into the category of "Born Frees" as referred to by some of the other presenters, also discussed the role of women in leading the country. South Africa has 50%
representation by women in legislative positions. They take pride in the role of women's leadership in the shaping of their country, generally speaking. Though, one student commented frankly that he felt more comfortable being led by a man. Another felt women's leadership was beneficial because they get a leader and a mother in one figure. Again, what they had to say didn't seem as striking to me as how they said it. It's the type of discourse that we typically call critical thinking or that we expect of our honors/advanced students, but seemed commonplace between and among them despite race, background,
socioeconomics, and gender. Their students were quite adept at representing their ideas orally. A look later at some of their portfolio samples which included a variety of essays including argumentative ones suggest that they are also coached to develop this stance in their writing, as well. Given the
prescriptiveness of their curriculum (their outcomes based objectives, novels, exams, etc. are all provided by the South African National Education Department), their exhibition of free-thinking students is somewhat paradoxical. They aren't free of problems. The funding is inadequate, and teaching in both English and Afrikaans poses challenges related to time and politics. Many of the Afrikaans only schools in the area attract white students, often of resourceful families, who do not want an integrated experience for their families. The principal spoke of also needed to introduce learners to their first integrated experience. One example he gave was the cultural characteristic of Black students to often be more expressive and loud, which has met, on occasion, from Afrikaans students with resistance and ensuing disputes. That could happen anywhere - it's the nature of teenagers. When asked why not just have an Afrikaans-only medium school so as to attract white and/or wealthier students and
alleviate some of the inherent problems, the principal said of his integrated school, he'd have it no other way. And with a 100% pass rate, their school is evidence that integration can work. And the fact that the school continues to bear the name of the apartheid architect is irony that could not be created in the best of novels.
representation by women in legislative positions. They take pride in the role of women's leadership in the shaping of their country, generally speaking. Though, one student commented frankly that he felt more comfortable being led by a man. Another felt women's leadership was beneficial because they get a leader and a mother in one figure. Again, what they had to say didn't seem as striking to me as how they said it. It's the type of discourse that we typically call critical thinking or that we expect of our honors/advanced students, but seemed commonplace between and among them despite race, background, socioeconomics, and gender. Their students were quite adept at representing their ideas orally. A look later at some of their portfolio samples which included a variety of essays including argumentative ones suggest that they are also coached to develop this stance in their writing, as well. Given the prescriptiveness of their curriculum (their outcomes based objectives, novels, exams, etc. are all provided by the South African National Education Department), their exhibition of free-thinking students is somewhat paradoxical. They aren't free of problems. The funding is inadequate, and teaching in both English and Afrikaans poses challenges related to time and politics. Many of the Afrikaans only schools in the area attract white students, often of resourceful families, who do not want an integrated experience for their families. The principal spoke of also needed to introduce learners to their first integrated experience. One example he gave was the cultural characteristic of Black students to often be more expressive and loud, which has met, on occasion, from Afrikaans students with resistance and ensuing disputes. That could happen anywhere - it's the nature of teenagers. When asked why not just have an Afrikaans-only medium school so as to attract white and/or wealthier students and alleviate some of the inherent problems, the principal said of his integrated school, he'd have it no other way. And with a 100% pass rate, their school is evidence that integration can work. And the fact that the school continues to bear the name of the apartheid architect is irony that could not be created in the best of novels.
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